THE BEAST

WACKEN METAL BATTLE CANADA Announces 2025 National Finalists
KILLOTINE, SOULTHIEF, BEYOND SUFFERING, and YEGG Prepare for the Final Showdown in Vancouver

The road to Wacken is nearly complete. Wacken Metal Battle Canada (WMBC) has officially announced the four national finalists for its 2025 competition, setting the stage for one of the most anticipated moments in Canadian underground metal. After months of brutal battles and intense performances across the country, four bands have risen to the top and will clash at the national final on May 31st, 2025 , at Rickshaw Theatre in Vancouver, BC . One will emerge victorious and claim their spot at Wacken Open Air , the legendary German festival that draws over 80,000 metalheads from around the world.

The Finalists Are:

KILLOTINE (Ontario)

SOULTHIEF (Eastern Canada)

BEYOND SUFFERING (Alberta)

YEGG (British Columbia)

🎧 Listen to the WMBC 2025 Finalists on Spotify:
https://spoti.fi/3Z55AFy

THE FINAL BATTLE: Vancouver, BC – May 31, 2025

Venue: Rickshaw Theatre – 254 East Hastings Street
Time: Doors at 6:00 PM PST
Tickets: Available here
Event Info: Facebook Event

A stacked panel of judges will preside over this showdown, including:

Brittney Slayes (Unleash The Archers)

Claine Gorgoth Lamb (The Hallowed Catharsis, Misyrion)

JJ Tartaglia (WMBC Organizer)

JJ Caithcart (SCRAPE Records / Different Stages Radio)

Kris Schulz (Empower Through Music / Horizon School of Music)

Abelardo Mayoral (The Invisible Orange / OrangeTickets)

Stan Schinners (Broken Neck Radio)

WMBC organizer JJ Tartaglia shared his excitement:
"Once again, we are at our Finals for the Metal Battle, and it’s a very special one this year, as we host them in Vancouver for the first time! What a testament to Canadian talent we have, showcasing some of the top metal acts from across our great country. Stoked to make the trek to attend and can’t wait to see who will be our champions bound for Wacken Open Air."

BC promoter Abelardo Mayoral adds:
"The response and attendance to each round have been outstanding. Vancouver is ready to welcome bands and fans from all over the country—and to showcase the talent, strength, and unity of the metal scene in all of BC."

MEET THE FINALISTS

KILLOTINE (Hamilton, ON)

A sonic wrecking ball from Ontario, KILLOTINE delivers relentless, raw metal with explosive riffs, breakneck solos, and pounding drums. Known for their no-compromise approach, their live shows are pure chaos and adrenaline.
🎥 Live at Whiskey Pit
🔗 https://linktr.ee/killotinemetal

SOULTHIEF (Ottawa, ON)

Blending melodic hardcore, thrash, beatdown, and slam, SOULTHIEF is an unstoppable crossover force. Their albums Citadel and The Bad Kind of Wet earned critical acclaim, while their live sets—shared with the likes of Stick to Your Guns and Left to Suffer—are pure energy.
🎥 You Could Be My Gwen Stacy
🌐 https://www.soulthief.ca

BEYOND SUFFERING (Calgary, AB)

This five-piece metal act mixes thrash and metalcore with melodic sensibilities and emotional punch. Their new demo “ Buddha ” teases what’s to come in their upcoming dual EPs Darkness and Light .
🎧 Stream “Buddha”
🔗 https://www.facebook.com/BeyondSuffering

YEGG (Nanaimo, BC)

Paying homage to death metal’s golden era, YEGG channels the brutality of Death , Obituary , and Cannibal Corpse into a live show that’s as ferocious as it is faithful. Pure, unfiltered OSDM.
🎧 Offal Offering
🔗 https://linktr.ee/yeggmetal

About Wacken Metal Battle Canada

Wacken Metal Battle Canada is part of a worldwide competition where unsigned bands compete for a chance to play at the legendary Wacken Open Air festival in Germany. With over 30 participating countries, WMBC offers an unparalleled opportunity for Canadian metal bands to reach an international stage and audience. For over a decade, the competition has spotlighted the rising force of Canada's underground scene.

📖 Learn more about the rules and international structure:
https://www.metal-battle.com/rules/

📱 Stay connected:
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Who will represent Canada on the global stage at Wacken Open Air 2025?
Come to Vancouver on May 31st and witness one band to rule them all .