< Previous“Our new T E .N.T. area is perfect for guests traveling light or using public transport,” Hoff- mann says. The TE.N.T. area offers pre-pitched, reserved tents for one to two people. Visitors can also rent sustaina- ble camping equipment from Utopia Camping if needed. This option is simple yet incredibly convenient. “Most T E .N.T guests come alone or with one companion. The area is super central and right in the middle of the ac- tion,” she adds. Tents and sleep boxes ready for campers Guests can travel light, renting sustainable equipment from Utopia Camping The Check in area Freshly cooked meals are available in the T E .N.T. areaFor metalheads traveling in their own vans, RVs, or caravans, the Camper-Park has been a popular choice for over 15 years. “The Camper-Park is perfect for those who appreciate a bit more privacy and the chance to relax away from the main festi- val area,” Hoffmann explains. The Camper-Park features parcels of up to 100 square meters, complete with power hookups—perfect for vehicles with trailers. A dedicated wrist- band distribution area is avail- able, and a pedestrian bridge connects the Camper-Park to the festival grounds. Fans can reserve mul- tiple parcels in Bauer Uwe’s Garden, mak- ing it an excellent choice for groups that want to camp together but might arrive separately. An- other unique feature: guests can rent a pri- vate, lockable toilet. “Bauer Uwe’s Garden is one of our most popular options, and we’re planning to ex- pand it further next year,” Hoffmann an- nounces. Booking starts at 11 a.m. on December 6, at www.metaltix.com The Camper-Park offers more space and privacy In Bauer Uwe’s Garden, guests can even rent their own MMWC - the Metal Mobil WC Credits: WOABy Timon Menge he last notes of the Wacken Metal Bat- tle 2024 have barely faded, and prepara- tions for the next year are already under- way. For weeks now, young bands from all over the world have been strap- ping on their guitars, compet- ing in regional contests, and hoping that their journey will lead them to the Holy Ground in 2025. We spoke with Ab- bas Razvi, who organized the first Metal Battle preliminary round in faraway Kathmandu. Nepal is the land where the majestic Himalayas meet ancient spiritual traditions. Over 30 million peo- ple live here, 80 percent of whom are Hindus. But spirituality isn’t the only source of strength for the people in the birthplace of Buddha. Since the 1990s, a vibrant metal scene has flourished at the foot of Mount Everest, with bands like the ethno-heavy Lakhey, grindcore power- houses Chepang and Discord, and death metal titans Ugra Karma. Now, the Wacken Metal Battle has found a home in Nepal, giving the local scene an international Heavy Metal at the Mount Everest Wacken Metal Battle Around the World: For the first time in the history of the global band competition, a preliminary round was held in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal Tombstone have won the preliminary round in Nepal and can now compete in the final round for the Indian subcontinent in Bangalore Organiser Abbas Razvi A huge billboard in the centre of Kathmandu advertising the Metal Battle Metal fans at the preliminary round in Kathmandustage, as organizer Abbas Razvi explains. Abbas, how many bands applied for Nepal’s first preliminary round? Abbas Razvi: There were 25. Participating in such a competition is still a new experience for Nepal. I’m confident that involvement will grow in the future as more bands learn about the Metal Battle and understand its global significance. Where did the Metal Battle in Nepal take place? Abbas Razvi: In Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. There’s a fantastic venue there called Beers N’Cheers, which provides great support for the local scene. How did you experience the show? Abbas Razvi: It was a really positive experience! Growth is gradual, but we are determined to consistently support and develop the scene in Nepal, with the hope that one day a band from the region will win the Metal Battle. What was your favorite part of the premiere? Abbas Razvi: Bringing the opportunity to Nepal for bands to potentially play at the biggest metal festival in the world. This is an incredible chance for the bands, and we’re committed to making this dream accessible to the local metal scene in the coming years. Do Nepali metalheads face any unique challenges? Abbas Razvi: The scene is still quite small. Few concerts take place, and the costs of organizing events are very high. This often leads to periods of inactivity for many bands. More frequent shows and opportunities to perform internationally would be a huge help in building and motivating the local scene. Who won—and what happens next? Abbas Razvi: The winners are Tombstone. They now have the opportunity to compete in the finals for the Indian subcontinent in Bangalore. From there, the next door to the world’s biggest metal festival could open. It feels like a fever dream Denmark, the land of Vikings, is also home to Thus, who claimed victory in the 2024 Wacken Metal Battle. Overwhelmed, the young band celebrated their win in August. In this interview, they share what’s happened since then By Timon Menge “ e had so much fun at Wacken – and now we’ve won!” said Thus guitarist and vocal- ist Frederik Jensen, sum- ming up their experience on Wacken’s Holy Ground. Back in the summer, the band not only took home 5,000 Euro in prize money and various gear, like a new guitar, but also garnered significant attention from the metal world. Now, four months have passed. We caught up with bassist Sebastian Skous- gaard to see how life has changed for the relatively young band and what lies ahead. Sebastian, how do you reflect on your time at W:O:A 2024? Sebastian Skousgaard: When we were announced as the winners, we couldn’t believe it. Everything happened so fast, and suddenly we were flooded with questions from journalists and tons of support on social media. The Danes Thus at the award ceremony in summer 2024, Sebastian Skousgaard on the left Credits: Wacken Metal BattlePlaying at Wacken was a dream come true. What made it even more unforgettable was meeting some of the artists who inspired us to start making music in the first place. Hanging out with the guys from The Black Dahlia Murder and watching Opeth’s amazing set were definitely highlights of W:O:A 2024 for us. When did it sink in that you had actually won? Sebastian Skousgaard: In some ways, it still hasn’t. It feels like a fever dream, but every time we’re in our rehearsal space, we see this giant check that says, “1st Place Wacken Metal Battle 2024.” It’s a constant reminder that it really happened. I also watch our performance on the W:O:A YouTube channel now and then to relive the moment. What have you been up to since your win? Sebastian Skousgaard: Back home, we immediately switched into business mode. The festival opened so many doors for us, and we’ve started working with Nightcrawler Management and Doomstar Bookings to capitalize on the momentum. We’ve already booked a Denmark tour and will be playing major festivals like Copenhell and Inferno. Plus, we’re working on securing a record deal for our debut, so we’ve been extremely busy. Being the first Danish band ever to win the Metal Battle has really elevated us in our home country. The competition gave us a huge boost, transforming us from a brand new underground band to a recognized name in a very short time. What will you spend the prize money on? Sebastian Skousgaard: So much is happening right now that it’s hard to say. Expanding our merch line, paying for a studio and producer, or even planning an international tour… These are all expensive dreams we hope to make a reality. No matter what, the financial support from the Wacken Foundation means a lot to an underground band like us. It’s brought us much closer to achieving our goals. Are you working on your debut album? Sebastian Skousgaard: We released an EP this year, which will soon be available on vinyl. But yes, our main focus is on our debut album right now. We’re still in the demo phase, but the songs are evolving into something completely new and epic for us—groovy as hell, full of progressive twists, and at its core, melodic death metal. We can’t wait to share this music with the world—hopefully as soon as next year. “ ” The winners from Denmark are currently working on their first album Singer Frederik Jensen from Thus on stage in Wacken Credits: Wacken Metal BattleMPS HANSEATIC PROUDLY PRESENTSNext >