One Band To Conquer Them All! Wacken Metal Battle USA is proud to announce its return for 2025 battles nationwide for one independent band to be crowned champion and perform at one of the world’s most prestigious and largest already sold-out metal festivals Wacken Open Air (July 30th – August 2nd) (Attendance of over 80,000 people in Wacken, Germany for over 30 years).
Unsigned bands ONLY can apply. Please fill out your information at the following link (please select USA and then the City that your band would like to perform in) – https://www.metal-battle.com
(Band Submissions open from October 11th – December 15th, 2024)
Wacken Battle Trailer Video
The 2025 WMBU champion will receive the following:
– A slot at the 2025 Wacken Open Air Festival.
– Full professional backline provided.
– $1,000 USD towards flights to Germany.
– VIP camping at the festival.
2025 battles will be taking place in the following cities:
New York, NY
Clifton, NJ
Baltimore, MA
Tampa, FL
Portland, OR
Seattle, WA
Bay Area, CA
Los Angeles, CA
Orange County, CA
Sacramento, CA
San Diego, CA
Austin, TX
Dallas, TX
Corpus Christi, TX
Houston, TX
San Antonio, TX
The 2024 WMBU national final was held in San Diego at Brick By Brick with regional winners Cascade Effect (San Diego), WarTroll (NorCal), Versipul (PNW), Prime Prophecy (East Coast), and Father Wolf (Texas).
Judged by an industry panel that included Rod Kukla (Silver Lining Music), Craig Goldy (Dio), Derek Engemann (Scour, Phil Anselmo and the Illegals, ex-Cattle Decapitation), and Patrick Stone (Adler’s Appetite, Budderside), the band that reigned the stage and proved themselves worthy of gracing the holy land of metal at Wacken Open Air in Germany was crowned 2024 champion, San Diego’s Cascade Effect.
As the 2024 crowned USA champion, Cascade Effect went on to perform as the only independent American band at the International Battle at Wacken Open Air 2024 (July 31st – August 3rd).
List of previous WMBU national winners, Cascade Effect (2024 – San Diego), Fadrait (2023 – San Diego) Mythraeum (2022 – San Diego), Monarch (2019 – San Diego), Voices of Ruin (2018 – Anaheim) and Corpse Hoarder (2017 – Philadelphia).
2024 battles were hosted in the following cities: New York, NY, Clifton, NJ, Philadelphia, PA, Portland, OR, Seattle, WA, Bay Area, CA, Los Angeles, CA, Orange County, CA, Sacramento, CA, San Diego, CA, Austin, TX, Dallas, TX, El Paso, TX, Houston, TX, San Antonio, TX.
For the last 6 years of battles (2017-2019, 2022, 2023, 2024), Wacken Metal Battle USA has hosted battles across the country to send one independent metal band to perform at the world’s largest metal festival Wacken Open Air in Wacken, Germany. 2019 saw the festival celebrate its 30th anniversary, but due to Covid, the 2020 and 2021 editions were both canceled. As the metal community regains its strength, Wacken Open Air 2025 will be the 34th edition of the festival and will be held from July 30th – August 2nd. The 2025 event is already sold out with a line-up that includes Machine Head, Saltatio Mortis, Papa Roach, Gojira, Apocalyptica, Saxon, Within Temptation, Dimmu Borgir, Ministry, and many more. Details here.
Wacken Metal Battle USA is part of an international competition that sees bands from across the country battle each other for the chance to win their spot among 30 other countries’ champions, and represent the USA in an international battle of the bands at the world’s largest outdoor metal festival: Wacken Open Air. The battles have been hosted at the festival for over a decade and give independent bands the opportunity to showcase their talents to an international audience along with the chance to win multiple prizes.
How it works:
Participating cities will host qualifying rounds plus a city final organized by a local city concert promoter where one band will move forward to the American national final (date and city to be determined). The winner of the national final will move on to perform at the Wacken Open Air 2024 and compete against the winners of 30 other countries in a final global battle. All bands will be judged during battle rounds by respected local music industry representatives.
Links:
Metal-Battle.com
MetalBattleUSA.com
Facebook.com/metalbattleusa.
Twitter.com/MetalBattleUSA
Instagram.com/metalbattleusa.
Sponsors / Partners:
Bravewords.com
MetalDevastationRadio.com
Metal-Rules.com
V13.net
GhostCultMag.com
Dungeon Works Productions
Asher Media Relations
Fatal Illness Management
Come And Take It Productions
Brick By Brick
VonWolfe Entertainment
TMI Collaborations
Dingbatz
Dean Guitars