Recently, Detroit, MI’s BATTLECROSS were shooting a video for Push Pull Destroy -the first single off of their debut album Pursuit of Honor- shot by Roy Warner Creative & Videography on location at the Yankee Air Museum, located on the grounds of the historic Willow Run Airport. It was at Willow Run where Henry Ford mobilized his manufacturing base to contribute to the war efforts by mass producing the B-24 Liberators that provided American Air Power to win WWII for the Allies.
In this photo, BATTLECROSS is shot in front of the Yankee Lady, the famous and rare WWII Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress, a heavy bomber that was the most powerful American aircraft in the war. Capable of defending itself with 13 machine guns on board, the B-17 often returned home from missions with honor despite extensive battle. This message of the power of perseverance of epic proportions is one of the values that BATTLECROSS strives to portray in the video, telling a story that brutality, combined with honor and duty is what overcomes all threats—threats to our country and to ourselves.
The video was shot in front of a number of military aircraft, including a B-52 Stratofortress and a C7 Caribou with a special appearance by the B-17 Yankee Lady, one of the only ten surviving flyable B-17s in the world. The Yankee Air Museum is the home to the Yankee Lady, long considered to be the most beautifully restored of all of the remaining flyable planes. This picture is of particular significance because only a day prior to the video shoot, the B-17 Liberty Belle crash landed outside of Chicago, IL and was destroyed. The crew exited safely before the plane was engulfed by flames—another testament to her strength and service to protect its crew.
Portions of the video were shot at the former Packard Automobile Plant in Detroit, MI. Long abandoned and in ruins, the shoot location is reminiscent of the destruction in Germany by the mighty eighth air force of WWII.
Stay tuned for more information and premiere date and location of BATTLECROSS’ first music video for the track Push Pull Destroy.
The band’s full-length debut Pursuit of Honor comes out August 2nd in North America. Metalheads can check out the single Push Pull Destroy as well as view a video teaser and pre-order the album at the following location: http://www.metalblade.com/battlecross/
Track listing for Pursuit of Honor
1. Pursuit of Honor
2. Push Pull Destroy
3. Kaleb
4. Deception
5. Man of Stone
6. Breaking You
7. Rupture
8. Leech
9. Better Off Dead
10. Misery
11. Foreshadowing
BATTLECROSS is:
Kyle ‘Gumby’ Gunther-Vocals
Tony Asta-Guitar
Hiran Deraniyagala-Guitar
Mike Kreger-Drums
Don Slater-Bassist
Keep up-to-date with BATTLECROSS at the following locations:
www.metalblade.com/battlecross
www.battlecrossmetal.com
www.reverbnation.com/battlecross
www.facebook.com/battlecrossmetal
www.twitter.com/battlecross
www.youtube.com/battlecrossmi
www.myspace.com/battlecross
About the band:
With the mindset to create a sonic metal assault unlike any other, childhood friends, Tony Asta and Hiran Deraniyagala, set forth on the path to shred and abandoned the idea of following any trends. The guitar slinging duo brought an infused style of old school metal with dark elements of thrash and death metal and destined to find the right members.
Struggling for years to find reliable and dedicated members, the true formation of BATTLECROSS was born in 2007 when Drummer Mike Kreger responded a want ad, and added a machine-like, brutal precision on the drums, and proved to be just the right match for Tony and Hiran’s mature and technical style of thrash. Bringing a whole new level of musicianship and intensity with his quick finger picking and tasty solos, bassist Don Slater joined the group, bringing a skill and technique that impresses even the most prolific bassists. The thrash metal band was finally complete when popular area vocalist, Kyle “Gumby” Gunther joined the band. Known for his command of the stage and alternating deep growls with high pitched screams, Gumby punishes the audience and inspires pits of rage.
Together, the five-piece create an unforgettable and energetic live show that decimates their audience with raw energy and persistence, that has earned a style of their own: “Blue Collar Thrash Metal”, in reference to the hard-working, ‘never give up’ attitude of those who hail from the Motor City.
This reputation for technical talent, humility and kick ass live shows resonated throughout the regional metal scene and BATTLECROSS soon became a fan and band favorite. Sharing the stage with the likes of Dying Fetus, GWAR, Devil Driver, The Absence, Vital Remains, The Faceless and Metal Fests throughout the Midwest, BATTLECROSS began to bang heads nationally with a nod from MySpace-A Place for Metal’s 2008 ‘Best Unsigned Metal Band’ contest, for being ‘Metal Sucks’ worthy, Mike Kreger’s crowning as Sickdrummer.com & Zildjian’s ‘Sickest Dirt Fest Drummer’ and featured on local, national and global metal radio.
Incorporating many elements of extreme thrash, death and tech metal, creating a precise blend of fist pumping brutality, intensity, and drive, BATTLECROSS satisfies both the tech-metal guru and the old-school die hard alike.
