Wacken Metal Battle Canada Announces BC and Ontario 2025 Battle Rounds

One Band To Rule Them All! After another record-breaking year of submissions from independent bands across the country, Wacken Metal Battle Canada is proud to announce this year’s British Columbia and Ontario 2025 battles, which could see one unsigned band 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).

The 2025 British Columbia and Ontario battles will be held in the following cities and dates, with more to be announced for Canada. The national final will be held in Vancouver, BC, on May 31st, 2025, at The Rickshaw Theatre.

Wacken Metal Battle Canada 2024 Winner Beguiler

2025 Canadian Wacken Battles:​
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​British Columbia Dates:​

March 1 – Vancouver Round 1 @ The Cobalt
March 2 – BC Interior Round @ Jackknife Brewing
March 22 – Vancouver Round 2 @ The Cobalt
March TBC – Vancouver Island Round @ Lucky Bar
May 3 – BC Final @ The Cobalt
May 31 – National Final @ The Rickshaw, Vancouver
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​Ontario Dates:​

January 10 – London Round @ Rum Runners
Atria (guest headliner), Death Club, Dead Days, 4HateU8
FB: http://www.facebook.com/events/1944970149316798
Ticket link: http://www.ticketweb.ca/event/whacken-metal-battle-2025-rum-runners-tickets/14091163
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January 24 – Hamilton Round @ Main Stage Rehearsal
The Good Depression, Killotine, Zero Tolerance, Devilz By Definition, Zero End
Ticket link: http://wackenmetalbattle.bigcartel.com/product/wacken-metal-battle-jan-24-hamilton
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January 25 – Toronto Round 1 @ Hard Luck
Pillars of Autumn, Ischemic, Purveyor of Chaos, Unkle Skurvey
Ticket link: http://wackenmetalbattle.bigcartel.com/product/wacken-metal-battle-jan-25-toronto
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February 1 – Toronto Round 2@ Hard Luck
Seagrave, Nepenthe, Panic Response, The Animal Warfare Act
Ticket link: http://wackenmetalbattle.bigcartel.com/product/wacken-metal-battle-feb-1-toronto

Edmonton, AB – TBA
Calgary, AB – TBA
Ottawa, ON – TBA
Montreal, QC – TBA
Quebec City, QC – TBA

The 2025 WMBC champion will receive the following:​

– A slot at the 2025 Wacken Open Air Festival.
– Full professional backline provided.
– $1,000 CAD towards flights to Germany.
– VIP camping at the festival.

The 2024 WMBC national final was held in Edmonton, AB at The Starlite Room on May 25th and witnessed regional winners Arrow In The Quiver (Vancouver, BC), Infrastrvctvre (Calgary, AB), Age of Ashes (Edmonton, AB), Beguiler (Toronto, ON) and Red Raven Chaos (Montreal, QC) along with special guest headliners NECHT (Calgary, AB – 2023 National Finalist).

The night was MC’d by Gord Alexander (Tessitura, Tides of Kharon) and judged by an industry panel that included JJ Tartaglia (Wacken Metal Battle Canada, Boonsdale Records, Skull Fist, Thunderor – Toronto, ON), Luc Lainé (CFLX 95.5 FM – Alerte Metallique – Sherbrooke, QC), Dan Cleary (Striker), Kim Aebly (The Invisible Orange, Vancouver, BC), Dana Zuk (Dana Zuk Photography – Edmonton, AB), Jon Asher (Asher Media Relations – Montreal, QC), Nancy Barnes (Big Nate Productions – Calgary, AB), Celestia Scarlett (Owner/Artist Manager – The Celestial Agency– Calgary, AB) and Steve DC (Strigampire – 2023 National WMBC Winner – Trois-Rivières, QC).

After each band presented their furious rallying battle performance, the only one that stood out from the rest was crowned 2024 champion Toronto’s Beguiler who moved on to perform as the only independent Canadian band at the International Battle at Wacken Open Air 2024 (July 31st – August 3rd).