BATTLEROAR Reveals Cover Art, Track Listing For ‘Codex Epicus’

May 3, 2018May 3, 2018 EnricoLeave a comment

Greek epic/power metal force BATTLEROAR has revealed the cover art and track listing for their forthcoming studio album, “Codex Epicus”. Due on June 15 via Cruz Del Sur Music, the “Codex Epicus” album art was created by Vagelis Petikas of Revolver Design.

The follow-up to 2014’s “Blood Of Legends” was recorded at Devasoundz Studios in Athens, Greece and features a guest appearance from MANILLA ROAD guitarist/vocalist Mark Shelton on the song “Sword of the Flame”, reprising a role he first took on with “The Wanderer”, which appears on BATTLEROAR’s 2005 album, “The Age of Chaos”.

Comments BATTLEROAR guitarist Kostas Tzortzis: “Mark is one of my biggest musical influences, my mentor and my brother. I am lucky enough to know him personally for more than 16 years and we have shared many experiences in many different places on this planet! So, during the creation of this album, I found myself drained of inspiration, with a nice song on my hands half-finished, but with absolutely no idea how to get it done. Time was running out and I was getting desperate, so I thought of asking Mark for help. Mark has never failed me and this time was no different. He wrote the lyrics, created the vocal lines, sang them and he even added a guitar solo in the end of the song. The rest is history…”

BATTLEROAR will support “Codex Epicus” with extensive live shows across Europe.

Originally formed in 2000, BATTLEROAR’s self-titled debut album was released in 2003. The band followed it up with “Age Of Chaos” in 2005 before joining Cruz Del Sur for the release of 2008’s “To Death And Beyond…”

“Codex Epicus” track listing:

Awakening the Muse
We Shall Conquer
Sword of the Flame
Chronicles of Might
The Doom of Medusa
Palace of the Martyrs
Kings of Old
Enchanting Threnody
Stronghold (CD BONUS TRACK -new version)

BATTLEROAR To Release ‘Codex Epicus’ In June: ‘It’s Definitely Melodic, Powerful, Doomy And Epic!’

April 13, 2018 EnricoLeave a comment

Greek epic/power metal force BATTLEROAR is currently putting the finishing touches on “Codex Epicus”, which is set for a June 15 release via Cruz Del Sur Music. The album will feature a guest appearance from someone very familiar to fans of epic metal: MANILLA ROAD guitarist/vocalist Mark Shelton.

Greek epic/power metal force BATTLEROAR is currently putting the finishing touches on their fifth full-length album, “Codex Epicus”, which is set for a June 15 release via Cruz Del Sur Music. The follow-up to 2014’s “Blood Of Legends” was recorded at Devasoundz Studios in Athens, Greece and will feature a guest appearance from someone very familiar to fans of epic metal: MANILLA ROAD guitarist/vocalist Mark Shelton. The cover artwork is being created by Vagelis Petikas of Revolver Design.

“The title symbolizes that in order to create something that will stand the test of time, something epic, you need to fight and struggle for it,” says guitarist Kostas Tzortzis. “We drew our inspiration from the ‘Codex’, a book written by worthy men well before our time. We wanted to portray that after gaining knowledge from the ‘Codex’, you could now create music that is epic and fitting of the book.”

“Codex Epicus” will mark the second BATTLEROAR album with vocalist Gerrit Mutz (also of SACRED STEEL). Mutz, who can also be heard on the band’s 2017 split with long-running U.S. metal bastions OMEN, is described by Tzortzis as someone who “sings with great passion and strength.” Asked to describe the sound of “Codex Epicus”, the guitarist says BATTLEROAR fans should expect something even more bold and grandiose compared to “Blood Of Legends”, along with some added wrinkles thrown into the mix.

“Musically speaking, the album has some new elements to present,” says Tzortzis. “But, overall, it’s definitely melodic, powerful, doomy and most certainly epic! We worked really hard on the songs and tried to come up with some new twists and turns while properly representing the history of BATTLEROAR.”

BATTLEROAR will support “Codex Epicus” with extensive live shows across Europe.

OMEN / BATTLEROAR split 7” to be released on Cruz Del Sur Music!

March 3, 2017March 3, 2017 EnricoLeave a comment

CRUZ DEL SUR MUSIC is pleased and proud to present its upcoming April release, a split 7’’ featuring two legends in EPIC METAL, OMEN and BATTLEROAR!
The 7” will feature two unreleased tracks, OMEN “Up From The Deep” and BATTLEROAR “Stronghold”.
It will be released in a deluxe edition on the occasion of OMEN’s European tour in April/May 2017.

BATTLEROAR’s “Stronghold” is in the same style as the fastest and heaviest songs on their last album “Blood Of Legends” (Cruz Del Sur, 2014). It shows a massive rhythmic session, great leads and Gerrit’s classic, epic and melodic vocals.

OMEN’s “Up From The Deep” sounds as if it was taken directly from “Battle Cry”… War cries introduce the legendary OMEN sound, with Kenny Powell painting a majestic tapestry of guitar notes above which Kevin Goocher delivers a brazen complimentary vocal performance.

Besides, both bands have faced line-up additions in these latest months and the 7’’ is the occasion to test how the new line ups work.

BATTLEROAR just announced the addition of Greg Vlachos (ex-Marauder) on drums, and Michael Kontogiorgis (ex-Spitfire, Exoristoi and more) on guitars as permanent members.

While OMEN just announced on their facebook page the addition of two new members to the line-up. Both of them are Kenny Powell and Kevin Goocher’s long-time partners in crime: Roger Sisson wrote many of the “Battle Cry”’s riffs but was never part of the Omen line-up.. Now after 30 years he’s the official new bass-player! And the new drummer, Reece Stanley, was in the Phantom X line-up together with Kevin…

The 7’’ will be officially presented at Keep It True 2017, where OMEN will play alongside with Cirith Ungol, Manilla Road, Atlantean Kodex among others.