Join the Wacken Metal Battle 2020

Time to tune those axes and get ready to attack with blast beats: The 17th edition of the worldwide biggest hard and heavy band contest, Wacken Metal Metal, will once again provide an arena for aspiring musicians in 2020.     

As in previous years, 30 countries or regions will participate in the final round at the Wacken Open Air in 2020. In order to join the battle in Germany, bands have to apply and get invited to perform at their local Wacken Metal Battle competition first. The winners of their national finals will be given the chance to perform in Wacken. 

Sascha Jahn (head of project) comments:-

     "The Wacken Metal Battle has proved to be a most fertile ground for fresh talent in the hard music scene and unites young bands from all around the globe in an exciting and friendly competition each year. Even the high number of 30 slots for bands at the Wacken Open Air finals is not enough to allow each participating country and region to send contestants every year. Furthermore, we are proud to announce two new participants with Australia and Chile in 2020. This means that unfortunately some countries have to take a break either voluntarily or determined by lot. We congratulate all countries that have been drawn for the 17th edition and are looking forward to welcome those back in 2021 that are now on a hiatus."

The 30 countries and regions participating in the Wacken Metal Battle 2020 are listed below in alphabetical order. For direct contact and applications to a specific country, please click on the name:-

• Argentina
• Australia
• Bulgaria
• The Caribbean
• Caucasian Republics
• Central America
• Chile
• Denmark
• Faroe Islands
• Finland
• Former Yugoslavian Republics
• France
• Greece
• Germany
• Hungary
• Indian Sub-Continent
• Indonesia
• Ireland
• Israel
• Japan
• Luxembourg
• Mexico
• The Netherlands
• Portugal
• Romania
• Russia
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Ukraine
• USA

The following countries are on a hiatus in 2020:

Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Middle East, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Uruguay

The following rules apply to all bands that want to participate in the Wacken Metal Battle. 

• Only bands without a record deal or about to sign to a label in the near future may apply.
  
• Bands have to travel to the national and final event at their own expense.
  
• Bands need to be able to perform a 30 minute set of original material. Cover versions are not permitted.

 

• Previous winners of national & international Wacken Metal Battles are excluded from applying again.
  
• Bands that have already participated in a national Wacken Metal Battle but did not win may apply again.
  

• Applications need to contain a demo with 3-4 songs, band picture with photo-credit and info, and a contact address and should be send to the national promoters (contact through clicking at the name in the list of participating countries above). 
  

You can also find the rules at this link www.metal-battle.com/about or apply directly via the official website: www.metal-battle.com/countries

Every band that wins a national Wacken Metal Battle competition gets to perform at the Wacken Open Air in the final international round of the contest. At the final event an international jury of experts is picking five top bands, which receive attractive prices by renowned sponsors including the Wacken Foundation and makers of musical instruments and technical gear. On top of this, as in the year before, the number 1 band of the Wacken Metal Battle 2019, Varang Nord, just got to play at the Full Metal Holiday in Mallorca, Spain with expenses covered.

The Wacken Metal Battle was founded by the Wacken Open Air in 2004 to support unsigned rock and metal bands as well as to promote the underground scene of hard and heavy music. Since is inception, the competition has quickly grown into the biggest international heavy metal talent contest with currently more than 40 countries and regions in the general pool out of which 30 are selected to compete each year. The winners of the national and regional competitions enter the final round at the Wacken Open Air, where they get to perform in front of an international jury of experts. The five top bands selected by the jury receive attractive prizes generously provided by the Wacken Foundation and other renowned sponsors including makers of instruments and technical gear. The Wacken Metal Battle also provides a networking area were aspiring musicians can meet with booking agents, labels, managers, and media.