One Band To Conquer Them All & Play Wacken Open Air 2023

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Wacken Metal Battle USA announces its 2023 rounds to crown one independent band to perform on the world's largest gathering of metalheads from around the world. To date, the battle has sent 4 previous bands to perform on metal's most prestigious stage. 2022 witness San Diego's MYTHRAEUM crown champion, following previous winners San Diego's MONARCH (2019), Anaheim's VOICES OF RUIN (2018) and Philadelphia's CORPSE HOARDER (2017).

2023 battles will be taking place in the following cities:

Battles event info can be found HERE

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/ ATER, Black Market, Carbonwire, Consciously Dying, Deep Within, Hollywood Nightmare, Titans Wrath, Veiled Alpha
March 11, 2023 - Santa Ana, CA - Stages
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

For the last 4 years of battles (2017-2019, 2022), Wacken Metal Battle USA has hosted battles across the country to send one independent metal band to perform at the world’s largest metal festival Wacken Open Air in Wacken, Germany. 2019 saw the festival celebrate its 30th anniversary, but due to Covid, the 2020 and 2021 editions were both canceled. As the metal community regains its strength, Wacken Open Air 2023 will be the 32nd edition of the festival and will be held from August 2nd to 5th. The 2023 event is already sold out with a line-up that includes Iron Maiden, Megadeth, The Dropkick Murphys, Wardruna, Jinjer, Beartooth, Trivium, Kataklysm and many more.

Wacken Metal Battle USA is part of an international competition that sees bands from across the country battle each other for the chance of winning their spot among 29 other countries’ champions, and represent the USA 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 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. All bands will be judged during battle rounds by respected local music industry representatives.

Rules for participation: https://metalbattleusa.com/rules/