Wacken Metal Battle Alberta Finals
BLEED, Dethgod, AfterEarth, Arrival of Autumn
April 18th, 2015
Edmonton’s Pawnshop played host to the Alberta finals of the Wacken Metal Battle on this windy, dusty, Saturday night. The battle to win a spot at Wacken Open Air takes place in several Canadian cities, culminating in the finals in Toronto, scheduled for June 6th, 2015. Four bands played on this particular night, representing some of the best metal in this province. Each band was allowed a set of roughly half and hour to showcase what they’re made of.
Arrival of Autumn made the trek from Grande Prairie to compete, dodging a highway accident on the way and still managing to arrive ready to play. While metalcore is not typically a style I personally enjoy, Arrival of Autumn played a great set, showcasing some tight musicianship. Along with their fans, they injected energy into the venue right from the start.
AfterEarth, from Calgary, took the stage second. Most closely fitting with melodic death metal, they also played a fantastic set. This four piece shredded from the moment they took the stage, building on the energy already in the room. They seemed to have several eager fans in the audience who could be seen moshing, headbanging and shouting along to the lyrics.
Switching from melodic death metal to a more brutal, traditional style of death metal, Dethgod was up next. Hailing from Morley, this was apparently the first time they have played in Edmonton. They absolutely nailed the brutal death style, creating a slightly ominous atmosphere fit for the genre.
BLEED was the last band to take the stage, opening with a thunderous rendition of ‘Murder Baby’. With several in the audience covered in BLEED blood for the band’s set, they brought enough energy to cause any metal lover to head bang with ferocity. Taking full advantage of custom stage props, this is a band that demonstrates exactly what a live show should be. Full of gore, backed by great musicianship, and engaging the audience, they never fail to deliver.
Once the music had wrapped up for the evening, the anticipation of waiting for the winner to be announced could be felt. I would have hated to judge this competition as every band brought something slightly different with the commonality of representing some of the best in Alberta in their respective sub-genres. When the announcement came, it was revealed that BLEED had prevailed. With that result, they will be representing Alberta metal in the finals, hoping to win a coveted spot at Wacken Open Air later this year.
With that, congratulations to all of the bands who put on a fantastic show. A huge congratulations to BLEED! Best of luck in the finals, keep doing what you’ve been doing, and put Alberta metal on the map!