Wacken Metal Battle USA will begin in February 2023, giving one independent Heavy Metal band a chance to perform at this year’s Wacken Open Air Festival in Germany. Running from 2-5 August 2023, the 32nd edition of the Wacken, this year headlined by Iron Maiden, has already sold out.
Last year, San Diego’s Mythraeum were crowned champions, following previous winners San Diego’s Monarch (2019), Anaheim’s Voices of Ruin (2018) and Philadelphia’s Corpse Hoarder (2017).
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 29 other countries’ champions and represent the USA in Germany. 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.
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 2023 and compete against the winners of 29 other countries in a final global battle. Respected local music industry representatives will judge all bands during battle rounds.
Competition rules can be found at https://metalbattleusa.com/rules/.
Event details can be found at https://www.facebook.com/metalbattleusa.official/events.
Washington
Feb 11, 2023 – Seattle – Fun House
Oregon
March 4, 2023 – Portland, OR – Dante’s
New Jersey
Feb 10, 2023 – Clifton, NJ – Dingbatz
Feb 24, 2023 – Clifton, NJ – Dingbatz
March 10, 2023 – Clifton, NJ – Dingbatz
April 7, 2023 – Clifton, NJ – Dingbatz – Clifton Final
Utah
Feb 10, 2023 – Salt Lake City, UT – Aces High
Feb 11, 2023 – Salt Lake City, UT – Aces High
Feb 25, 2023 – Salt Lake CityUT – Aces High – Salt Lake City Final
Ohio
Feb 24, 2023 – Akron, OH – Empire Concert Club
Feb 25, 2023 – Akron, OH – Empire Concert Club
April 29, 2023 – Akron, OH – Empire Concert Club – Akron Final
Texas
Feb 4, 2023 – San Antonio, TX – Rock Box
Feb 12, 2023 – Austin, TX – Come And Take It w/ Conjured, Lament, More bands TBA
Feb 18, 2023 – El Paso, TX – Rockhouse
Feb 18, 2023 – Fort Worth, TX – The Rail Club
Feb 18, 2023 – Houston, TX – Acadia Bar and Grill
March 10, 2023 – Austin, TX – Come And Take It – Texas Final
California
Feb 11, 2023 – Sacramento, CA – Old Ironsides
Feb 17, 2023 – San Diego, CA – Brick By Brick w/ Parasitic Existence, Gravity Grave, Drillbit, Fadrait, Masketatt, The Oathbreakers
Feb 18, 2023 – San Diego, CA – Brick By Brick w/ Godhammered, Corpsemaker, The Bastard Saints, Corpus, Druide, Cranial Detriment, California Villain
March 4, 2023 – Santa Ana, CA – Stages w/ Anubis, Diabology, Final Summon, Ophidia, REOG, RivetSkull, Tornadic, Wasted Eternities
March 11, 2023 – Crockett, CA – Toot’s Tavern w/ Hellbender, Nothing But Losers, FROLIC, Way II Stoned, Gurschach
March 11, 2023 – Santa Ana, CA – Stages w/ ATER, Black Market, Carbonwire, Consciously Dying, Deep Within, Hollywood Nightmare, Titans Wrath, Veiled Alpha
March 18, 2023 – Crockett, CA – Toot’s Tavern
March 18, 2023 – San Diego, CA – Brick By Brick – San Diego Final
March 25, 2023 – Sacramento, CA – Old Ironsides
April 1, 2023 – Crockett, CA – Toot’s Tavern – Nor Cal Final
April 1, 2023 – Santa Ana, CA – Stages – Santa Ana Final
April 22, 2023 – San Diego, CA – Brick By Brick – West Coast Final
National Final
May 13, 2023 – San Diego, CA – Brick By Brick
