Battlecross

Biography

Battlecross was an American extreme metal band formed in Canton, Michigan in 2003. The band described their sound as "Blue Collar Thrash Metal". They released four albums through Metal Blade Records and toured extensively before a hiatus in 2022.

History

Tony Asta and Hiran Deraniyagala founded the band in 2003 while attending Salem High School. They hired vocalist Marshall Wood in 2006, and drummer Mike Kreger in 2007. In 2008, bassist Don Slater joined the band. They played local shows around Detroit and in the Midwest, and opened for Dying Fetus, Gwar, DevilDriver, The Absence, Vital Remains, and The Faceless.

Pursuit of Honor (2011)

In 2010, Battlecross self-released their debut album, Push Pull Destroy×Push Pull Destroy17 August 2010 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Pursuit of Honor0:392Push Pull Destroy3:503Aiden3:424Deception3:305Man of Stone3:486Breaking You3:577Rupture3:518Leech2:499Better Off Dead4:1410Misery7:14. In late 2010, Wood left for family reasons and was replaced with Kyle Gunther of Flint, MI band I Decay. the band caught the eye of The band re-recorded the album with Gunther at Random Awesome Recording Studio in Bay City, Michigan. Metal Blade Records released the Josh Schroeder-produced Pursuit of Honor in August 2011.
Pursuit of Honor yielded the singles "Push Pull Destroy", "Man of Stone", and "Breaking You", which spent a combined total of 50 weeks on SiriusXM Liquid Metal 'Devil's Dozen' list of most requested songs, with break-out track "Push Pull Destroy" at the #1 spot for five weeks in Spring 2012. The accompanying video tallied more than 1.8 million views on YouTube.
Valkyrian Music described it as "perhaps one of the best albums on the modern thrash metal scene", and claimed they could replace the Big Four of thrash metal if they kept making albums like Pursuit of Honor×Pursuit of Honor29 July 2011 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Pursuit of Honor0:382Push Pull Destroy3:353Kaleb3:404Deception3:285Man of Stone3:476Breaking You3:567Rupture3:498Leech2:469Better Off Dead4:1110Misery4:5011Foreshadowing1:42. The debut drew comparisons to Pantera and Lamb of God. Metal Assault named 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." 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."

War of Will (2013)

In early 2013, the band announced that they would enter the studio in March to record their follow-up to Pursuit of Honor. The band began tracking after the "Another Year, Another Tour" with In Flames, Demon Hunter and All Shall Perish for 27 North American dates. Eyal Levi engineered the record, and Armored Saint's Joey Vera, who mastered the band's cover of Pantera's "Fucking Hostile", mastered it.
Lewis, producer and/or engineer for bands such as The Black Dahlia Murder, Trivium, DevilDriver and Deicide, said, "I can't wait to be a part of BATTLECROSS' next record. From the moment I heard the band I knew I wanted to be a part of their development. Hearing the new music has only solidified that feeling. Working with our good friends at Metal Blade and bringing great new music to the masses is what it's all about."
According to press statements, Metal Blade Records President Michael Faley said that the record would be released in time for the band's appearance on the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival in July 2013.
In April 2013, the band's label issued a press release announcing that drummer Shannon Lucas, formerly of All That Remains and The Black Dahlia Murder, played session drums on the album, to be released in summer of 2013.
The album's first single "Force Fed Lies" was released and made available for digital download on May 29, 2013.

Drummer changes (2014)

In 2013, it was reported that drummer Michael Kreger had left the band to attend to personal business. Kevin Talley of Six Feet Under was announced as the touring drummer for the band for their New England Metal and Hardcore Festival and Orion Music + More appearances.
Talley, who has also played with Dååth, Chimaira, Misery Index, Nothnegal and Dying Fetus, said: "I'm stoked to play these shows with such an energetic and impressive band like BATTLECROSS. I had a chance to see them play on Trespass America and at the Scion A/V Metal Blade anniversary show and was blown away! New England Metal and Hardcore Festival and Orion Music + More are huge opportunities for the band and I'm honored to fill in behind the kit; they are definitely one of my favorite new bands!"
Following the departure of Michael Kreger, the band went through a cycle of touring drummers. Kevin Talley, formerly of Chimaira, filled in for the 2013 Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival. Following the tour and a show at GWARBQ 2014, Talley stepped down. When the band joined Hatebreed, Shadows Fall, and The Acacia Strain for a fall 2013 tour, Adam Pierce of All Shall Perish stepped in as drummer for the band.
In 2014, Adam stepped down as the band's drummer, replaced by Shannon Lucas, session drummer from "War of Will×War of Will5 July 2013 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Force Fed Lies3:202Flesh & Bone3:293Never Coming Back2:244My Vaccine4:205Get Over It5:006Ghost Alive3:197Wage a War3:268The Will to Overcome3:489Beast3:5710Never-Ending Night3:08". Lucas, already familiar with the material, stuck with the band up until summer 2014.
During 2014, Battlecross saw a rise in popularity, hitting many tours along the way, including a slot on the Download Festival held in Donington Park. While in Europe, the band hit many smaller venues with fellow Mayhem Festival tour mates Huntress. Battlecross continued to tour across America in direct support of Protest the Hero. Lucas withdrew from the band after the tour, replaced by Alex Bent. Bent completed Battlecross' first headlining tour with support from Ikillya. Crimson Shadows were also supposed to be on the tour, but encountered problems getting access to the States. The tour also included a stop at Dirt Fest 2014.
On August 20, Battlecross performed in Mexico City, their first concert in the country, in support of Black Label Society. Following the show, they set off on a small South American tour in support of Killswitch Engage and Memphis May Fire. They then returned to the States for a fall tour opening for Machine Head, Children of Bodom, and Epica. The tour also included a stop at Fillmageddon in Silver Spring, MD.
The band also looked to close 2014 by entering the studio to start the recording of their third studio album.

Rise to Power, departure of Alex Bent, and indefinite hiatus (2015–2022)

On May 27, 2015, the band released a new single entitled "Not Your Slave×Not Your Slave7 August 2015 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Not Your Slave3:33" and revealed the title of their upcoming studio album as Rise to Power×Rise to Power21 August 2015 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Scars3:012Not Your Slave3:333Absence3:234Spoiled3:065The Climb3:376Blood & Lies3:447Bound by Fear3:428Despised3:469Shackles3:5510The Path4:09.
Alex Bent left the band in 2015 and was replaced with Brian Zink.
In April 2016, the ensemble toured with Soulfly, Abnormality, Suffocation and Lody Kong.
From October to November 2016, Battlecross went on tour with Soilwork and Unearth and announced a headlining tour with Allegaeon in support.
In January 2019, the ensemble indicated that they were working on new material.
In 2022, the band announced their annual "Battle Christmas" show would take place on December 9. They revealed the show would be their last "for the foreseeable future" and the band would then go on indefinite hiatus.