Battlecross
Battlecross | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Canton, Michigan |
| Genres | Thrash metal, melodic death metal, |
| Years active | 2003—present |
| Labels | Metal Blade |
| Members | Kyle Gunther Tony Asta Hiran Deraniyagala Don Slater Mike Kreger |
| Past members | Jay Saling Michael Heugel Jason Leone Marshall Wood |
| Website | www.battlecrossmetal.com |
Battlecross is an American heavy metal band from Canton, Michigan. The quintet describes their sound as "Blue Collar Thrash Metal".[1]
History
The band was founded in 2003 by Tony Asta and Hiran Deraniyagala in Canton, MI, where the childhood best friends and neighbors formed the earliest beginnings of Battlecross while attending Salem High School. Various members came and went, however in 2007, drummer Mike Kreger was hired.[2] In 2008 and 2010 respectively, bassist Don Slater and singer Kyle "Gumby" Gunther joined the band, replacing former bassist Michael Heugel and vocalist Marshall Wood. Together, they played local shows around Detroit and in the midwest and opened for such acts as Dying Fetus, GWAR, DevilDriver, The Absence, Vital Remains and The Faceless.[3]
In 2010, Battlecross self-released their debut album "Push Pull Destroy".[4] In late 2010, the band caught the eye of Metal Blade Records while members were replacing their vocalist, Marshall Wood. The band tapped Kyle "Gumby'' Gunther of the Flint, MI-area band and management roster mate, I Decay, to front the band. Gunther stepped in to re-record the album and rewrote the track Aiden, renaming it Kaleb after his newborn son. The re-recorded album, Pursuit of Honor, was released in August 2011 by Metal Blade Records[5] and was recorded at Random Awesome Recording Studio in Bay City, Michigan and produced by Josh Schroeder.[1][6]
Reviews
Pursuit of Honor received accolades from music reviewers from across the globe. In many reviews, the album referenced the band's promise to rival the Big Four of Metal and perhaps one of the best albums on the modern thrash metal scene.[7] The band and the debut also drew comparisons to metal groove heavy-weights Pantera and Lamb of God, with Metal Assault naming the record "one of the most 'complete' heavy metal albums in recent times" and "bristling with fist-pumping, face-melting heavy metal at its finest."[8]
Oft-critical website Blabbermouth reviewed the album as "easily one of the better metal debuts of 2011," stating that Pursuit of Honor will leave you breathless, maybe even skinless" and giving the album an '8' rating. The website described the album as "traditional thrash metal, but not in a retro wannabe sense, and is delivered in a package that is modern, yet avoids being too cookie-cutter; melodic, yet not "pretty" or cleanly sung. Death metal heaviness with compositional skill, "Pursuit of Honor" is above all else inanely energized."[9]
Tour History
Rose Funeral (2011)
In late 2011, Battlecross embarked on their first tour ever with Rose Funeral and Diamond Plate[10] after playing a CMJ Music Marathon Showcase with Skeletonwitch and Turbid North in New York City.[11] It was at this time that Jose Mangin of Liquid Metal (SiriusXM) noticed the band and began spinning 'Push Pull Destroy'. the band's first single, on the radio show's 'The Devil's Dozen' list of most requested metal tracks in North America. The single spent a total of 40 weeks on the charts.
Hate Eternal & Goatwhore (2012)
In early 2012, Battlecross replaced the band Fallujah on a tour with Hate Eternal and Goatwhore after Fallujah was involved in a van accident in Wyoming. It was at this time that 'Push Pull Destroy' hit #1 on the SiriusXM Liquid Metal charts and spent 5 weeks at #1 while the 2nd single 'Breaking You' was introduced into the countdown.
Occupation Domination Tour with Origin (2012)
Following a Metal Blade Records Showcase at SXSW in March 2012, the band was announced to open Occupation Domination, a full United States Tour with Headliners Origin (band) and support bands Cattle Decapitation, Decrepit Birth and Rings of Saturn.[12]
Metal Hammer's Trespass America Festival Tour (2012)
Although Battlecross was heavily rumored to join the 2012 Summer Slaughter Tour,[13] In April, Battlecross was announced to be the opening band for the highly anticipated touring festival, Metal Hammer's "Trespass America Festival" headlined by Five Finger Death Punch with additional support from God Forbid, Emmure, Pop Evil, Trivium and Killswitch Engage.[14] The Trespass America lasted from July 13 – August 28, 2012 and is credited to be the band's breakout performance as a crossover metal artist, appealing to both death metal and mainstream metal fans alike and contributing to the band's growing popularity across the world.
In Fall 2012, Battlecross followed up the Trespass America Festival tour with high-profile one-off performances, including: A Scion Metal Showcase with Six Feet Under, Cattle Decapitation and Gypsy Hawk in Pomona, CA,[15] and a globally streamed Metal Blade Records 30th Anniversary/CD Release party with label mates As I Lay Dying in New York City, with the latter show streamed live across the world via partners LiveStream.[16]
Heavy MTL (2012)
During the "Trespass America Festival", Battlecross appeared at the 2012 Heavy MTL festival in Montreal, Quebec and headlined the Apocalypse stage, playing against System of a Down who played on the festival's main stage.[17]
Rockstar Energy Mayhem Cruise (2012) cancelled
During the summer of 2012, Battlecross was announced to be participating in the inaugural Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival Cruise in December 2012, with Lamb of God, Anthrax, Suicide Silence, Hatebreed, Machinehead, and others.[18] Due to Randy Blythe of Lamb of God's legal trouble in the Czech Republic and low ticket sales surrounding the uncertainty of Lamb of God's performance, the cruise was cancelled, but was heavily rumored to be a preview of the 2013 Rockstar Energy Mayhem tour line up for the following year.[19]
Growing Pains with Abiotic (2012)
In December of 2012, as Battlecross embarked on its first headlining tour, the Growing Pains Tour with label mates Abiotic as the support act.[20]
Another Year, Another Tour with In Flames (2013)
In December of 2012, it was announced that Battlecross would join Sweden's In Flames, Demon Hunter and All Shall Perish on a 30-date North American Another Year, Another Tour in early 2013.[21]
Discography
- Demo (Demo, 2005, self-released)
- Push Pull Destroy (Album, 2010, self-released)
- Pursuit of Honor (Album, 2011, Metal Blade Records)
- "Hostile" Pantera Cover. (Single, August 2012. Metal Blade Records) Released through iTunes only.
Members
Current members
- Kyle "Gumby" Gunther - vocals (2010–present)
- Tony Asta - guitar (2003–present)
- Hiran Deraniyagala - guitar (2003–present)
- Don Slater - bass (2008–present)
- Mike Kreger - drums (2007–present)
Former members
- Jay Saling - bass, vocals
- Michael Heugel - bass
- Jason Leone - drums
- Marshall Wood - vocals
References
- ^ a b BATTLECROSS, Retrieved 20 July 2012.
- ^ Questions with...Hiran Deraniyagala of Battlecross! | Popblerd!!
- ^ Battlecross – laut.de, Retrieved 20 July 2012.
- ^ Battlecross Discography, Retrieved 20 July 2012.
- ^ Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Pursuit of Honor - Battlecross". Allmusic. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
- ^ agony&ecstasy: BATTLECROSS: Pursuit Of Honor, Retrieved 20 July 2012
- ^ Battlecross – Pursuit Of Honor [2011] « Valkyrian Music
- ^ Battlecross: Pursuit Of Honor (Album Review)
- ^ Blabbermouth.Net
- ^ FULL BLOWN CHAOS, ROSE FUNERAL, DIAMOND PLATE, BATTLECROSS Hit The Road - Metal Injection | Tour Dates | Metal Injection
- ^ ANNOUNCING THE METALSUCKS/ METAL INJECTION/ 1000 KNIVES CMJ SHOWCASE, STARRING KVELERTAK, SKELETONWITCH, BARN BURNER, TURBID NORTH, AND BATTLECROSS | MetalSucks
- ^ Origin, Cattle Decapitation ‘Occupation Domination 2012′ Tour Dates | SMNnews.com
- ^ Pathology, Battlecross, Vildhjarta Up For Possible “Summer Slaughter Tour” Opening Slot | Theprp.com – Metal, Hardcore And Rock News, Reviews And More
- ^ Paul, Long (April 24, 2012). "Tresspass America Touring Fest Breaks Out: FFDP, Killswitch, Trivium, God Forbid, Hit the Road". KNAC. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
- ^ Bravewords.com > News > SIX FEET UNDER, CATTLE DECAPITATION, BATTLECROSS, GYPSYHAWK, PILGRIM - Metal Blade Records' Scion A/V Label Showcase Interviews Posted; Gypsyhawk, Pilg...
- ^ As I Lay Dying with special guests Battlecross on Livestream
- ^ Battlecross | News
- ^ Mayhem Festival Cruise Officially Announces Lineup! | Metalsucks
- ^ Organizers Cancel 2012 Mayhem Cruise Set to Feature Lamb of God, Machine Head + Anthrax
- ^ Battlecross, Abiotic tour dates | Comments | Lambgoat
- ^ Blabbermouth.Net - In Flames Announces U.S. Dates With Demon Hunter, All Shall Perish, Battlecross