One Band To Rule Them All! After another record-breaking year of submissions from independent bands across the country, Wacken Metal Battle Canada is proud to announce this year’s Calgary bands and rounds along with previously announced British Columbia, Ontario, and Montreal battles.
One unsigned Canadian band will 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).
The national final will be held in Vancouver, BC on May 31st, 2025 at The Rickshaw Theatre.
2025 Canadian Wacken Battles:
Calgary Dates:
March 6 – Calgary Round 1 – Dickens
Beyond Suffering, Godfall, Passing Pluto, Victoria LiesEvent Info – https://www.facebook.com/events/644778834777207
March 20 – Calgary Round 2 – Dickens
GOAR, Our Last Crusade, Per Velum, Valence
Event Info – https://www.facebook.com/events/584896851193341
April 18 – Alberta Final – Calgary – Dickens
Montreal Dates: (Montreal, Quebec City, Ottawa Bands)
Feb 7 – Montreal Round 1 – Piranha Bar
Chaotic Symbios (QC), Last Dance Among Wolves (MTL), Red Raven Chaos (MTL), Stadaconé (MTL)
Event Info – https://www.facebook.com/events/1662104684663296/
Feb 28 – Montreal Round 2 – Piranah Bar
Hatred Reigns (Ottawa), Wooden (MTL), Odd Times (MTL), Soulthief (Ottawa)
Event Info – https://www.facebook.com/events/1639972466625238/
March 7 – Montreal Round 3 – Piranha Bar
Demonius (MTL), Forbidden Order (MTL), CHÜZO (MTL), Sovereign Council (Ottawa)
Event Info – https://www.facebook.com/events/2912734675567633/
April 11 – Montreal Final – Piranha Bar
British Columbia Dates:
March 1 – Vancouver Round 1 @ The Cobalt – Vancouver, BC
DeathBound, NIGHTOWL, Utility Provider, Nokturna, Burnt Lung
Event Info – https://www.facebook.com/events/1114719273271273/
March 2 – BC Interior Round @ Jackknife Brewing – Kelowna, BC
Dendros, Burn It All, Gregorious, Nomad, Storm The Empire
Event Info – https://www.facebook.com/events/913101870812415/
March 22 – Vancouver Round 2 @ The Cobalt – Vancouver, BC
Iron Kingdom, Ashen Pall, Heathanz Sinz, Killing Twins, TIVR
Event Info – https://www.facebook.com/events/951824699871604/
March 30 – Vancouver Island Round @ Lucky Bar – Victoria, BC
YEGG, Electric Druids, Decryptor, Gate Theory, Antler
Event Info – https://www.facebook.com/events/481340948041676/
May 3 – BC Final @ The Cobalt – Vancouver, BC
May 31 – National Final @ The Rickshaw, Vancouver, BC
Ontario Dates:
January 10 – London Round @ Rum Runners
Atria (guest headliner), Death Club, Dead Days, 4HateU8
WINNER – DEAD DAYS – https://www.facebook.com/deaddaysmusic
January 24 – Hamilton Round @ Main Stage Rehearsal
The Good Depression, Killotine, Zero Tolerance, Devilz By Definition, Zero End
WINNER – KILLOTINE – https://www.facebook.com/killotine
January 25 – Toronto Round 1 @ Hard Luck
Pillars of Autumn, Ischemic, Purveyor of Chaos, Unkle Skurvey
WINNER – ISCHEMIC – https://www.facebook.com/Ischemic
February 1 – Toronto Round 2 @ Hard Luck
Seagrave, Nepenthe, Panic Response, The Animal Warfare Act
WINNER – NEPENTHE – https://www.facebook.com/NepentheMetal
March 21 – Ontario Final – Toronto @ Rivoli
Nepenthe, Ischemic, Killotine, Dead Days, + 1 more TBA
Ticket Link – https://wackenmetalbattle.bigcartel.com/product/wacken-metal-battle-march-21-toronto
Edmonton, AB – TBA
The 2025 WMBC champion will receive the following:
- A slot at the 2025 Wacken Open Air Festival.
- Full professional backline provided.
- $1,000 CAD towards flights to Germany.
- VIP camping at the festival.
The 2024 WMBC national final was held in Edmonton, AB at The Starlite Room on May 25th and witnessed regional winners Arrow In The Quiver (Vancouver, BC), Infrastrvctvre (Calgary, AB), Age of Ashes (Edmonton, AB), Beguiler (Toronto, ON) and Red Raven Chaos (Montreal, QC) along with special guest headliners NECHT (Calgary, AB – 2023 National Finalist).
The night was MC’d by Gord Alexander (Tessitura, Tides of Kharon) and judged by an industry panel that included JJ Tartaglia (Wacken Metal Battle Canada, Boonsdale Records, Skull Fist, Thunderor – Toronto, ON), Luc Lainé (CFLX 95,5 FM – Alerte Metallique – Sherbrooke, QC), Dan Cleary (Striker), Kim Aebly (The Invisible Orange, Vancouver, BC), Dana Zuk (Dana Zuk Photography – Edmonton, AB), Jon Asher (Asher Media Relations – Montreal, QC), Nancy Barnes (Big Nate Productions – Calgary, AB), Celestia Scarlett (Owner/Artist Manager – The Celestial Agency- Calgary, AB) and Steve DC (Strigampire – 2023 National WMBC Winner – Trois-Rivières, QC).
After each band presented their furious rallying battle performance, the only one that stood out from the rest was crowned 2024 champion Toronto’s Beguiler who moved on to perform as the only independent Canadian band at the International Battle at Wacken Open Air 2024 (July 31st – August 3rd).
List of previous WMBC national winners Beguiler (Toronto, ON – 2024), Strigampire (Trois-Rivières, QC – 2023), The Slyde (Toronto, ON – 2019), Centuries of Decay (Toronto, ON – 2018), Profaner (Hamilton, ON – 2016), Vesperia (Toronto, ON – 2015), Mutank (Montreal, QC – 2014), Crimson Shadows (Toronto, ON – 2013).