Wacken Metal Battle 2025

In 2024, Denmark made history in Germany: For the first time, a Danish metal band won the grand finale at the Wacken Metal Battle at Wacken Open Air. THUS captured the industry’s hearts, signed a booking contract with Doomstar in the wake of their success, and has since secured spots at festivals like Inferno, Copenhell, Spot, and Wacken Open Air in 2025!

Denmark’s largest and most serious talent program for up-and-coming metal, Wacken Metal Battle Denmark, returns in 2025 with its biggest tour yet and the largest lineup of Danish talent ever. The Danish metal scene is brimming with amazing talent, and in 2025, a total of 16 bands will be selected for Wacken Metal Battle Denmark 2025 - 4 more than in 2024!

However, it’s not just the 2024 success story that Denmark can boast about when it comes to Wacken Metal Battle! History speaks for itself when we look back at Denmark’s success in Wacken Metal Battle as one of the most important showcases for new Danish metal. Names like By The Patient, Aphyxion, Huldre, Xenoblight, Lamentari, and Swartzheim have all been part of Wacken’s major international talent program. This program offers one Danish band the chance to perform in the grand international finale at Wacken Open Air 2025.

The support and desire to strengthen the Danish metal scene have been tremendous at Danish venues, allowing us to announce the 2025 tour—earlier than ever before!

In 2025, Wacken Metal Battle Denmark will tour 5 cities in Denmark:
Preliminary Rounds:
5/16 - Musikhuset - Slagelse
5/17 - Godset - Kolding
5/23 - Tobakken - Esbjerg
5/24 - Stengade - Copenhagen
Final:
5/31 - Gimle - Roskilde

The preliminary rounds will be headlined by the Danish thrash kings IMPALERS!
The final at Gimle will be headlined by the 2024 winners, THUS!

As something new, Wacken Metal Battle Denmark has secured an exciting deal with Spot Metal in Aarhus, meaning that the winner of Wacken Metal Battle Denmark 2025 will also perform at Spot Festival 2026!

Important info about 2025 Wacken Metal Battle Denmark:
- In 2025, a total of 16 bands will be selected for the showcase by a listening panel of industry professionals and musicians.
- 4 bands will perform in each round.
- One winner will be chosen in each preliminary round and will advance directly to the final at Gimle in Roskilde on May 31. The winner will be selected by a qualified judging panel consisting of musicians and industry professionals, including bookers, journalists, and agents.

Registration for Bands:
The registration for Wacken Metal Battle Denmark is now open! Just like with the announcement of the concerts, this year’s registration opens record early, giving your band a chance to sign up right away.
You can apply to join the showcase until February 1, 2025! Registration opens this early to give new bands a chance to fine-tune their material without rushing to meet a tight deadline. Now everyone has a chance!

RULES FOR REGISTRATION:
- Your band does not have a record deal and is not about to sign with a label in the near future.
- Your band can easily perform a 30-minute set consisting of your own original songs.
- Your band has not previously won Metal Battle Denmark.
- Bands that have participated before but did not win any of the regional heats are welcome to apply again.
- You MUST be available to play in one of the preliminary rounds, the final at Gimle on May 31, and if you win, at Wacken Open Air 2025. These dates must be cleared and ready in your calendar.

Sign up here: https://www.metal-battle.com/denmark/