Photo Credit - Derek Carr - Visions In Pixels
WMBC 2025 Final Spotify Playlist - https://spoti.fi/3Z55AFy
One band to rule them all! The final four bands from this year's 2025 battles for Wacken Metal Battle Canada gathered in Vancouver, BC, for the national final on May 31st at the Rickshaw Theatre. Only one unsigned Canadian band can walk away and be crowned champion to move on to 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).
Crowning this year's 2025 winner is Hamilton, ON's KILLOTINE (Ontario Winner), who, after their performance, a panel of industry judges voted as Canada's top band to play at the International Wacken Battle at Wacken Open Air. They performed alongside SOULTHIEF (Ottawa, ON - Eastern Canada Winner), BEYOND SUFFERING (Calgary, AB - Alberta Winner), and YEGG (Nanaimo, BC - British Columbia Winner). The special guest headliner was 2024 BC final winner, Vancouver's Arrow In The Quiver.
“What a finals we’ve just had in Vancouver. It's so nice to see the level of the bands and the great performances from all of them. The result is that we’ve got something special this year: Killotine is the chosen one. This band has a career waiting for them, and the real beginning of that journey will be at Wacken Open Air. This really enforces what the Metal Battle is all about and how we are nurturing the next generation, the future of metal,” comments Canadian Organizer of Wacken Metal Battle Canada, JJ Tartaglia.
This year's panel of national final judges consisted of BRITTNEY SLAYES (Unleash The Archers), JJ TARTAGLIA (Canadian Organizer of Wacken Metal Battle Canada), JJ CAITHCART (Founder of SCRAPE Records and Host of Different Stages Radio), KRIS SCHULZ (Founder of Empower Through Music and Owner of Horizon School of Music), ABELARDO MAYORAL (Founder, Owner, and Operator of The Invisible Orange and OrangeTickets), STAN SCHINNERS (Owner of Broken Neck Radio), JUSTIN DOBBIN (Owner and President of Main Stage Rehearsal Studios).
About The Final Four:
Hamilton, ON's KILLOTINE is the hammer that falls without warning—relentless, unforgiving, and all-consuming. Their riffs shred through the air like jagged steel, solos burn with a fury that can’t be tamed, and blasts hit like an explosion in your chest. They don’t care about trends or softening the blow. Every note is a direct attack, every show a brutal assault. Headbanging is inevitable, the adrenaline is relentless, and the chaos is total. This is metal in its rawest, most savage form. With their “take everything, leave only metal” mentality, Killotine isn’t here to play nice. They deliver exactly what the maniacs demand—pure, unfiltered aggression. No filler, no fake. Just a full-throttle, all-out assault that doesn’t let up, leaving you wrecked and addicted to the chaos. KILLOTINE IS COMING. STAY OUT OF THE WAY OR GET DESTROYED.
https://linktr.ee/killotinemetal
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Ottawa, ON's SOULTHIEF is a crossover band known for their powerful and fun sound that combines elements of melodic hardcore, thrash metal, beatdown, slam, and punk. Formed in early 2021, the band has garnered a reputation for its intense live performances and dynamic songwriting.
Their discography includes several notable releases, with their albums “Citadel” and "The Bad Kind of Wet” receiving praise for their energy and musical depth. Tracks like "You Could be my Gwen Stacy" and "Rupture" are often highlighted as fan favorites, showcasing the band's ability to craft memorable hooks and crowd-engaging lyrics.
Soulthief has built a loyal following through their extensive touring and energetic live shows. They have performed at various venues and festivals, earning a reputation for delivering high-impact performances that resonate with audiences. Playing with bands like Stick to Your Guns, Within Destruction, MadBall, Get the Shot, Left to Suffer, Guilt Trip, Sworn Enemy, Hoods, Vctms, Teeth, and many more
Soulthief has continued to evolve and push the boundaries of their craft. Their dedication to their musical performance and their passionate fanbase have cemented their place in any music scene they show up in.
https://www.soulthief.ca
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Calgary, AB's BEYOND SUFFERING is a five-piece melodic metal band with roots in thrash and metalcore. With founding member and lead guitarist Rob Vargo, they blend intense riffs and rhythmic complexities of deathcore with melodic hooks and emotional depth of hardcore. Their recent pre-release demo, “Buddha,” is a great buildup to the upcoming “Darkness” and subsequent response “Light” EPs later this year.
https://www.facebook.com/BeyondSuffering
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Nanaimo, BC's old school death metal YEGG is a band that stays true to their roots. Drawing inspiration from iconic bands like Death, Obituary, Morbid Angel, and Cannibal Corpse, YEGG delivers a relentless assault of pure, unadulterated old school Death Metal. Their live shows are a sight to behold with intense energy and a ferocious wall of pure aggression that will.
https://linktr.ee/yeggmetal
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About The Battle:
Wacken Metal Battle Canada 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 different countries’ champions, and represent Canada 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, allowing independent bands 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 Canadian national final (date and city to be determined). The winner of the national final will move on to perform at the Wacken Open Air 2025 and compete against the winners of 29 other countries in a final global battle. All battle rounds are judged by respected local music industry representatives.
Rules for participation: https://www.metal-battle.com/rules/
Links:
Metal-Battle.com
Facebook.com/WMBCanada.official
Twitter.com/MetalBattleCan
Instagram.com/MetalBattleCanada.Official
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