NEWS RELEASE
Montreal, QC – May 8, 2023
Wacken Metal Battle USA – National Final – May 13th – San Diego
DEATHBLOW – SALT LAKE CITY – WINNER
FADRAIT – SAN DIEGO WINNER
STEELLAKE – TEXAS WINNER
FINAL GIRLS – NEW JERSEY WINNER
ANUBIS – WEST COAST WINNER
VILLIANS IN VAIN – PACIFIC NORTHWEST FINAL
AUTUMN LIES BURIED – OHIO FINAL
– One Band To Conquer Them All & Play Wacken Open Air 2023 –
After months of battles across the country, Wacken Metal Battle USA is proud to announce the top seven independent bands performing at the 2023 National Final in San Diego, CA on May 13th at the Brick By Brick (Ticket Info). One band will be crowned champion and represent the USA at the international battle that hosts 29 other participating countries at one of the worldâs most prestigious stages and the largest metal festival Wacken Open Air (Aug 4 -6), which has an attendance of over 80,000 people, and held in Wacken, Germany for now over 30 years.
To date, the battle has sent 4 previous bands to perform on metal’s most prestigious stage. San Diego’s Mythraeum (2022), San Diego’s Monarch (2019), Anaheim’s Voices of Ruin (2018) and Philadelphia’s Corpse Hoarder (2017).
This year’s 2023 WMBU national finalists are the following:
DEATHBLOWÂ – Salt Lake City, UT –Â https://www.facebook.com/deathblowofficialâ
âFADRAITÂ – San Diego, CA –Â https://www.facebook.com/Fadrait
âSTEELLAKEÂ – El Paso, TX –Â https://www.facebook.com/SteellakeEPTX
âFINAL GIRLSÂ – New Jersey –Â https://www.facebook.com/FINALGIRLSNJ
âANUBISÂ – Los Angeles, CA –Â https://www.facebook.com/AnubisBandOfficialâ
âVILLIANS IN VAINÂ – Eugene, OR –Â https://www.facebook.com/villainsinvainâ
âAUTUMN LIES BURIEDÂ – Clarksville, TN –Â https://www.facebook.com/autumnliesburiedâ
For the national final, all seven bands will be judged by experienced industry professionals on various categories of professionalism and musicianship for only one to be selected to represent the USA on the world stage at Wacken Open Air.
Guest Judges:â
Rod Kukla (Silver Lining Music/Wacken)
Mark Vieira (Parts Unknown Management)
Jon Halperin (Talent Buyer @ Glass House)
More TBA
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For the last 4 years of battles (2017-2019, 2022), Wacken Metal Battle USA has hosted battles across the country to send one independent metal band to perform at the worldâs 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 2023 will be the 32nd edition of the festival and will be held from August 2nd to 5th. The 2023 event is already sold out with a line-up that includes Iron Maiden, Megadeth, The Dropkick Murphys, Wardruna, Jinjer, Beartooth, Trivium, Kataklysm and many more. Details here.
Wacken Battle Trailer Video –Â https://youtu.be/fjMugRXEc5gâ
Wacken Metal Battle USAÂ is part of an international competition that sees bands from across the country battle each other for the chance of winning their spot among 29 other countriesâ champions, and represent the USA in an international battle of the bands at the worldâs largest outdoor metal festival:Â Wacken Open Air. The battles have been hosted at the festival for over a decade giving independent bands the opportunity to showcase their talents to an international audience along with the chance to win multiple prizes.
How it works:
âParticipating 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 2023 and compete against the winners of 29 other countries in a final global battle. All bands will be judged during battle rounds by respected local music industry representatives.
Rules for participation:Â https://metalbattleusa.com/rules/â
Links:â
âMetal-Battle.comâ
âMetalBattleUSA.comâ
âFacebook.com/metalbattleusaâ
âTwitter.com/MetalBattleUSAâ
âInstagram.com/metalbattleusaâ
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Sponsors / Partners:â
Bravewords.com
MetalDevastationRadio.com
Metal-Rules.com
V13.net
Dungeon Works Productions
Asher Media Relations
Fatal Illness Management
Come And Take It Productions
Brick By Brick
VonWolfe Entertainment
Aces High Saloon
TMI Collaborations
Funhouse Seattle
SBS Live
Dingbatz
Dean Guitars
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ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS
Jon Asher – Music Publicist
#.514.581.5780 | jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
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(Rockshots Records, Extreme Metal Music, Armstrong MF, Loud As Hell, Metalocalypstick, Decimate MF, Electric Highway Fest, Wacken Metal Battle Canada/USA, Hyperspace MF, Toldeo DeathFest)