nemesis |

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – June 5, 2026

WACKEN METAL BATTLE USA Announces 2026 National Finalists

FATE DEFINED, NEMESIS, GANNONDORF, RAMTHA, THE VICTORIOUS DEAD, THROUGH THE OCULUS

One Band To Conquer Them All & Play WACKEN OPEN AIR!

One Band to Conquer Them All! Wacken Metal Battle USA announces the 2026 national finalists who will clash for the title of USA champion and earn their place onstage at this year’s 35th anniversary of Wacken Open Air and the international Wacken Metal Battle, uniting rising bands from across the world at one of the planet’s most iconic and influential metal festivals.

After battles hosted across the country, the final six have emerged to represent the best of the best underground metal bands in the United States and will compete at the national final on June 13th in San Diego, CA, at Brick By Brick (113 Buenos Ave.), where they will perform in front of metal-hungry fans and be judged by a panel of music industry veterans that includes Rod Kukla (Silver Lining Music), Martin Koller (Prophecy Production, SPKR Media) and more to be announced in the coming days.

The final six bands that won their regionals are FATE DEFINED (Spokane, WA), NEMESIS (Houston, TX), GANNONDORF (San Diego, CA), RAMTHA (St. Petersburg, FL), THE VICTORIOUS DEAD (New York, NY), and THROUGH THE OCULUS (Apple Valley, CA).

Listen to all the USA national final bands on the WMBU 2026 Final Spotify Playlist – https://open.spotify.com/playlist/14751T41YocZkJCVUJWcjL?si=HGcF4x2xRXKHWR8PEaXy5w

About the bands:

FATE DEFINED – https://fatedefined.com/about-us-epk

Lyric Video – World in Flames – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cATc3ZPyMAc

Fate Defined is a heavy metal powerhouse from Spokane, Washington, formed in late 2020. Blending modern aggression with old‑school thrash, they aim to define the Pacific Northwest metal sound. Their debut EP World in Flames dropped in May 2024, fueling a run of headlining shows, festivals, their first music video, and a tour that included the historic Knitting Factory. The band kicked off 2025 with multiple sold‑out shows, including a support slot for (Hed) P.E. The quintet continues to hit stages while writing their next record.

NEMESIS – https://www.nemesisriffs.com/

Governed With Fear – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3lQ0XtK07I

NEMESIS began as the brainchild of guitarist Nick Broussard, who started writing music soon after picking up the instrument at 13. Through high school collaborations and the unexpected isolation of COVID, Nick wrote an entire album and shaped the band’s identity before lineup changes stalled their early momentum. After reconnecting with drummer Alex and teaming up with Reagan and Ezra, the revived lineup recorded and released their debut album False Reality in summer 2023. The band quickly hit the stage, opening for major acts like Fueled by Fire, Metal Church, Armored Saint, EYEHATEGOD, Goatwhore, and Accept while performing across Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. Now finishing their second album, NEMESIS enters the 2026 Wacken Metal Battle as the reigning Texas State Champion, heading to San Diego to compete for the national title.

GANNONDORF – https://www.facebook.com/Gannondorfmetaloffical

Thriller (cover track) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-o5tp5nnhs

Gannondorf is an avant‑garde black metal project from the San Diego/Escondido, California area, originally formed in 2008. The band began as a fusion of black metal and video‑game‑inspired themes, later evolving through a period under the name Gravespell before returning to their original identity in 2020. Their music blends experimental, gothic, and extreme‑metal elements, drawing on dark, apocalyptic, and fantastical themes. Gannondorf’s most notable release is The Nightmare Institution (2024), an eight‑track, hour‑long album praised for its technical guitar work, atmospheric horror‑driven aesthetics, and genre‑blending approach. The project remains active and independent, continuing to expand its sound while maintaining a cult following within the California extreme‑metal underground.

RAMTHA – https://linktr.ee/ramthabandfl

Music Video – Infinite Energy – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yXxBbuLLsI

Ramtha is an extreme‑metal band from St. Petersburg/Tampa, Florida, known for fusing death metal, thrash, grind, and hardcore into a high‑intensity hybrid sound. Active since 2022, the band has carved out a distinct identity within Florida’s extreme‑metal scene. They’ve released two EPs, Void Tyrant (2023) and Through Eyes of Death (2024), and are currently developing a third EP slated for 2026. Ramtha has earned a reputation for explosive live performances, frequently hitting Tampa’s Brass Mug and sharing stages with major acts such as Exhorder, Crypta, Worm, Gruesome, Artillery, Killing Addiction, Bandit, Gillian Carter, Dayglo Abortions, and Hong Kong Fck You. With momentum continuing to build, the band remains a rising force in the underground.

THE VICTORIOUS DEAD – https://linktr.ee/hailtvd

Music Video – To The Darkness – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7Qg9I2k3Wk

Founded in 2023 by guitarist Jonathan Theriault, The Victorious Dead is on a mission to unleash crushing and melodic metal upon the world. Joined by drummer Jude Austin and bassist Andrew Klabin, the band released their debut EP Life of Death in June of 2024. The Sound The crushing impact of The Victorious Dead’s sound is not at all compromised by their catchy hooks and breathtaking moments. With influences such as Iron Maiden, Amon Amarth, Mastodon, and Enslaved, both musicality and demolishing riffage take top priority.

THROUGH THE OCULUS – https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572792274421

Music Video – Belladonna’s Deadly Waltz – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2e4KShIXvdY

Through the Oculus is a female‑fronted metal band from Apple Valley, California, formed in 2017. The group blends powerful vocals, melodic guitar work, thunderous bass, and driving drums into a modern heavy‑metal sound that quickly set them apart in the Southern California scene. Within a short time, they began performing at iconic venues including The Viper Room, Whisky a Go Go, and Adelanto Stadium, building momentum through high‑energy live shows. Their self‑titled debut album showcased a dynamic mix of hard‑rock and metal influences, earning attention for its blend of personal lyrical themes and fictional narratives of quests, revenge, sacrifice, and destruction. The band continues to write new material and perform actively, solidifying their reputation as one of the region’s rising heavy‑music acts.

Event Details:

Date: Saturday, June 13, 2026

Venue: Brick By Brick, 1130 Buenos Ave, San Diego, CA 92110

Time: Doors 7 pm – 21+

Ticket Link – https://www.ticketweb.com/event/wacken-metal-battle-brick-by-brick-tickets/14865723

Event Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/990241790350952

The 2026 WMBU champion will receive the following:
– A slot at the 2026 Wacken Open Air Festival.
– Full professional backline provided.
– $1,000 USD towards flights to Germany.
– VIP camping at the festival.

List of previous WMBU national winners: Mourning High (2025 – Southern California / Arizona), Cascade Effect (2024 – San Diego), Fadrait (2023 – San Diego), Mythraeum (2022 – San Diego), Monarch (2019 – San Diego), Voices of Ruin (2018 – Anaheim), and Corpse Hoarder (2017 – Philadelphia).

Watch – Wacken Metal Battle 2025 – Aftermovie | Have You Heard the Future of Metal? – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCulXiLlaSw

Wacken Battle Trailer Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjMugRXEc5g

For the last seven years of battles (2017-2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025), Wacken Metal Battle USA has hosted battles across the country to send one independent metal band to perform at the world’s largest metal festival, Wacken Open Air in Wacken, Germany. 2019 saw the festival celebrate its 30th anniversary, but due to COVID, the 2020 and 2021 editions were both canceled. As the metal community regains its strength, Wacken Open Air 2026 will be the 35th edition of the festival and will be held from July 29th to August 1st. The 2026 event is already sold out with a line-up that includes Def Leppard, Lamb Of God, In Flames, Powerwolf, Emperor, Sepultura, and Running Wild, among others. Details here.

Wacken Metal Battle USA is part of an international competition that sees bands from across the country battle each other for the chance to win their spot among over 55 other countries’ champions and represent the USA in an international battle of the bands at the world’s largest outdoor metal festival: Wacken Open Air. The battles have been hosted at the festival for over a decade and allow independent bands to showcase their talents to an international audience, along with the chance to win multiple prizes.

How it works:
Participating cities will host qualifying rounds plus a city final organized by a local city concert promoter, where one band will move forward to the American national final (date and city to be determined). The winner of the national final will advance to perform at Wacken Open Air 2026 and compete against the winners of international bands from around the globe in a major international battle. All bands will be judged during battle rounds by respected local music industry representatives.

About Wacken Open Air:
Wacken Open Air is the largest heavy metal festival in the world. Starting with 800 visitors in 1990, nowadays 85,000 fans from all over the world travel to Wacken every year, turning the small village in Schleswig-Holstein into the center of the festival scene for several days. The organizing WOA Festival GmbH is connected to a broad network, including band management, the Wacken Foundation, tour booking, music publishing, Travel & Stay, merchandising distribution, and ticketing. In cooperation with partners, these results in creative solutions and ideas that revolutionize the festival experience, enable technical innovations, and produce extraordinary event concepts. Wacken Open Air 2026 will take place from July 29 to August 1, 2026.

Links:
Metal-Battle.com
MetalBattleUSA.com
Facebook.com/metalbattleusa.official
X.com/MetalBattleUSA
Instagram.com/wmbusa.official

– 30 –

Sponsors / Partners:
Fatal Illness Management
Bravewords.com
Metal-Rules.com
V13.net
GhostCultMag.com
Come And Take It Productions
Brick By Brick
Distilled Entertainment
Piox Promotions
Tampa Bay Metal Scene
Last Light Presents
East Coast Metal Mayhem
Dean Guitars
Asher Media Relations

—
ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS
Jon Asher – Music Publicist
#.514.581.5780
jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
Facebook – Asher Media Relations
Instagram – AsherMedia
Tweet – AsherMedia

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – October 13, 2024

Canadian Proggers THE WRING Showcases Riffs and Fingerwork On New Guitar Video “Blur”

New Album “Nemesis” Out Now! via WormHoleDeath Records

The Wring – Album Lineup – L-R – Kyle Brian Abbott – Drums, Don Dewulf – Guitars, Reggie Hache – Bass, Vocals & Keyboards

Canadian proggers The Wring released their much-anticipated fourth studio album “Nemesis” this past September. This album marks a significant step in the band’s journey, showcasing a more cohesive and refined sound that blends their heavy rock roots with progressive and jazz influences. With eight tracks spanning just over 40 minutes, “Nemesis” adds a new, technical twist to progressive metal.

Today, Guitarist Don Dewulf shares his latest video for the instrumental track “Blur” via its premiere on V13.net HERE.

“Frank Zappa once said: “lyrics (in his songs) wouldn’t exist at all if it weren’t for the fact that we live in a society where instrumental music is irrelevant”. As someone who appreciates all forms of very progressive music, but also values Frank’s sentiments, if I am going to create an instrumental, it had better be short and interesting. For me, YYZ is the gold standard with La Villa being a stretched-out older cousin. I like to think Blur checks a few of those boxes and that people will enjoy what it has to say.” adds Dewulf.

The Wring‘s new album “Nemesis” explores themes of external and internal conflict, with each song representing a different facet of our struggles. From the driving intensity of tracks like “Badlands” and “The Sword” to the melodic intricacy of “The Nail” and “Before I Disappear”, the album is a dynamic journey through the band’s musical and lyrical vision. Reggie Hache’s expanded role on vocals, bass, and keyboards brings a new depth to The Wring’s sound, while Dewulf’s guitar work continues to anchor the band’s heavy yet nuanced approach.

Throughout “Nemesis,” the playing is tight, precise, and yet still free-flowing. Each instrument complements the others and often provides a steady hand while the other players move in different directions.

Guitarist Don Dewulf comments:

“Thematically, Nemesis speaks to conflict of all sorts. Musically, there is a similar conflict of musical styles. The central idea of every Wring album is to combine many genres in a single song, so while nothing is new, hopefully, the combination can seem fresh or different. For many listeners, even the most dedicated, certain musical stylings are an onerous listen – jazz, prog, even classical. The idea of Nemesis is to give the listener a way to enjoy odd times, peculiar harmony, and aggressive riffs without having to give up their soul to do it. The backbone of every song is firmly rooted in traditional hard rock so there is always something to grab onto.”

Enjoy “Nemesis” as a metal album, a prog album, a rock album, or even a pseudo-jazz affair; it’s all of those things. It is recommended for fans of Dream Theater, Opeth, and Porcupine Tree.

“Nemesis” was released on September 27, 2024, via Wormholedeath Records, with distribution by Aural/Orchard.

Spotify – https://spoti.fi/3U6DZl0

Bandcamp – https://thewring2.bandcamp.com/album/nemesis

Digital Album – https://orcd.co/nemesispre-save

“The Sword” – Music Video – https://youtu.be/LLkIs2V6BWQ

“The Nail” – Music Video – https://youtu.be/oXZmIOmkU_0

Track Listing:
1. Badlands – 5:13
2. The Nail – 5:29
3. Blur – 4:17
4. The Sword – 5:37
5. Before I Disappear – 4:39
6. Welshrats – 5:18
7. Dark Passenger – 5:20
8. Nemesis – 4:47
Total 40:40

More info: www.thewring.ca | https://www.facebook.com/thewringband | https://www.instagram.com/wringband

-30-

“Prog’s Tracks Of The Week (Aug 16)” – The Sword – The Wring – Prog Magazine

“There is a distinct, and quite energetic, 90s prog feel to Nemesis, reminiscent of bands such as Watchtower and Galactic Cowboys. The songs are loaded with intricate drumming, rock-solid bass playing, and great riffs and solos. Hache’s vocals may not work for everyone but they do for me, making this a super addition to any prog fan’s catalog. 4/5” – Heavy Music HQ

“A lesson in classic and modern prog metal! Had Doug Pinnick and Jim Matheos come together for a joint project in the late 80’s, throwing together the progressive list of one with the groovy cornerstones of the other background band, wouldn’t it be so unlikely that the fantastic output wouldn’t stray too far from the Canadians at THE WRING in terms of sound. The band has already released three notable records in the past and has also attracted international attention with “Spectra” (2022)… THE WRING has already created some exciting moments on “Spectra”; However, “Nemesis” is finally the Champions League format that a trio with such advantages would actually have belonged in from the start. 9/10″ – PowerMetal.de

“Heads up prog-metal fans! Canada’s The Wring have a hot new number with “The Sword” and it’s not messin’ around. An early peak from their forthcoming album “Nemesis” due to drop on Sept. 27th, “The Sword” is complex with high power riffs, solos, a double kick throughout and soaring vocals that makesfor a beast of a track. Catch “The Sword” from The Wring on your Home for the Best New Rock…W-J-O-EEEE” – WJOE – Findlay’s Home for Rock & Roll

“This album marks a significant step in the band’s journey, showcasing a more cohesive and refined sound that blends their heavy rock roots with progressive and jazz influences. With eight tracks spanning just over 40 minutes, “Nemesis” adds a new, technical twist to progressive metal. – The Prog Space

“recommended to every fan of technically perfect, slightly metallic prog rock, great bass lines” – Betreutes Proggen

“The hard prog songs are powerful and impress in their arrangements. 8/10” – Soundmagnet

“9 years and 4 albums into this band’s career have helped create some astonishing prog metal. It can get as catchy as hard rock radio, it can get as adventurous as jazz metal, and everything in between. I hear as much from bands like Watchtower as I hear as proggier sides of Between The Buried and Me and Cynic. There’s a dark sense of curiosity going on throughout the album that keeps it intriguing. If this sounds like it could be for you (keeping in mind it is all clean vocals), this is more than worth your time. It’s mesmerizing music written without being too wanky and written for the sake of fretboard Olympics, this is authentic. Seriously, give it a spin if you need some throwback but modern prog metal in your life.” – Heavy Debriefings

“The Wring strikes me as a band that explore a variety of progressive rock with a similar attitude as Rush in many ways, but making use of more contemporary impulses as they traverse the landscapes they explore. And I’d hazard a bet that many of the people that find that description interesting will find this album to be an enjoyable one.” – Progressor

—
ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS
Jon Asher – Music Publicist
#.514.581.5780
jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
Facebook @AsherMediaRelations
Instagram @AsherMedia
Tweet @AsherMedia

Tag: nemesis

0 WACKEN METAL BATTLE USA Announces 2026 National Finalists FATE DEFINED, NEMESIS, GANNONDORF, RAMTHA, THE VICTORIOUS DEAD, THROUGH THE OCULUS – One Band To Conquer Them All & Play WACKEN OPEN AIR!

0 Canadian Proggers THE WRING Showcases Riffs and Fingerwork On New Guitar Video “Blur” + New Album “Nemesis” Out Now!