In 2024, the Wacken Metal Battle invited 6 countries across the African continent to compete for one lucky slot to play at the Holy Grounds of heavy metal; Wacken Open Air.

Each band brought their unique essence and style to the finals held at Sognage, Johannesburg on the 4th of May, with bands competing from South Africa, Botswana, Angola, Namibia, Kenya and Mozambique. At the end of the night, South African progressive metal band Sunken State took the glory as this year’s winners.

We follow Sunken State all the way to Wacken in Germany as they took to the stage and placed 7th out of the 30+ other countries who competed, making their mark at the WMB whilst creating unforgettable memories to last a lifetime.

DIRECTED BY:
Midnight Energy

PRODUCED BY:
Midnight Energy
Emalyth Events
Wacken Foundation

IN ASSOCIATION WITH:
Wacken Open Air
Wacken Metal Battle Sub-Saharan Africa
Wacken Metal Battle

PROMOTERS:
Emalyth Promotions
Patrick Davidson (Metal4Africa)
Matthew Ryan Howes
Deadzone Productions
Rock Society of Kenya
Vulture Overthrust
Stino Matola
KB Amos

FINALS JUDGES:
Neil & Francois De Villiers
Rachelle Lessing
Kizito Thibile
Sthembiso Kunene
Ian van de Merwe
Cami Skinner
Euclides Anatolly
Johni Holiday
Tim Moolman
Tshomarelo Mosaka
Stino Matola

HEATS JUDGES:
Robert Pereira
Brandon Render
Jina Min

CONTENT:
EDITED & PRODUCED BY
Zainab Hoseini
Sean Gaisford

FINAL MIX & ONLINE BY:
Sean Gaisford

SHOT BY:
Midnight Energy
Not Russell Crow Productions
Kurt Sassenberg

SOUND BY:
Joshua van der Spuy

LIGHTING BY:
Mahdi Hoseini

PHOTOGRAPHY BY:
Alexander Wolf
Keets Productions
Christelle Duvenage
Kurt Sassenberg
Portia T. Mugai
Caz Haines

FINALS SOUND ENGINEER:
Ashley Gaisford

REGIONAL CONTENT:
Calvin de Swart
Tshomarelo Mosaka
Euclides Anatolly
KB Amos
Stino Matola

MUSIC BY: Sunken State
To Pieces
Pure Hate
Egyptian Pariah
Separation Has Begun
This Is The End
I Am Divinity
Crimson King
Abyss

2024 FINALISTS:
Sunken State
Desert Mother
Fading Gray
Human Nebula
As Night Fades
Your Cynical Sanity
Doomtrigger
Last Year’s Tragedy
Samehunduans
Ressurreição
Scratch

VENUES:
Sognage, Johannesburg
Rumours Lounge, Johannesburg
Bailey’s Bedfordview, Johannesburg
Smoking Kills, Johannesburg
Railways Cafe, Centurion
Westville Warehouse, Durban
Woodstock Brewery, Cape Town
Gil Vicente Cafe, Maputo
Fundação Arte e Cultura, Lunda
Nairobi Street Kitchen, Nairobi
Rosepan Hotel, Letlhakane

SPECIAL THANKS TO:
Sashquita Northey
Alana Britz
Heidi Ziegel & Ivaylo
Chris Oakley
Jon Enright
Sludge Underground
Marcel Smuts
Nasiphi Zwane
Danny Helsing
Brian Smith
Michael Bower
Neil & Francois De Villiers
Sognage Stage Tech & Crew
Facing The Gallows
Red Helen
Middle Grounds
Marshall Music
Lefokolodi
Handpicked Heathens
Luke Swanepoel

свернуть