Today, four city Metal bands will battle it out to find a place in the German Metal festival, Wacken Open Air (WOA) Metal-Battle, that will take place next month.

Systemhouse 33, one of the Metal bands that will be competing in the Mumbai Leg of WOA Metal-Battle.
pic courtesy/Systemhouse33

The citywide challenges began earlier this month with rounds being held in Kolkata and Delhi; now is Mumbai’s turn to nominate its best Metal act for the national challenge in Bangalore. “The final leg of the competition will decide India’s entry into the global WOA Metal-Battle in Wacken, Germany,” informs Salman Sayed, promoter of India operations of WOA. Four Mumbai bands — Systemhouse33, Asylum, Orion and Halakuh — will perform at Crazy Blue in Vashi.

However, the fun doesn’t end there; city Metal-heads have more to cheer, as the amateur bands will be joined by German Folk Metal act, SuidAkra and Indian thrash metal group, Sceptre. “SuidAkra is on its first India tour and will perform at all citywide challenges including the national battle in Bangalore,” adds Sayed. The band uses plenty of traditional Western musical instruments like bagpipe, banjo, and tin whistle.