Last year's first ever Wacken Metal Battle Canada was witnessed to Toronto, ON's epic power/death metal band CRIMSON SHADOWS not only winning the 2013 Canadian final but conquering the international final in Wacken, Germany where they performed in front of thousands unknown to their behemoth sound of metal. Video of that champion set can be viewed below.

With that great success and triumph for Canadian metal, Wacken Metal Battle Canada will be expanding across the country in 2014.

"We're very pleased to announce that Metal Battle has been expanded to include Western Canada. Battles will happen in Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver and we expect some quality submissions from those major cities to join Toronto and Montreal. Given the interest we received last year from the West, this expansion was inevitable. We've been working hard to overcome the geographical challenges - the result will be a bigger and better competition", comments Wacken Metal Battle Canada organizer JJ Tartaglia.

One Canadian band will rule them all and represent the nation with highest honour at this year's 2014 international battle at the world’s most prestigious metal festival Wacken Open Air in Wacken, Germany where they will join the list of Canadian heavyweights such as VOIVOD, EXCITER, RAZOR, ANNIHILATOR, ANVIL, KATAKLYSM, CRYPTOPSY, 3 INCHES OF BLOODS, DESPISED ICON and DANKO JONES who have performed at the festival in years past.

Canadian battle rounds will be judged by a panel of local music industry representatives during the months of March, April and May with the national final being held on June 7th in Toronto, ON with the following band representation.

1 finalist from Vancouver, BC

1 finalist from Alberta (Calgary and Edmonton will face off)

2 finalists from Toronto, ON

1 finalist from Montreal, QC

Submissions are now open and will be closed on January 31st with bands selected to be announced at a later date in February. Bands can now apply at this location. Rules can be found here

Wacken Metal Battle Canada promo vdeo:

For more info on Metal Battle Canada, head here.