22/04/2026
Wacken Metal Battle Iceland 2026 Judges post 5/5
It's time to introduce to you the judges in this year's WMB Iceland contest on Saturday 25th of April in .rvk. A whopping number of 20 people from the metal music industry, 12 from abroad and 8 domestic comprise the panel of judges this year. We introduce to you here the last 4 of the bunch, in alphabetical order.
Rae Chatten -
Photographer, videographer, and writer. Contributor to A&P Reacts, Bravewords, Inferno Festival, Metal Injection, This Day In Metal, V13. Media/A&R for Boonsdale Records. Part of the official photo team for Wacken Open Air.
Sarah Lutz -
Owner and Founder of Looters, a boutique PR, marketing and promotions company, working with labels such as Century Media, Metal Blade, Spinefarm Records, Hopeless Records and Fearless Records and various metal, rock and punk bands.
Silje Wergeland -
Has worked in the international music industry for more than 25 years as an artist, a festival organizer and in several artist & music business development centers. She is one of the founders and general managers of Beyond the Gates-festival, a board member of Vill Vill Vest, USF Verftet and chairwoman of the board in Apollon Records. For 5 years she was partner and general manager of Revelations Music managing Dimmu Borgir, Abbath, Gaahls WYRD and more.
Valli Dordingull -
Better known as Valli Dordingull. An institution in Icelandic Metal. Part of the Sátan team and the 2014 recipient of Grjótið ("The Rock"), Eistnaflug festival's honorary award for contribution to metal in Iceland.
If you stumble on these peeps in the audience, give them a high five and even buy them a beer or a beverage of their choice (unless you're in one of the bands, no bribing the judges!)
Get your tickets here: https://tix.is/event/21195/wacken-metal-battle