Search Results: deathcore

• ​WACKEN METAL BATTLE CANADA Opens Band Submissions For 2026 - One Band To Rule Them All! and Play Wacken Open Air!

  Oct 23, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  One band to rule them all! Wacken Metal Battle Canada returns for 2026 battles across the country to send one independent metal band to play at Wacken Open Air, one of the world's most prestigious and largest metal festivals.

  Band submissions for Canada are now open until November 30th.

  "Canadian metal bands, this is your chance once again. This is the first step to a world of opportunity waiting for you. We invite you to play some great shows, expand your audience, and ultimately have your shot at playing Wacken Open Air," adds WMBC organizer JJ Tartaglia.

  Canadian bands interested in participating can apply at https://www.metal-battle.com/countries/ (please select Canada as your country)

  The national final for 2026 battles will be held in Montreal, QC.

  Canadian Battle Cities:​
  Vancouver, BC
  Vancouver Island, BC
  BC Interior
  Edmonton, AB
  Toronto, ON
  Hamilton, ON
  Ottawa, ON
  Montreal, QC
  Quebec City, QC

  Watch - Wacken Metal Battle 2025 - Aftermovie | Have You Heard the Future of Metal? - https://youtu.be/nCulXiLlaSw

  The 2026 WMBC champion will receive the following:
  - A slot at the 2026 Wacken Open Air Festival.
  - Full professional backline provided.
  - $1,000 CAD towards flights to Germany.
  - VIP camping at the festival.

  List of previous WMBC national winners: Killotine (Hamilton, ON - 2025), 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).

  The 2025 Canadian Battle Final took place on May 31st at Vancouver’s Rickshaw Theatre, where Hamilton, Ontario’s KILLOTINE, the Ontario regional winner, delivered a standout performance that earned them the top national title. A panel of industry judges selected KILLOTINE to represent Canada at the prestigious International Wacken Battle, held during Wacken Open Air from July 30th to August 2nd in Wacken, Germany, where over 85,000 metal fans from around the globe gathered.
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  Joining KILLOTINE on stage at the Canadian final were fellow regional champions: SOULTHIEF (Eastern Canada Winner – Ottawa, ON), BEYOND SUFFERING (Alberta Winner – Calgary, AB), and YEGG (British Columbia Winner – Nanaimo, BC). The event also featured a special guest headliner: Vancouver’s Arrow In The Quiver, the 2024 BC Final winner.
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  The national judging panel included a lineup of respected figures from the Canadian metal and music industry: 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 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).

  For the last 9 years of battles (2013-2016, 2018-2019, 2023-2025), Wacken Metal Battle Canada 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 2026 will be the 35th edition of the festival and will be held from July 29th to August 1st. The 2026 event is nearly sold out with a line-up that includes Def Leppard, Lamb Of God, In Flames, Savatage, Powerwolf, Emperor, Sepultura, and Running Wild, among others. Details here.

  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 over 55 other 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 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 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 2026 and compete against the winners of other participating countries in a final global battle. All bands will be judged during battle rounds by respected local music industry representatives.

  Rules for participation: https://www.metal-battle.com/rules/

  Links:​
  ​Metal-Battle.com​​
  ​Facebook.com/WMBCanada.official​
  ​X.com/MetalBattleCan​
  ​Instagram.com/wmbcanada.official

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• DAWN VALLY Unleash Jailhouse Rage with New Single “Graves” Off Forthcoming EP Out In 2026

  Oct 10, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

   

  Canadian metalcore outfit Dawn Vally has dropped their latest single, “Graves,” a punishing, raw track that marks a new chapter in the band’s evolution. Formed in 2007 by twin brothers Jeff (bass) and Joe Bartolo (drums), Dawn Vally has built a reputation for delivering aggressive, high-intensity music that blends metalcore and deathcore with fearless originality.
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  ​“Graves” is the second single from the band’s upcoming EP, slated for release in early 2026. It’s also the first recording to feature new vocalist Zac Emmons, formerly the guitarist of hardcore band Pound Of Flesh. Zac joined the band earlier this year, bringing a visceral lyrical style rooted in personal experience.

  “Graves lyrically is a song about betrayal and the emotions that come with it. I went into a dark place in my mind to get the words,” says Zac.
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  Musically, “Graves” builds on the foundation laid by their previous album, "Blueprints of the 416," but pushes the intensity even further. With punishing breakdowns and relentless energy, the track is already being hailed as Dawn Vally’s heaviest release to date.
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  The single’s artwork, created by Paul Padgett of Eightfold Visuals, features a horror-tinged jailhouse setting that perfectly complements the song’s themes of emotional confinement and rage.
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  ​Dawn Vally’s sound is a collaborative effort, shaped by the eclectic influences of its members. While metalcore and deathcore dominate, the band draws from jazz, classic rock, and hardcore to create a sonic landscape that’s both brutal and nuanced. Guitarist Antonio Bratta, a classically trained musician with a jazz background, adds a unique layer to the band’s dynamic compositions.
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  With plans to expand their reach across Canada in 2026, Dawn Vally is preparing for tours both out west and east. Their live shows promise the same raw energy and sonic devastation that fans have come to expect.

  For fans of Whitechapel, Parkway Drive, BMTH, and Hatebreed, Dawn Vally is a band that doesn’t just play metal; they live it.

  “Graves” is now streaming on all major platforms, along with its music video filmed and created by Brett and Hayley Wright, who have worked with other artists such as LÜZR, Seagrave, and CRUELINTENT.

  Add to your Spotify playlist - https://ampl.ink/ezq3P​

   

  More info: https://linktr.ee/Dawn_Vally

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• STERILIZING THE DECEASED Confronts Inner Demons w/ New Video "Recovery"

  Oct 3, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Melodic deathcore outfit Sterilizing The Deceased has dropped a gripping new music video for “Recovery,” the opening track from their emotionally charged EP "Nothing," released August 1st. Known for their bone-crushing breakdowns and atmospheric aggression, the Cleveland-based band delivers a visual experience as raw and visceral as the music itself.
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  ​“Recovery” dives deep into themes of personal reflection, addiction, and the struggle to find light in overwhelming darkness. The video mirrors the EP’s overarching narrative, a fictional/non-fictional journey through drug addiction and suicidal ideation, inspired by frontman Angelo Vespucci’s own battles. With imagery that evokes resistance, pain, and redemption, the video amplifies the track’s emotional weight and lyrical intensity.
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  ​“This song is about wondering where things went wrong and why they had to change. It’s the beginning of a story that’s deeply personal to me, and I wanted the visuals to reflect that internal war,” says Vespucci.
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  The EP "Nothing" marks a turning point for Sterilizing The Deceased, showcasing a mature sound that blends melodic deathcore, progressive metalcore, and djent influences. Fans of Reflections, Chelsea Grin, and old-school Lorna Shore will find familiar sonic territory, but with a distinct emotional edge. From the chaotic descent of “Self Meditated” to the cathartic rebirth in “Awake,” the EP offers a full-circle listening experience that encourages introspection and connection.
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  Formed in 2014, Sterilizing The Deceased has carved out a reputation in the Midwest metal scene, sharing stages with heavyweights like Cannibal Corpse, Dying Fetus, and Slaughter to Prevail. With members also active in projects like xEIGHTY-SIXEDx, Lie In Wait, and Terra Vista, the band brings a wealth of experience and collaborative firepower to every release.

  Experience the beginning of a journey through pain, purgatory, and ultimately, awakening with the music video premiere of "Recovery".

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  Fans can expect more music in the coming year, with another EP or full-length already in the works.
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  ​Sterilizing The Deceased's latest EP “Nothing” can be heard on all digital platforms.

  Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/album/4aTbT4KtSuLM2V2G1136Zt​

  Bandcamp - https://sterilizingthedeceased.bandcamp.com/​

  More info: Facebook.com/SterilizingTheDeceased | Instagram.com/sterilizingthedeceased

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• LOUD AS HELL OPEN AIR FESTIVAL Opens Band Submissions For 2026 Line Up - Camping & Extreme Music In Alberta's Badlands

  Sep 30, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

  

  Set against the rugged backdrop of Alberta’s badlands, where sculpted sandstone, wind-carved hoodoos, and sweeping canyons dominate the landscape, Canada’s most decibel-breaking extreme music gathering, the Loud As Hell Open Air Festival, returns for its 14th edition in 2026. From July 31st to August 2nd, Drumheller’s Dinosaurs Down Stampede will erupt with the ferocity of rising Canadian and international metal acts, roaring through the heart of the nation’s largest dinosaur fossil beds.

  Band submissions for the 2026 edition officially open on October 1st and will be accepted until October 31st. This is your band's chance to join one of the loudest and most brutal festivals in Canada, where underground talent meets prehistoric fury.

  Bands interested in performing can apply at the following link: https://loudashell.ca/​

  Early Bird tickets go on sale December 1st, 2026. Don’t miss your chance to lock in the loudest weekend of the summer at a killer price. Get ready for prehistoric heaviness and decibel-shattering performances in one of Canada’s most surreal landscapes. Loud As Hell is coming… and it’s going to be louder than ever.

  The 2025 edition of Loud As Hell delivered three relentless days of headbanging, moshing, and pure metal chaos, featuring over 40 bands from Canada, the U.S., and Mexico. Acts like Revocation, Insurrection, First Fragment, Gorgatron, Filth, Opal in Sky, Judicator, Beguiler, Gore Pig, Spit On Your Grave, Hazzerd, Cyborg Octopus, and Thirteen Goats tore through the badlands with crushing performances. The festival even hosted a heavy metal wedding, adding a unique twist to the weekend’s sonic carnage.

  LAH 2025 Lineup Spotify Playlist – https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3cu3CgEX8n2g2MQbADNJmg

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  Since launching in 2012, Loud As Hell Open Air Festival has cemented its place as a cornerstone of Canada’s extreme music scene, showcasing hundreds of bands from across the country and around the world, save for a brief pause in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the years, the festival has hosted heavyweights like Beyond Creation, Striker, Green Jelly, The Convalescence, Jungle Rot, Narcotic Wasteland, Into Eternity, Goatwhore, Fit for An Autopsy, Archspire, Unleash The Archers, Protest the Hero, AngelMaker, and many more, drawing metalheads from coast to coast for a weekend of sonic devastation.

  In 2026, Loud As Hell returns for its 14th edition, presented by Loud As Hell Productions, Jurassic Ink Custom Tattoo, Prairie Fire Events, and Asher Media Relations. Renowned for delivering one of the most punishing lineups in Western Canada, the festival promises another unforgettable experience packed with crushing performances, freak shows, burlesque acts, clinics, vendors, and yes, dinosaurs. Loud As Hell isn’t just a festival. It’s a full-throttle celebration of metal mayhem.

  More info:
  ​LoudAsHell.ca​
  ​Facebook.com/LoudAsHellFestival​
  X: @LoudAsHellFest
  Instagram: @LoudAsHellFestival
  ​Social Media Hashtags #LAHXIV, #LAHOA, #LAHOA2026

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• PsyDeathTechProg THE JUDGE THE JUROR's New Single “Heliconian Optivisor” Is Metal Alchemy At Its Finest

  Aug 15, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Edmonton, Canada’s most electrifying new metal force, The Judge The Juror (TJTJ), has dropped their blistering new single, “Heliconian Optivisor,” the first taste of their upcoming conceptual EP, "Primitive Minds," set to release in early fall 2025. This marks the beginning of an ambitious trilogy of EPs that will unfold over the next eight months, each exploring the collapse of the human condition through the band’s self-forged genre: PSYDEATHTECHPROG.
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  A mesmerizing, fast-paced assault of sonic force, “Heliconian Optivisor” dives deep into the psychological tension of viewing the world through distorted lenses, red flags we fail to see until it’s too late. The track blends blistering tech-death precision with psychedelic synths and progressive structures, reflecting the band’s desire to find authentic community without compromising identity.

  “What happens when you realize that you may have been viewing parts of your life through a lens you didn’t create? This song speaks of our human desire to find community and belonging that doesn’t come at the cost of selling our souls to fit in. This sentiment has been an ongoing discussion for the band members, as we try to carve a new, unique, and niche sound. We don’t always know where we fit into the metal scene, but we know we want to be authentic and stay true to what we believe without compromising. This balancing creates a push and pull of emotions that the musical structure of the song builds on,” says David W Frontenac (Vocals/Synth/Programming).​

  ​Add to your Spotify Playlist - https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/thejudgethejuror/heliconian-optivisor

  
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  The first of three conceptually linked EPs, "Primitive Minds" explores the paradox of modern humans trapped in ancient mental frameworks. Lyrically and musically, it’s a psychedelic futurist journey, equal parts brutal and introspective. TJTJ's release plans for the EPs will be Fall 2025 "Primitive Minds", early 2026 "Medieval Institutions", and mid-2026 "Godlike Technologies". Each release will build on the last, culminating in a sweeping narrative about societal collapse, technological alienation, and the search for meaning.

  In addition to unveiling the new single, The Judge The Juror will be hitting the road for an August tour in Alberta and BC with The Hallowed Catharsis & Plague Doctor. Catch them live for one of the most high-energy performances in Western Canada. Expect a barrage of increasingly weird and wonderful proggy tech-death.

  Tour Dates - The Judge The Juror w/ **The Hallowed Catharsis & Plague Doctor​
  Aug 21 - Kelowna, BC - Jackknife Brewing**
  Aug 22 - Kamloops, BC - Bridgeview Theatre** (UGEFEST)
  Aug 23 - Salmon Arm, BC - Solid Urban Studios**
  Aug 24 - Abbotsford, BC - Heavy Metal BBQ**
  Sept 13 - Red Deer, AB - The Vat
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  ​More info: https://linktr.ee/thejudgethejurorofficial

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