Monday, June 18th 2012
News: Battlecross
Introducing Battlecross: Blue Collar Thrash Metal From Michigan
From Ford and Chevy to Repulsion and The Black Dahlia Murder, Michigan has no shortage of massive metal machinery. The latest export from the 26th state to enter the union is the five piece known as Battlecross.
Hailing from Detroit, the band was put together by dueling axemen and long time friends Tony Asta and Hiran Deraniyagala. While they struggled for years to find the right mix of musicians who were capable of performing a unique blend of death metal inspired technically proficient thrash metal. First came machine-like drummer Mike Kreger who answered Asta and Deraniyagala’s want ad. From there the group added the highly skilled bassist Don Slater. However it was the final addition that put the band over the top. Known for mixing agonizing deep growls and glass shattering high pitched screams, popular local metal vocalist Kyle “Gumby” Gunther is the perfect front man for this hard working band.
The group has dubbed this cross pollination of sounds Blue Collar Thrash Metal in honor of the hard working never give up attitude of those who hail from the Motor City. Since the release of their first full length record Pursuit of Honor last summer, the group has won over crowds across the world sharing the stage with the likes of Orgin, Cattle Decapitation and Dying Fetus. The hard work has paid off as the band had the most requested track on Sirius XM’s Liquid Metal channel for five straight weeks.
Look for the band to steal the show this summer as they head out on the Trespass America Festival Tour with the likes of Trivium, Killswitch Engage and headliners Five Finger Death Punch. Don’t hold that last bit against them.
What thrash metal band isn’t blue collar?
That’s the best band name you could come up with? Battlecross? Sounds like a christian ‘you sunk my battleship’ convention.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miZLob1Hi4I
Official video
The riffs are pretty fucking rad… maybe a little bit too melodic deathmetal at times for me… but still very good. Good double bass/bomb-blasts, too. I kinda hate the singer though, reminds me of Pantera and Between The Buried and Me vocal stylings at the same time.
Good stuff though, musically at least. Definitely hasn’t sparked my interest enough though… I’ll just wait for the new Arsis and hope it doesn’t suck nuts like the last album did.