This year's battle rounds are as follows (listed by city): Philadelphia, PA Round 1 Date: Friday, March 9 Venue: Bar 2300 (2300 Swanson Street) Event Link: TBA Bands: Stealing Fame Assayer Fatal Aggression Andhera Eyes of The Living Round 2 Date: Saturday, March 17 Venue: Bar 2300 (2300 Swanson Street) Event Link: TBA Bands: LOR The Age of Truth Symetria Altar of Dagon Incest Burner East Coast Final Date: April - TBA Venue: Bar 2300 (2300 Swanson Street) Event Link: Bands: TBA San Diego, CA Round 1 Date: Friday, March 2 Venue: Brick By Brick (1130 Buenos Ave.) Event Link: TBA Bands: In The Name of The Dead NightShadow ShredBundy Theosis Warpath Round 2 Date: Friday, March 30 Venue: Brick By Brick (1130 Buenos Ave.) Event Link: TBA Bands: Gravespell Gus Macarthur Monarch Sentinel Temblad Los Angeles, CA Round 1 Date: Saturday, March 24 Venue: Viper Room (8852 Sunset Blvd, West Holywood) Event Link: TBA Bands: Aeonic Impulse Anthea Edge of Paradise Event Horizon Ironaut Round 2 Date: Saturday, April 14 Venue: Viper Room (8852 Sunset Blvd, West Holywood) Event Link: TBA Bands: Bombscare Railgun Ophiuchus Voices of Ruin Void Vator California Final Date: Saturday, April 28 Venue: Viper Room (8852 Sunset Blvd, West Holywood) Event Link: Bands: TBA | For over a decade at the world’s largest outdoor metal festival Wacken Open Air, independent metal bands from around the globe have been performing in front of thousands and competing against one another for one to be crowned champion of the world along with winning multiple prizes (prizes info). For the second year, Wacken Metal Battle USA is returning to America and will be hosting qualifying rounds in select cities across the nation. The national champion of those battles will perform at the 2018 festival taking place from August 2nd – 4th in Wacken, Germany. Last year's battles saw the best from the Philadelphia and Boston areas, Corpse Hoarder, Goblet, Power Theory, and Upheaval perform in the national final. Crowned champions were Philadelphia's Corpse Hoarder whom performed a furious set at the 2017 Wacken Open Air. Watch live video of their performance below or at the following: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qy9qkb6Fmc8 Orlando, FL Round 1 Date: Saturday, March 10 Venue: Bombshell’s Tavern (5405 Edgewater Drive) Event Link: TBA Bands: Kill The Sound Mekanism F.I.L.T.H. Arakara Acaedia The Ocean, The Beast Atlas Round 2 Date: Friday, March 23 Venue: The Haven Lounge (6700 Aloma Avenue, Winter Park, FL) Event Link: TBA Bands: A Feasting Beast All Hell A Matter of Honor Varanger Queen Dementia Withering Earth Thicket Tampa Bay, FL Round 1 Date: Saturday, March 3 Venue: The Brass Mug (1450 Skipper Road) Event Link: TBA Bands: Plagues of Despair Death Inside Us Led by Serpents Alpha Decay Dark Star Coven Alptraum Shattered Sevin Sins Round 2 Date: Saturday, April 7 Venue: The Brass Mug (1450 Skipper Road) Event Link: TBA Bands: War of Thrones Tower 7 Untoten Krieg Blood, Bath & Beyond 5 Star Hooker Sister Kill Cycle Fallen Shall Prevail Florida Final Date: TBA Venue: TBA Event Link: TBA Bands: TBA USA National Final Date: Saturday, May 26 Venue: Viper Room (8852 Sunset Blvd, West Holywood) Event Link: Bands: TBA |