Middle Grounds Win Wacken Metal Battle Southern Africa

Over the weekend, South Africa Metal Band Middle Grounds won the 2023 edition of Wacken Metal Battle Southern Africa at an event hosted at Sognage in Johannesburg.

The band competed against Alive n Bolder (from Gaborone, Botswana), Capras Delusion (from Johannesburg), Displeased Disfigurement (from Middelburg, Mpumalanga), The Fallen Prophets (from Cape Town), The Lost Grave (from Maputo, Mozambique), Thorns of Ivory (from Durban), Last Year’s Tragedy (from Nairobi, Kenya) and Eternal Katastrophy (from Luanda, Angola).

Middle Grounds are heading to Wacken Open Air Festival in Germany (the biggest metal festival in world) in August 2023.

Middle Grounds posted this message to their fans on Facebook

“We are Extremely thankful and excited to be your representatives for this year’s Wacken Open Air Festival”

“Thank you to everyone who has supported us from the start, who came out to the show and to those who watched the live stream.”

Middle Grounds - Photo by Christelle Duvenage — Photo by Christelle Duvenage

“We will make you proud.”

“Thank you to all the judges, the organisers, promoters, photographers, videographers, sound and lighting engineers, bartenders, staff and security for making everything run smoothly.”

“Thank you to the all the amazing bands we got to share the stage with. It truly is an honor.”

“Now. Let’s go smash it in Germany “

Brandon (the lead vocalist of Middle Grounds) posted this message on Facebook

“I have never been this overwhelmed in my life. Which is a good thing. Let me explain.”

“On Saturday night, a band that I started a little over a year ago with three of my friends won a competition that made us eligible to play at the biggest metal festival in the WORLD.”

Middle Grounds at Sognage — Photo by Kurt Sassenberg

“Obviously none of us expected this. Our goal was and always has been the same: Leave everything you have on stage. And we did just that. From the start we said that no matter how big or how small the show, we want anyone who is in the crowd to experience our anger, happiness and frustration with us. To experience a release of some sort.”

“If I could make only one person feel at home at a show, then my mission is completed.”

“A lot of bands showed up. The literal best of the best. It was an honour to even be in the same room as them not to mention the lineup. I am so thankful that I got to go toe to toe with such incredible musicians. I was beside myself with joy and happiness the whole night.”

“Right now there are a lot of emotions and a lot of things are being said, However, I want people to know that we plan on doing the exact same thing at Germany and bring the title home.”

“Everything is happening extremely fast right now, but I just wanted to make sure everyone knows that I am thankful, excited, terrified and ready to learn as much as I can for the rest of my life.”

“Thank you to my day one Supporters.”

“Thank you to my friends and families.”

“Thank you to the fans.”

“Thank you to the haters.”

“Much love. Brandon “

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the band on winning and I wish them all of the best with their future musical endeavors.

Metal fans! It’s a fact that money is tight these days and everyone is feeling the pinch, even the metal bands of South Africa. Middle Grounds are raising funds for their trip to Germany! You can contribute to their Backabuddy campaign HERE. Every Rand helps.

Watch this space for updates in the Music News category on Running Wolf’s Rant.

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