Live Show Review: Wacken Metal Battles’ Edmonton Final

This weekend saw one of Edmonton’s most important metal shows: The Wacken Metal Battles’ Edmonton Final. For the uninitiated, Wacken Open Air is the biggest outdoor metal festival on earth. They host a globe-spanning series of battles of the bands to find up-and-coming acts to play the main stage. Edmonton’s battles take place at the Starlite Room, the beating heart of the local metal scene. There are four preliminary rounds, and one final four-way battle.

As usual, the final is a fantastic show. The crowd is extra hyped, the bands bring their absolute best, and one of the criteria the judges use is “efficiency on stage,” so the time between sets is unusually quick.

So who played, and who won? Let’s meet the bands:

REKT BETTIES

Rekt Betties were this year’s oddball entry, similar to Sparrow Blue last year. I can’t deny their skill or their sense of theatrics, they just don’t fit in with the others. Their set was tons of fun, but Rekt Betties was by far the lightest fare of the night. They stepped on the gas a few times, especially with the fittingly-named Give Me Something Heavy, but this just isn’t the kind of music you mosh to. Rekt Betties are going places, but the crowd knew right away: they weren’t going to Wacken.

AGE OF ASHES

Age of Ashes burst onto stage and reminded the crowd that they were in fact at one of the biggest, baddest metal shows in Edmonton. Both their songs and their performance overflowed with energy and got the crowd moving. They guided pits with a subtle yet effective hand. They played guitar in subtle yet effective (and loud!) ways. Age of ashes is a five piece and definitely enjoyed the benefits of a front man not tied down by a guitar cable.

TATARA

Tatara was the most anticipated act of the night. This underage phenom has relatively few shows under their belt, yet they command an audience with incredible skill. They also rocked wireless guitar kits for the battles this year, which paid off when it came to their stage-spanning antics. In both performance and musical skill, it’s hard to believe this band will be graduating highschool together this summer. Regardless of the outcome of this battle, Edmonton’s metalheads will be keeping an eye on Tatara going forward.

FALL OF EARTH

Fall of Earth had the final set of the night, and they made sure to capitalize on the warmed up crowd with a relentless torrent of blazing riffs and a double kick that never quit. At this point in the night, I wasn’t sure I had any gas left in the tank, but Fall of Earth kept my head banging for one last set. Fall of earth’s style is a loosely-defined fusion that takes the thunder of thrash, the fury of death metal, adds a little black and melodic spice, and serves up a uniquely invigorating riot.

AND THE WINNER IS…

Last year’s final battle was a relatively easy decision. This year, there was no clear pick in the crowd. Age of Ashes, Tatara, and Fall of Earth were not just great – they were equally great. The judges admitted this was a very close decision before announcing that the winner was…

Age of Ashes!

The Wacken Metal Battles’ Edmonton Final was a thrilling show, and gave us all something to look forward to. Tatara is growing up into a behemoth and Fall of Earth remains one of the hottest bands in Edmonton.

Perhaps most importantly of all, for the first time ever, the Edmonton final is not the end of the Wacken Battles in our fair city. Edmonton will be hosting the national final as well! Wacken will be back in town on May 25, so keep an ear out and maybe I’ll see you there…

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