Wacken Open Air have in its 23 years become the biggest and most famous metal festival in the world, which brings together over 80 000 visitors each year. This year, for the first time, in Croatia is held Wacken Metal Battle, where 6 bands battled for a performance at Wacken. These 6 bands are all among the best known on the local scene: Cold Snap, Father, Inciter, Rising Dream, Stimulans, and War-Head. All of these bands have a lot of experience and have performed with world famous bands.
Schedule of band’s shows wasn’t previously published, but it’s good because there were quite a lot people in Boogaloo club watching the first band, unlike most shows when there are only a few people in the front row in the beginning.  At 9 p.m. on the stage started first band, Stimulans, heavy metal band from Split. Guys did a great performance, and I have no objections to the technical side, in fact I commend guitarist, but the lyrics are not something special.
After them Cold Snap were on the turn. Groove metal band from Varaždin, one of my favorite bands on the competition. Good show, energetic as always. They played the older and newer songs, and among them was also, probably their most famous, cover song “Bongo Bong”.
The third in the row played Rising Dream, power / death metal band that in 2008. performed as an opening act for Iron Maiden in Split, and I must admit that they were better then. However, the new singer is great, and she has a really good growl.
After follows Inciter from Zagreb, the only band that had pyrotechnics on stage which was really contributing to their stage performance. There is a big influence of Metallica in this band, maybe even too much, but for me personally it was one the best shows, if not the best.
As the penultimate on the stage were thrash trio War-Head from Osijek. Good band and good performance in the old school style.
And in the end have played Father from Rijeka, known for its excellent performances. They had the best communication with the audience of all bands, and most original stage performance. Towards the end of the concert band members have put the Guy Fawkes masks and singer symbolically tore ACTA banner, which, of course, caused great delight of the audience. Finally, they mentioned all the bands which played on the competition, but also some of our great bands that unfortunately did not get a chance to participate in the struggle for Wacken, such as band E.N.D from Zadar.

The jury has rendered a decision very quickly, and then followed the announcement of winners.
Third place was shared by War-Head and Stimulans, on the second place was band Father, and the first prize and entry in the final competition to perform at Wacken won band Cold Snap.

Report and photo: Elena Crnković