I am really so excited to premiere this one; out of the churning fires of the so-called "Traditional Heavy Metal Revival" that has been sweeping our scene (and my headphones) for the last few years, Gatekeeper have emerged as one of the mainstays. I listen to their music all the time, whether it's the poignant EP Grey Maiden or the epic East of Sun (from which I have a Conan t-shirt, can I get a "hell yeah"?) They capture so much of what I love about heavy metal. On one hand, they have the exuberance and bounce that the style is so good for but, on the other, they mix with interesting compositions that keep you hooked "beyond" just the initial rush of first impact.
And so, I was thrilled to learn they would be released From Western Shores this year, on March 1st to be accurate, and even more thrilled to get the chance to premiere "Twisted Towers". This has quickly become one of my favorite tracks from the album, exactly because it has that sort of mid-era Iron Maiden bounce to it (I'm thinking "Wasted Years" or "Fear of the Dark" here) blended with that unbridled aggression in its main riffs that Gatekeeper are so good for. Throw in the powerful and emotive vocals of lead singer Tyler Anderson, a good ol' blazing solo or two near the middle/end of the track, and tie it all off with killer lyrics about overcoming challenges and achieving your goals and there you have it! Another slab of great heavy metal from one of the masters of the trade.
Make sure to head on down below to listen to it for yourself and then head on over to their Bandcamp to pre-order the full thing! Hail heavy metal! Hail Gatekeeper!