Βattleroar,  the well known Hellenic representatives of the epic metal scene, have released this year their third album titled “To Death and Beyond”.

First of all, I would like to congratulate the band, since it is a sample of how a group truly evolves as the years are passing by (I am talking about the true essence of the word evolution and musical maturity, and not about the commercial sold out that many bands of the genre like to present us as “maturity”!!) It is really one of those bands that we’re looking forward to its next release, and it makes us proud to realize that in the year 2008, there are Hellenic bands that can stand as equal, if not higher than many of their European colleagues. The abilities of all the musicians have highly improved at the technical, as well as at the composing level.

But, enough with the prologue, let’s move on to the main subject:

The album starts with the song “Wrathforge”, a totally epic song with a great introduction and a memorable riff, equal to those of the well-known epic/power bands we, the generation of « Born in the 70’s», grew up  with (title of the  7^th song to which we will refer later). That is followed by “Dragonhelm”, with its prevailing refrain, which travels you on a journey to magical worlds, where dragons ride the sky. “Finis Mundi” is another composition with forceful rhythm section, twinkling into melodic moments of grandeur.

Trying hard to sort out the songs I like best, I would mention “Hyrkanian Blades”, with its exploding and totally majestic riff, as well as “Metal from Ηellas”, a song that made me change by mind about Italian singers and their ability to improve their singing capacity! “Ocean of pain” is a 10-minute song which actually transports you to endless oceans, waiting for the ships to arrive carrying their war fleet. “Born in the 70’s” is a composition that appeals to all of us who were born in that decade, we grew up with heavy metal and it means to us so much more than just a music genre (I believe it means a lot for the younger as well, it’s just that we lived the beginning of it all somehow). Τhe refrain simply makes me totally proud for being born in that decade for the first time, making it impossible not to sing it along with the band! (when I usually wonder where on earth did all those years go...). Τhe album also includes “ Warlord of Mars” (with an introduction riff and singing lines which personally remind me of Omen) , “Death Before Disgrace” and the cover of Manilla Road’s “Morbid Tabernacle/Isle of the Dead”.

I don’t know how this will sound, but Battleroar stand equal to legends as Omen, Manilla Road, Doomsword etc. There’s nothing more I can say, but if you like epic/power metal it would be unacceptable not to own this album!