There can only be one! Wacken Metal Battle Canada is proud to announce this year's 2025 national finalists for one unsigned Canadian band to 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).
After multiple battles across the country that began in January of this year, the final four Canadian bands will be making their way to the national final in Vancouver, BC, on May 31st, 2025, at the Rickshaw Theatre (254 East Hastings Street), where they will be judged by a panel of music industry judges that include BRITTNEY SLAYES (Unleash The Archers), CLAINE GORGOTH LAMB (The Hallowed Catharsis, Misyrion), 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). Door Time at 6 pm PST. Tickets available at https://orangetickets.ca/detalles_evento.php?id_evento=1914
"Once again, we are at our Finals for the Metal Battle, and it's a very special one this year, as we host them in Vancouver for the first time! What a testament to Canadian talent we have, showcasing some of the top metal acts from across our great country, all leading to this final showdown in VanCity. Stoked to make the trek to attend and can't wait to see who will be our champions bound for Wacken Open Air," comments WMBC national organizer JJ Tartaglia.
British Columbia WMBC promoter Abelardo Mayoral adds:
"There has been a lot of excitement about the Metal Battle Canada taking place in Vancouver throughout the different elimination rounds. The response and attendance to each round have been outstanding. I know Vancouver is ready to welcome bands and fans from all over the country, and of course, to showcase the talent, strength, and unity that the metal scene in all of BC has."
WMBC 2025 Final Spotify Playlist - https://spoti.fi/3Z55AFy
Winning their territorial battles respectively, the final four are the following:
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.
Video - Epic Live Set at the Whiskey Pit: Killotine Shreds Like Never Before! - https://youtu.be/AkuL8nbk8XE
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.
Music Video - You Could Be My Gwen Stacy - https://youtu.be/eRnfHx-FvGY
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.
Song Stream - Buddha (Demo) - https://youtu.be/Menz1YSu_pI
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.
Song Stream - Offal Offering - https://youtu.be/7s0WVh-JXd4
https://linktr.ee/yeggmetal
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WACKEN METAL BATTLE 2025: CANADA FINAL
Event Info - https://www.facebook.com/events/2015740435614140
Sat, May 31, 2025 - 6:00 PM PST
Rickshaw Theatre
254 East Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC, V6A 1P1
About:
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 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 giving 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 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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