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.

Legendary Artist Duncan Storr Illuminates GATEKEEPER’s ‘East Of Sun’ Album Cover

February 15, 2018 EnricoLeave a comment

Soon, the metal world will get to absorb the sounds of GATEKEEPER’s first full-length album, “East Of Sun”, an epic metal tour-de-force that will see the light of day this April via Cruz Del Sur Music.

Soon, the metal world will get to absorb the sounds of GATEKEEPER’s first full-length album, “East Of Sun”, an epic metal tour-de-force that will see the light of day this April via Cruz Del Sur Music.

Rewind back to the early months of 2017, though, and it was legendary British artist Duncan Storr (DARK FOREST, EDGE OF SANITY, RAGE, SKYCLAD) who became one of the first people to hear the demos that would ultimately become “East Of Sun”. Well before they were signed to Cruz Del Sur, GATEKEEPER leader Geoff Blackwell mustered up the courage to email Storr a demo to see if he’d be willing to work on the project. Luckily for Blackwell and co., Storr took an immediate liking to GATEKEEPER and got down to business.

“I liked the demo and asked to hear a few more songs if they had more,” says Storr. “Geoff sent me over another two demos to listen to so I could get a good feel for their sound. The titles of the tracks ‘Warrior Without Fear’, ‘Oncoming Ice’, and ‘East Of Sun West of Moon’, sparked something and I got a few ideas from listening to the tracks.”

Storr proceed to reach into his vault and selected an unfinished piece he thought would be suit GATEKEEPER. “I sent Geoff a few of these images and relayed how I would like to incorporate some of the song ideas and embellish the atmosphere in the painting,” he says. “He got back to me after showing the rest of the band. The band have been great to work with and have kept me informed and added more demos for me to work with as I paint. I find this always helps.”

“We had a short list of people that we wanted to work with on this album and Duncan Storr was on it,” adds Blackwell. “He is a real gentleman and a master behind the paintbrush. The piece he showed us instantly clicked with our vision for the record and in a way, it drove us to work even harder on the music in order to match the quality of his art. GATEKEEPER would like to thank Duncan for his hard work, dedication to his craft and for being a loyal fan of rock and roll.”