Are you ready for the last four additions to the billing and an important message? We’ll start with the news that the German final of the Wacken Metal Battle will once again take place at the Dong Open Air! On May 4th the winner of the North German semi-final will be fought out on Föhr and on May 25th, the winner of the Southern German semi-final takes place in Chemnitz! We can’t wait to see who will qualify for the international final at Wacken Open Air on our holy hill!
And this is where we move on to announce four names we can confirm today without zero battles!
After their debut cover hit “Diamonds” back in 2013, Any Given Day took a swing at the Dong – but a lot of water has since flowed down the Rhine-Herne Canal and the Gelsenkirchen-based band are back on the hill with their perfect symbiosis of metalcore, djent and prog! Are you ready?
If you like Thundermother, you will love The Gems! After leaving their former band, exceptional vocalist Guernica Mancini, Emlee Johansson on drums and Mona “Demona” Lindgren on guitar and bass make for a scorching restart with powerful classic rock songs on their brand new record.
Aexylium from Italy will be the popular choice for those of you who like folky metal with dark growls, violins and catchy melodies! Nordic mythology from Lombardy? Definitely essential in the repertoire of this eight-headed combo who may bring a familiar face. Did you already spot her?
Tyranthrope are a thrash metal hardcore punk treasure from nearby Krefeld. Founded in 2020, but with band members who have up to twenty years of experience in the local underground. A certain musical proximity to veterans like Slayer and Sick Of It All cannot be denied! Perfect for Mount Moshmore, if you ask us!
With these four plus the two battle winners, our lineup for July 11-13 is complete: Behemoth, Blind Guardian, In Extremo, Die Apokalyptischen Reiter, Equilibrium, Deserted Fear, The Night Flight Orchestra, Wucan, Nanowar of Steel, Drone, Neurotic Machinery, Scarnival, Nephylim, Subterranean Masquerade, Vulture Industries, The Night Eternal, Dust Bolt, Harakiri for the Sky, Escuela Grind, Chaosbay, Elvellon und Steelpreacher will join you on the mountain top!
All spring fever, no allergies,
your Dong Team