Aspiring thrashers looking for their big break may have just found it with the announcement of the second Wacken Metal Battle Canada contest. Like last year's inaugural edition, the battle of the bands-style contest will bring the hair-whipping victors onstage at the iconic Wacken Open Air fest in Germany.
A press release notes that this year's battle will be bigger than what transpired in 2013, with news that the contest is now open to Western Canadian markets in Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver. Organizers feel that adding these battles, in addition to those taking place in Toronto and Montreal, will give a broader range of bangers an opportunity to rule the roost at Wacken.
"We expect some quality submissions from those major cities to join Toronto and Montreal," Wacken Metal Battle Canada organizer JJ Tartaglia said in a statement. "Given the interest we received last year from the west, this expansion was inevitable. We've been working hard to overcome the geographical challenges — the result will be a bigger and better competition."
Submissions for the various events are being taken now over here until January 31, with bands to be selected and announced in February. The first round in each city will take place sometime between March and May, while regional winners from BC, Alberta, Quebec and two bands from Ontario will square off in the finals June 7 in Toronto. The act that takes it all will then be sent to play Wacken Open Air, which runs July 31 to August 2.
Last year, Toronto melodic death metal outfit Crimson Shadows won the contest. You can see the band's full set from the Headbangers Stage at Wacken down below. Other Canadian acts that have been booked at Wacken over the years include Voivod, Exciter, Razor, Annihilator, Anvil, Kataklysm, Cryptopsy and 3 Inches of Bloods.
You can find out more about the contest rules over here.
Exclaim! will be serving as one of Wacken Metal Battle Canada's media sponsors.
A press release notes that this year's battle will be bigger than what transpired in 2013, with news that the contest is now open to Western Canadian markets in Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver. Organizers feel that adding these battles, in addition to those taking place in Toronto and Montreal, will give a broader range of bangers an opportunity to rule the roost at Wacken.
"We expect some quality submissions from those major cities to join Toronto and Montreal," Wacken Metal Battle Canada organizer JJ Tartaglia said in a statement. "Given the interest we received last year from the west, this expansion was inevitable. We've been working hard to overcome the geographical challenges — the result will be a bigger and better competition."
Submissions for the various events are being taken now over here until January 31, with bands to be selected and announced in February. The first round in each city will take place sometime between March and May, while regional winners from BC, Alberta, Quebec and two bands from Ontario will square off in the finals June 7 in Toronto. The act that takes it all will then be sent to play Wacken Open Air, which runs July 31 to August 2.
Last year, Toronto melodic death metal outfit Crimson Shadows won the contest. You can see the band's full set from the Headbangers Stage at Wacken down below. Other Canadian acts that have been booked at Wacken over the years include Voivod, Exciter, Razor, Annihilator, Anvil, Kataklysm, Cryptopsy and 3 Inches of Bloods.
You can find out more about the contest rules over here.
Exclaim! will be serving as one of Wacken Metal Battle Canada's media sponsors.
