One band to rule them all! On Saturday, May 25th in Calgary, AB at Dickens, Canada’s top four unsigned bands from across the country shared the stage for the 2019 national final of Wacken Metal Battle Canada. The night was filled with an eclectic mix of metal, from prog to death to black. Battling the night away, the final featured The Slyde (Toronto, ON – Eastern Final Winner), The Myopia Condition (Red Deer, AB – Western Final Winner), Blackwater Burial (Vancouver, BC – BC Final Winner), Fjell Thyngor (Calgary, AB – Calgary Final Winner) whom were selected from qualifying rounds held between the months of January and April in Victoria, Vancouver, Kelowna, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Hamilton, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City and Halifax.

Judged by a panel of metal industry that consisted of JJ Tartaglia (Head Organizer of Wacken Metal Battle Canada, Owner of Boonsdale Records), Teitur Fossaberg (Head Organizer of Wacken Metal Battle Faroe Islands), Wally Laurier (DJ and Programmer on Rock Bottom – CJSW 90.9FM), Laura Vezer (DJ and Programmer on Rock Bottom – CJSW 90.9FM), CC Getty (Founder of METALHEADS UNITED, Founder of 420 Music & Arts Festival), Celestia Scarlett (Founder of METALHEADS UNITED, Manager of The Celestial Agency), Graham Harris (Vocalist of Hammerdrone, 2018 Wacken Metal Battle Canada Western Finalist) and Nate Reno (Owner of Big Nate Productions, Founder of Calgary Metalfest), only one band could be selected to represent the nation at this year’s international Wacken Battle at the 30th edition of Wacken Open Air. The battle has been part of the festival since 2004 and has had over 40 countries participate since its inception. This year’s Canadian champion crowned to represent the nation is Toronto’s THE SLYDE. They will be joining metal bands from 29 other countries battling it out from July 31st to August 2nd for one to conquer them all. The top 5 bands will be rewarded with material and cash prizes.

THE SLYDE comments:
“We are extremely honoured and humbled to be chosen as the 2019 winners of the Wacken Metal Battle Canada, and the Canadian ambassadors for the W:O:A Metal Battle international final round at Wacken Open Air in Germany. We gave it our all and battled against some stiff competition since the very first round, and want to send our kudos to all the amazing bands we shared the stage with: Superchucker, Hounskull, Chainfall, Northshroud, Dumpster Mummy, BornBroken, Fjell Thyngor, The Myopia Condition, and Blackwater Burial (as well as Operus, Mokomokai, Villain and Planet Eater as guest headliners) – and to all other bands who participated in the competition. Thanks to JJ Tartaglia, Jon Asher, Nate Reno and Nancy Barnes at Big Nate Productions, all the sponsors behind WMBC, all our fans for your continued support, and to all the judges for believing in us, and giving us this opportunity to represent Canada at the world’s largest heavy metal festival. After a decade of rockin’ hard in Canada, we finally get a chance to play our melodic prog metal in Europe. We are beyond stoked. We love you all!
– Nate, Sarah, Al, Andrew.”

Head Organizer of Wacken Metal Battle Canada adds:
“Was an absolute pleasure to attend the finals in Calgary and see firsthand the metal talent from across our country. Such great potential from all of the bands. Big congrats to The Slyde as they continue their journey to the holy fields of Wacken!”

Wacken Open Air features Slayer, Sabaton, Parkway Drive, Demons & Wizards, Powerwolf, Airbourne, Rose Tattoo, Within Temptation, Meshuggah and many more. Full details here.

Winner of this year’s Wacken Metal Battle Canada national final will receive $2,000 CAD along with a donation of $600 from Big Nate Productions and $400 from the donated raffle of items from CJSW 90.9 FM towards their airfare to travel and perform at Wacken Open Air in Wacken, Germany.

This was Wacken Metal Battle Canada‘s first year expanding into the Maritimes with an event in Halifax, NS along with the national final being hosted for the first time in Western Canada in Calgary, AB. All previous national finals have been held in Toronto, ON.

Wacken Metal Battle Canada 2019 – Spotify Battle Bands Playlist here. (more to be added)
Wacken Metal Battle Canada Promo Video here.
Video of 2018 Champion Centuries of Decay at Wacken Open Air here.

List of previous Canadian winners:
Centuries of Decay (2018)
Profaner (2016)
Vesperia (2015)
Mutank (2014)
Crimson Shadows (2013)

For more info:
Official Website: https://www.metalbattle.ca
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MetalBattleCanada
Twitter: @MetalBattleCAN
Instagram: @MetalBattleCan
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/WackenMetalBattleCAN
The Slyde: https://www.facebook.com/theslydecanada/

For more info on international Wacken Metal Battle, please visit https://www.metal-battle.com/about/
For more info on Wacken Open Air, please visit https://www.wacken.com