Disquiet brings metal fury to Wacken Metal Battle Caribbean at La Respuesta
The bond between Dutch death metal outfit Disquiet and South America/Caribbean regions traces back to the band’s early days when both bassist Alex Veliz (Venezuela) and Jerry Orie (Suriname) were part of the lineup. Following a 2013 performance in Suriname, Disquiet returned to the Caribbean in 2025 as special guest headliners for the Wacken Metal Battle Caribbean, upon invitation from Wacken Metal Battle promoter Jerry Orie (WMB Caribbean and Florida).
La Respuesta in San Juan, Puerto Rico, was packed with metal enthusiasts as the competition bands took the stage throughout the evening. The competing acts delivered diverse performances, from energetic metalcore to more theatrical presentations. A Burning Rose particularly impressed with their theatrical blackened death metal set, while Moths showcased groove-laden modern metal featuring a powerful female vocalist.
Before Disquiet’s headlining set, Left-Övr warmed up the already enthusiastic crowd with their groovy and bluesy stoner metal that resonated strongly with the audience. The merchandise table saw continuous activity throughout the night, with fans quickly depleting much of the available stock.
When the time came for the main event, the Disquiet lineup—consisting of Sean Maia (vocals), Fabian Verweij (guitar), Menno Ruijzendaal (guitar), Kornee Kleefman (bass), and Arthur Stam (drums)—took command of the stage. After working through some initial technical challenges, the band hit their stride and delivered a powerful set that had the crowd surging with energy.
A highlight of the evening came when former bassist Jerry Orie made a special appearance following the intro of Metallica’s “Creeping Death,” joining the band for their track “Outcry.” The audience erupted when Disquiet performed their brand-new single “Call of the Kill” live for the first time.
As their nearly hour-long set approached its conclusion, the band unleashed a knockout finale with their rendition of Sepultura’s “Territory,” playfully renamed “War for Jerry Orie” for the occasion. This final number featured guest vocals from all the competing bands’ singers, creating a memorable crescendo to an already explosive performance.
Following Disquiet’s set, A Burning Rose was crowned champion of the Wacken Metal Battle Caribbean, earning them the coveted opportunity to perform at this summer’s Wacken Open Air festival in Germany. By night’s end, reports confirmed that both the venue and bar had completely sold out—a fitting testament to the evening’s success and the drawing power of quality metal in the Caribbean scene.
