The Metal Battle was started in 2004 by the founders of the world’s biggest heavy metal festival, the Wacken Open Air, as a newcomer contest to support up-and-coming bands from all over the world will go into its ninth round in 2012 – with Nuclear Blast Records and ICS Festival Service joining in.

What initially started out as a small contest with six German bands and five bands from other countries grew and grew over the years, so that there was a total of 29 international newcomer bands performing during the festival in 2011 and striving for the first place after having won the preliminary decisions in their respective countries. In the past, the first prize was a record deal with Wacken Records. For 2012, Nuclear Blast and ICS Festival Service have announced their participation, meaning that the winning band of Metal Battle 2012 will win a record deal with Nuclear Blast.

A&R; manager Andy Siry states: “We’re looking forward to this cooperation with the W:O:A Metal Battle and ICS. Supporting young talents means paving the way for a diverse and prosperous international heavy metal scene in the future. Plus it’s always great to see how many musical rough diamonds are out there, who deserve much more attention than they currently receive.”

The Wacken Open Air 2012 is set to take place August 2nd - 4th in Wacken, Germany.

Confirmed acts for Wacken 2012 include: AMON AMARTH, CORONER, CRADLE OF FILTH, DARK FUNERAL, DIMMU BORGIR (with orchestra), ENDSTILLE, FORBIDDEN, GAMMA RAY, HAMMERFALL, IN EXTREMO, MACHINE HEAD, MINISTRY, MOONSPELL (with orchestra), NAPALM DEATH, PARADISE LOST, AXEL RUDI PELL, HENRY ROLLINS (spoken work engagement), SATURNIAN, SCORPIONS, SICK OF IT ALL, SIX FEET UNDER, U.D.O. (Birthday Party), WATAIN, WINTERFYLLETH.

Tickets for Wacken 2012 are exclusively available at Metaltix.com. Organizers have announved that over 50% of tickets have been sold for next year's event.

For more info visit Wacken.com.