This battle between unsigned Heavy Music Bands started early in the day at 12 noon and was fought out among the following participating bands: Dead H**kers, The Mistress, Feeding the Fire, Hate the Living, Detour, Beer Wolf, Madd Hatters, Dead is Dead.

Music styles in the genre ran the gamut. From heavy growls by Dead is Dead, moans about a lost love by the (occasionally) masked singer of Detour, and the eccentric show of Chapel Hill's Prog-rock band Feeding the Fire, to the Ska-inspired trumpet blasts of the Madd Hatters. There was metal, metal and more metal from Hate the Living and Dead H**kers. The Mistress has a rockin' Indie-Metal sound.

Whereas Beer Wolf is into smooth Southern Metal, of course. Fans and patrons at Gracie's voted for their favorite band on a ballot sheet.The top three bands went on to the final round.

Finalists The Mistress, Beer Wolf and Madd Hatters battled for the prize of $ 500 until the early morning hours. They all tore the house down, but in the end Beer Wolf won by a landslide for a rippin'; performance that jolted up the adrenaline. Heads and bodies were banging, arms shot up with the fierce cry "Woodchuck". The effect of a battlefield took on a surprising twist when a female fan did a pole dance around Beer Wolf's microphone


Their guitars were on fire, bass and drums pumped up the energy of the crowd: it was that Southern Heavy Metal that got the blood boiling. Thanks to all the musicians for the great show and the friendly competition! Of course, without the fans it wouldn't have been such a successful night. Thanks for coming out and casting your votes! Thank you to all Metal fans!

While the ballots were added up, everyone was treated to a chilling reality of the future: new bands are on our heels! The Hallowed, a group of very young musicians (come on, one of them is still in eighth grade!) - strutted their metal expertise. These kids gave us one hell of good time. Long live metal! This young blood is bound to be part of it! They were game enough to play during the ballot count, as their entry had sadly come in too late to be added to the line-up for the competition. We commend you for that, and your parents for letting you out that late! You can experience The Hallowed together with Beer Wolf, Fatal Hesitation and other bands at Marzz on April 23rd for a benefit concert. Be there!

Next up at Gracie's, on the 10th of March, is Thursday's line-up of The Mistress, Oblivions Rise and Beer Wolf.
Come hear the winners of the "Brawl of the Bands" for yourself.