Search Results: heavy-metal

• WACKEN METAL BATTLE USA Opens Band Submissions - One Band To Conquer Them All & Play WACKEN OPEN AIR 2026

  Oct 1, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  One Band To Conquer Them All! After another successful year in 2025, to send one unsigned and independent American to play the world's most prestigious and largest already sold-out metal festivals, Wacken Open Air, Wacken Metal Battle USA announces submissions for the 2026 battle are now open as of October 1st until December 1st.

  "I am beyond stoked to bring back the Wacken Metal Battle to the US. Every year we get invited to participate is an opportunity to grow. This year will be no different. We will be bringing back some cities that haven't participated in a few years, and we will be adding at least one new city/state to the competition. Do you have what it takes to represent the US at Wacken? Sign up now!" - Eric Dow - Artist & Promoter Relations.

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

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

  Wacken Battle Trailer Video – https://youtu.be/fjMugRXEc5g​

  The 2026 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.

  At the 2025 WMBU national finals held this past June at Dingbatz in Clifton, NJ, Southern California and Arizona-based band ​MOURNING HIGH​ emerged as the seventh champion selected to represent the United States at the prestigious international showdown, Wacken Open Air, that took place from July 30th to August 2nd in Wacken, Germany, where over 185,000 attendees from around the world gathered.

  Mourning High, crowned the West Coast Winner, competed alongside five other standout American bands: ​PRIME PROPHECY (New Jersey), ​WHAT’S WRONG (Pacific Northwest), ​PONTIFEX​ (Florida), ​FIREHAZE (East Coast), and BROKEN TIME (Texas). A panel of seasoned industry professionals, including Jeff Buttermark (FM Management), Shawn Quinn (Napalm Records/FM Management), and Rob Caggiano (formerly of Anthrax and Volbeat), ultimately selected Mourning High as the top U.S. act to perform at the International Wacken Battle.

  Spotify - 2025 WMBU National Finalists Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5q7Or6tHAsWsAGg8zQSVgZ​

  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).

  For the last 7 years of battles (2017-2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025), 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 2026 will be the 35th edition of the festival and will be held from July 29th to August 1st. The 2026 event is already sold out with a line-up that includes Def Leppard, Lamb Of God, In Flames, Powerwolf, Emperor, Sepultura, and Running Wild, among others. 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 over 55 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 2026 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​.official​
  ​X.com/MetalBattleUSA​
  ​Instagram.com/metalbattleusa.official

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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

  ​

  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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• ARMSTRONG METALFEST Opens Band Submissions For 2026 Lineup - The Okanagan’s Ultimate Mountain Mosh Pit Returns

  Sep 29, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Following a landmark celebration of 15 years of extreme metal in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley, marked by record-breaking attendance and its most triumphant edition yet, ARMSTRONG METALFEST is officially set to return in 2026 on July 17th and 18th at the Hassen Arena, for two days of moshing, headbanging, and camping.

  Armstrong MetalFest’s 15th year of mountain moshing roared to life with a powerhouse 2025 lineup featuring BORN OF OSIRIS, HAVOK, GLYPH, RIOT CITY, THE BROWNING, VIRVUM, and many more heavy hitters from across Canada and beyond. On July 11th and 12th, the town of Armstrong, BC, was transformed into a metal haven, complete with Yeti Games, the Metal Madness Market, and the chaos of Thrash Wrestling.

  Check out the Armstrong MetalFest 2025 Spotify playlist - https://spoti.fi/4i4u2OV​

  Armstrong MetalFest has also released a promotional video that traces its journey from humble beginnings to becoming one of Canada’s premier metal festivals in British Columbia. Watch the full recap below.

  Band submissions for the 2026 edition of Armstrong MetalFest will be open from October 1st to 15th, inviting artists to become part of the next chapter in the festival’s legendary legacy.

  Interested bands can apply through the official portal: https://armstrongmetalfest.ca/band-submissions/

  "To close the night and the weekend, Born of Osiris delivered a high-octane headline set that tore the roof off. It was the perfect finale to an unforgettable weekend. When the last note rang out, it hit us — AMF 2025 was coming to a close. There's always that bittersweet feeling as you start packing up. But that's the beauty of this festival: it stays with you long after the amps cool down. Every year, Armstrong Metalfest brings together a community that truly loves heavy music. It's not just about bands and beer — it's about belonging. The friends you make, the moments you live, the memories that stick — they're why we keep coming back. If you've never been to AMF, consider this your sign. It's more than a music festival—it's a metal rite of passage. Once you go, it gets into your blood. We're already counting the days until the next one." - Stan Schinners of Broken Neck Radio / Absolute Underground Magazine (Live Review AMF 2025)

  Tickets for AMF 2026 will be announced at a later date, granting general admission and access to the festival grounds, camping area, and arena from 9:00 AM on Friday, July 17, 2026, until 10:00 AM on Sunday, July 18, 2026. Free camping is included.

  Please Note: Camping - RV / Non-Hookup RV / Vehicle Passes: Make sure to reserve your vehicle spot to get the best location on the grounds. A fee is required for a weekend pass per vehicle in addition to your day or weekend pass. RV hookups include water and power. If you choose to park your vehicle outside the camping area in the main parking lot, then a vehicle pass is not required.

  About:

  Since its inception in 2009 (with a brief hiatus in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic), West Metal Entertainment and Armstrong MetalFest have championed hundreds of local bands while welcoming renowned international acts to the quiet town of Armstrong, British Columbia.
  ​
  Every year, metalheads from across Canada and the U.S. converge on the scenic Okanagan Valley for three days of camping and two days packed with heavy metal mayhem. Under the blazing summer sun, fans revel in live performances, wrestling spectacles, scavenger hunts, and reconnecting with their extended metal family.
  ​
  Armstrong MetalFest has hosted legendary headliners like Kataklysm, Cattle Decapitation, Archspire, Nekrogoblikon, Origin, Rivers of Nihil, Warbringer, Fallujah, Striker, and Beyond Creation, alongside rising stars from across North America. And when the final riff fades, the festival vanishes without a trace, leaving the landscape as untouched as it was before.
  ​
  West Metal Entertainment, a non-profit society, not only produces Armstrong MetalFest annually but also supports the regional music scene by organizing performances at various venues, including all-ages shows, to inspire musical passion in both youth and adults.

  For more info:​
  ​http://www.armstrongmetalfest.ca/​

  ​https://www.facebook.com/armstrongmetalfest/​

  ​https://www.instagram.com/armstrongmetalfest/​
  ​
  ​https://x.com/amfcanada

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• TRISKELYON Announces 4th Studio Album “Maelstrom of Chaos” Out Nov 2025; Streaming Single "Blood Drowned Prophecy" ft. Liv Jagrell (Liv Sin)

  Sep 26, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Canada’s undisputed Thrash Metal Gods Triskelyon return with their long-awaited 4th full-length, “Maelstrom of Chaos”, a relentless storm of speed, fury, and precision due out on November 28th, via Moribund Records.

  Formed in 2021 by guitarist Geoff Waye of the acclaimed True Metal band Category VI, Triskelyon came roaring out of the gate with their self-titled EP and landed a deal with Moribund Records for their chart-crushing debut, “Downfall” (2022). They followed with the bone-splitting “Artificial Insanity” (2023), dominating radio for six weeks, followed by the apocalyptic “Shattered Elysium” (2024). Each release bigger, faster, heavier… and now comes the ultimate Thrash onslaught “Maelstrom of Chaos”.

  For “Maelstrom of Chaos,” mastermind Geoff Waye once again summons an all-star cast of metal warriors from the Canadian scene and from the global scene. Enlisting the vocal talents of guests Liv Jagrell (Liv Sin), Amanda Jackman (Category VI), James Delbridge (Lycanthro), Carolina Padrón (Tribus, Bloodrain), Dale Drew (Sea Dogs), and Pete Healey (Marshall Law, Ex Oberon), this album reigns as a true Thrash Metal masterpiece. On drums, the thunder is split between Raul Marques (Burning Torment) and Nicole Trinchero (Chaos Rising, Acroma), while bass devastation comes courtesy of Dwayne Pike (Afterforever), Rick White (Within the Realm, Exorcist), and Darrin Pope.

  ​

  In true Triskelyon fashion, expect more than Thrash - this is a molten fusion of Thrash, Speed, Power, Death-Thrash, and Traditional Metal. Wild and impressive, explosive riffs, razor-sharp solos, and skull-crushing rhythms resurrect the glory of the ‘80s while forging it into something bigger, louder, and deadlier for today.

  In keeping with Triskelyon's tradition of closing their albums with an iconic cover, this release delivers the heaviest Metal rendition of Peter Schilling's mega-hit “Major Tom” that the world will ever hear!

  “Maelstrom of Chaos” is not just an album - it’s a Thrash Metal supernova. Brace yourself.​

  CD pre-order (out Nov 28th) - https://www.moribundcult.com/product/DEAD336.html

  ​

  Track Listing:​
  1. Of Dust and Divination (4:49)
  2. The Winter Tsar (4:02)
  3. Maelstrom of Chaos (4:24)
  4. Unit 684 (4:21)
  5. Blood Drowned Prophecy (4:10)
  6. Death Racer (4:24)
  7. Blame Game (4:27)
  8. Divide and Dissent (3:53)
  9. Cretin (5:08)
  10. Major Tom (cover) (5:22)

  Follow TRISKELYON:
  ​Facebook | Bandcamp​
  ​
  Follow Moribund Records:
  ​Moribund Website | Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp

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• Space Metal Opera AEDAN SKY's Debut Album “The Universal Realm”

  Sep 12, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  AEDAN SKY is the brand-new solo project from Sébastien Chabot, best known as the guitarist & singer of French power metal band Galderia and bassist/composer in Kingcrown alongside ex-Nightmare frontman Joe Amore. After years of touring across Europe, racking up millions of streams and shaping a solid discography, Seb launches a new creative journey, a return to his roots in speed-driven, uplifting melodic power metal.

  "The Universal Realm" is far more than a debut album; it’s a fully realized space opera metal saga telling the story of a cosmic journey toward spiritual awakening and universal consciousness. Written, arranged, and produced entirely by Sébastien, the album reflects his personal vision supported by long-time collaborators from the Galderia circle. To bring the story to life, the album features three lead vocalists performing as the main characters: Sébastien Chabot as SKY / Bob Saliba (Kingcrown, ex-Galderia) as AEDAN / Thomas Schmitt (Galderia) as SKY's Soul. Their voices weave together across the songs, creating a rich, theatrical dynamic reminiscent of the classic metal opera format.

  The album's mix and master were handled by Simone Mularoni (Rhapsody, DGM, Secret Sphere) at Domination Studio, ensuring top-tier sound quality. The stunning cover artwork was created by Felipe Machado Franco, known for his work with some of the most iconic bands in the genre. Musically, "The Universal Realm" pays homage to the golden era of late '90s and early 2000s European power metal, blending fast riffs, anthemic choruses, massive choir harmonies, and spiritually charged lyrics. It’s a heartfelt tribute to the genre’s greats, while carving out a distinct space through its narrative ambition and cohesive artistic direction.

  Following the digital success of singles "Beyond The Vortex Of Time" and "A Kingdom To The Stars", the album now arrives to offer fans the full epic journey. This record also marks the first chapter in an ongoing saga.

  Fans of melodic and conceptual power metal will find in AEDAN SKY a fresh, passionate, and authentic voice.

  LISTEN TO "A Kingdom To The Stars"

  
  ​LISTEN TO "Beyond The Vortex Of Time"​

  ​
  ​BUY A COPY at the following link: https://rockshots.eu/products/aedan-sky-the-universal-realm-cd​
  ​
  To celebrate the album release, AEDAN SKY also presents the official lyric video for the song “Gate Of Skies,” offering fans an additional glimpse into the cosmic journey of "The Universal Realm".

  ​

  Track Listing:​
  1. Opening
  2. Call of the Universe
  3. A Kingdom to the Stars
  4. Gate of Skies
  5. Beyond the Vortex of Time
  6. From the Ashes to the Light
  7. Land of Paradise
  8. Interlude
  9. Illumination
  10. The Universal Realm
  ​
  ​Aedan Sky Line Up:​
  Vocal Cast / Characters
  Sébastien Chabot: Lead Vocals as SKY
  Bob Saliba: Lead Vocals as AEDAN
  Thomas Schmitt: Lead Vocals as SKY's Soul Musicians
  Sébastien Chabot: Lead & Rhythm Guitars, Bass Guitar, Keyboards
  Thomas Schmitt: Lead Guitar on track 4
  Bob Saliba: Lead Guitar on track 9
  Julien Digne: Piano on tracks 4 & 10
  S.D.: Drums

  ​More Info:

  ​https://rockshots.eu/​

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578169109523​
  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aedansky

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