NEWS: GATEKEEPER's 2018 Album Out Now on Cruz Del Sur Music

The Canadian traditional heavy metal defenders Gatekeeper have their their 2018 album East of Sun available now on Cruz Del Sur Music. The band's style focuses on riffs, traditional singing and memorable songs. As an indication of where the hearts and minds of the band are the album has two bonus tracks on compact disc. The first is a cover of the 1980s early period of the U.S. traditional heavy metal cult band Omen and the second one is a cover of the Savatage classic track "Hall of the Mountain King," another iconic 1980s song. In other words, Gatekeeper believes in having good singing and memorable songs and that's what the album is all about.

It appears that Gatekeeper was an independent project and band for years, but the future is looking bright for the band with the album. Listen to the complete album at the link below. Here is some official information about Gatekeeper.

Originally formed in 2009 as a solo project by guitarist Geoff Blackwell, GATEKEEPER has assembled an impressive array of EPs and splits, including an appearance on Metal Blade's Metal Massacre XIV where they contributed the song "Bell Of Tarantia".

Recorded over the span of six months at Harbourside Studios in Vancouver, Canada, East Of Sun was produced by Mike Rogerson, whose previous credits include ANNIHILATOR, AGGRESSION, 88 MILE TRIP and LOVERBOY.

The "East Of Sun" title is a shortened version of a book of Scandinavian folk tales that parallels the content on the record where each song stands on its own. The album's cover art was created by Duncan Storr, who has previously worked with SKYCLAD, RAGE and Cruz Del Sur's own DARK FOREST.

East Of Sun boasts a mixture of older, unreleased material written by Blackwell which are complemented by live staples that have recently been updated. In the words of Blackwell, "East of Sun" is pure heavy metal with a sword and sorcery flourish. We wear our influences on our sleeves, but we don't want to be a pale imitation of them. We try to capture the spirit of what we love without copying anyone's' notes. This album has our fastest song and it's got our biggest, most epic slow-burner and many songs in between. It has melodic electric guitar playing coupled with fierce riffs, thunderous rhythms, mystical acoustic passages and, of course, a unique and varied performance from our singer, Jean-Pierre Abbaud (SPELL, BORROWED TIME)".

Recommended for fans of OMEN, early MANOWAR, MANILLA ROAD, ATLANTEAN KODEX!

East of Sun was released on April 27 and is available on compact disc including 2 bonus tracks (OMEN's "Death Rider" and SAVATAGE's "Hall Of The Mountain King"), on gatefold vinyl including A2 poster and digital.

gatekeeper.bandcamp.com/album/east-of-sun