With just over a dozen years under their ornate-buckled celtic belts, Canada’s Battlesoul have forged an enduring anthology of epic-ness crafted from the blazing furnace of molten metal. What is most telling is their penchant at balancing the various musical influences – with each successive album avoiding the all-too-often seen tropes; it’s folk-y where it needs to be folk-y. It’s symphonic where it needs to be symphonic. Last but not least, it’s metal where it needs to be fucking metal. In Battlesoul’s versatile world, the renaissance faire-like moments are never at the expense of sheer brutality.
Battlesoul’s latest album, Sunward and Starward, takes steps to ensure connoisseurs of each aformentioned descriptor walk away pleased. Delivering on each front, it takes the very best elements and executes upon them with the precision of a Tartan Army spilling seas of Mongol blood. Make no mistake about it, Sunward and Starward is – first and foremost – a metal album; yet, it’s a metal album that has perfected the often difficult balancing act of multi-genre songwriting.
Symphonic. Celtic. Metal. Broken down into their core components, these three descriptors span centuries of musical history. In a purely contemporary context, each descipitor immediately conjures images of bearded dudes traipsing about in kilts, tartan socks and garters. Sure, the folk-ish elements in metal have become incredibly cliché – bordering on satirical. That said, if one digs deep enough, one will find there exists only a handful of artists who have risen above the perceived banality that is, unfairly, directed at this sub-genre. Of these bands exists BATTLESOUL – a collection of characters who truly explore the roots of Symphonic, Celtic, and Metal.
Canadian Pre Order: HERE
International Pre Order: HERE
Release Date: February 23rd 2018
TRACKLISTING:
1. All I Understand
2. Bearing The Word
3. Arrival
4. The Watcher
5. Totem
6. Sunward And Starward
8. The Loss Of Sons
8. Azure Skies
9. So It Goes
10. Break The Day
All songs written and recorded by BATTLESOUL
Produced by THOMAS IRELAND
Additional Vocals by ALINA GAVRILENKO
