What really happens after Wacken Open Air? In this episode, we dive deep into the challenges South African bands face after representing the country in Germany, and why breaking out internationally isn’t as straightforward as it seems.

🎤 We put YOUR questions directly to Sash, giving you the answers you’ve been waiting for. Plus, we explore what Emalyth and the Wacken Metal Battle South Africa have lined up for 2026, and what it means for the future of heavy music in South Africa

If you’re passionate about metal, South African bands, and the global stage, this is a must-watch!

#WackenOpenAir #SouthAfricanMetal #MetalBattleSA #Emalyth #HeavyMetal #MetalCommunity #Wacken2026 #GlobalMetal #MetalHeadsUnite

Keesh's Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oR3xMtHhU4k&list=PLHezfwZCdiMd_UZ8l1CgtMJMoXLLXSIkT

WMBSA DOCUMENTS

What is the Wacken Metal Battle:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1P0V6o-kJxx2O1xkucQLA9hqpudgq0Qd9/view?usp=drivesdk

WMB Africa Band Guide
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1huLACewL-HLXcbTWUJ8YihZfzNiYOXTB/view?usp=drivesdk

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Marcel catches up with ⁨@PAGES_DOOM⁩ to chat about the recenet release of their album No More Can Be Done. Diving into themes of existential dread, geopolitical despair, environmental decay and raw emotion.

Join in as we chat about the bands evolution, the importance of physical media, and how art as a meduim makes it's way into their music.

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Join the boys as they look back at the best South African band releases and events of 2025. From memorable gigs to standout music releases, they highlight their favourites and share a glimpse of what's coming in the remainder of 2026.

#SouthAfrica #SouthAfricanPodcast #SouthAfricanBands #SludgeUnderground

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Marcel sat down with Eli of Skrikkeljaar, an upcoming emo pop punk band with the added twist of being in afrikaans. Eli details his journey as a musician, the influences that shaped the bands sound, and the impact he hopes to have on those around him.

Don't miss out on learning more about one of the South African scenes most promising newcomers.

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Marcel sits down with Dierbaar, an alternative Afrikaans band from Stellenbosch, to dig into what drives their unique sound and message. We talk about why they chose to make alternative music in Afrikaans, the themes most artists shy away from, and their experience working with ‪@Afrikalt‬.

If you’re interested in the new wave of Afrikaans alternative music, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.

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Ramfest 2025 was everything we’ve been waiting for. From Bongloard’s wild energy and Sunken State’s chaos (gorilla suit included), to Jack Parow proving he absolutely belongs on a heavy lineup, this festival was a full-on celebration of South African alternative and heavy music.

Not everything went smoothly, sound issues hit hard during Vulvodynia’s set, but The Narrow and Facing the Gallows brought things right back, setting the stage for an unforgettable headliner: The Devil Wears Prada. For many of us, seeing them live in South Africa was a literal teenage-dream moment.

This video’s a recap of that entire experience, what worked, what didn’t, and why events like Ramfest matter so much for our local scene.

If you were there, drop a comment about your favorite set. And if you weren’t… maybe this will convince you not to miss the next one.

🎥 Featuring: Bongloard, Sunken State, Jack Parow, Vulvodynia, The Narrow, Facing The Gallows, The Devil Wears Prada, No Closure, Hellcats, Evert Snyman And The Aviary, Die Gemeente, I Believe In Giants, and Raptorbaby
🔥 Follow for more: Deep dives into South African metal, alternative, and festival culture.

This episode is best viewed on Youtube.

Background Music
Sunken State - Pure Hate
Raptorbaby - Memento
Die Gemeente - Power Trip
No Closure - A Darker Fate
Facing The Gallows - Pessimist
Sunken State - Swindler

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From small dive bars and underground venues to the people keeping the alternative flame alive, this video dives into the heart of South Africa’s alternative and metal scene.

We explore the venues, promoters, content creators, and bands that make this community what it is. Whether you’re a fan, a musician, or just curious about the scene, this is your crash course into finding your own way into South Africa’s alternative music world.

🎥 Special feature: The Headbanging Panda (CPT Metal Realm)

Here's Links to everyone mentioned in this video!

Venues:
Gauteng
Sognage: https://www.instagram.com/sognage/
Smoking Kills: https://www.instagram.com/smokingkillsbar/
Railways: https://www.instagram.com/railwayscafe/
KZN
Westville Warehouse: https://www.instagram.com/thewestvillewarehouse/
Robsons Real Bear: https://www.instagram.com/robsonsrealbeer/
Cape Town
District: https://www.instagram.com/district.ct/
Daisy Jones: https://www.instagram.com/daisyjonesbar/
Armchair Theatre: https://www.instagram.com/ourarmchair/
Aandklaas: https://www.instagram.com/aandklasstellenbosch/

🏛️Promoters

Gauteng
Emalyth: https://www.instagram.com/emalythevents/
Planet Karavan: https://www.instagram.com/planet.karavan/
Boogy Central: https://www.instagram.com/letsboogyyy/
KZN
Devilnest: https://www.instagram.com/devilnestevents/
Imaginary Folk: https://www.instagram.com/theimaginaryfolk/
Cape Town
Metal4Africa: https://www.instagram.com/metal4africa/
Noisefix: https://www.instagram.com/noisefix/

📸 Communities & Creators

Everyday Metalhead: https://www.tiktok.com/@everydaymetalhead
CPT Metal Realm: https://www.tiktok.com/@cpt.metalrealm
We Did This Records: https://www.instagram.com/recordswedidthis/
itsJouska: https://www.tiktok.com/@itsjouska?lang=en
Keeshkush: https://www.youtube.com/@KeeshKush
Just Another Sound Tech: https://www.instagram.com/just_another_sound_tech/

🎸 Band Recommendations

Walk These Skies: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1rWNKANgYCrrMNG4PdYbxc
Ruff Majik: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0XFfgHElyw0xANJDuQrHyL
Lefokolodi: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2AZChLWU9RDlSkGGszB271
No Closure: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3PySwRk0wSsfgo6qKE0g06
Internet Girl: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2eVTKG3Z5bbKk2OWMIe3iL
We Kill Cowboys: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2M7xonKOedqLEmBlxm1U8k
Your Cynical Sanity: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4BqvdNRcaiFxD47kQDl2d3
Scrubs:

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This week we're catching up with Savannah Vermaak, A live sound engineer based in Cape Town South Africa. She Goes over experiences working within the scene, the educational content she's creating on her platform, and a behind the scenes look at one of the most important factors in live music, the sound.

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