Aussie Band Added To 2023 Wacken Festival Line-up

Melbourne melodic death metal band Be'lakor announced that they would perform at the biggest metal festival in the world: Wacken Open Air, in August 2023. 

"Proud to announce that our fourth trip to Europe will include our first ever appearance at the famous WACKEN OPEN AIR," the band wrote on social media.

The second artist announcement also included Anthrax with their 40th-anniversary show, Killswitch Engage, British heavy metal band Employed To Serve, German punks Kärbholz and folk rock band Schandmaul with their 25th-anniversary performance, Icelandic folk metal band Skálmöld, Canadian Celtic punk group The Real McKenzies, British metallers HERIOT, and international heavy metal outfit Warkings.

Be'lakor and friends join a stacked line-up headlined by Iron Maiden, followed by The Dropkick Murphys, Megadeth, Wardruna, Knotfest Australia favourites Trivium, Good Things Festival icons Jinjer, Abbath, Ensiferum, and many more.

The band name originates from the character Be'lakor the Dark Master from the game Warhammer, a decision keyboard player Steve Merry wished the band didn't take so lightly, he revealed in a Kill Your Stereo interview.

"We were probably 20 when we picked the word, and I think two of the guys played that game, Warhammer, at the time, and they've not played that for seven to eight years," he said. "Especially in Europe, every interview they ask us, 'Do you guys play a lot of Warhammer? Are the songs about Warhammer?' and that's not the case. But it reflects the case that we are kind of nerdy guys."

Be'lakor received a hero's welcome on their recent sold-out Coherence Australian tour with special guests Orpheus Omega and Andy Gillion earlier this year. 

In February 2023, the band will perform a one-off Of Breath And Bone 10th-anniversary gig at Max Watt's in Melbourne. "Our third album, Of Breath And Bone, helped us to grow and find new audiences as a band," the band wrote on their website. 

"We have a very strong connection to this album and always will. This promises to be a really memorable night as we come together with you all in our hometown to play the album in FULL (for the first time and the only time.) Join us at Max Watts alongside some very special guests to be announced soon.

"We look forward to seeing you at the show in February. \m/."

BE'LAKOR

OF BREATH AND BONE 10TH-ANNIVERSARY SHOW

Friday, 24 February 2023 - Max Watts, Melbourne

Tickets here.