Battlecross

Formed in 2003, Battlecross are a thrash/melodic death metal band hailing from Canton, Michigan, with a sound that recalls the feeling of old-school American thrash and classic Gothenburg death metal, bringing plenty of driving riffs, crazy solos, and relentlessness while upping the intensity to a new level. The band was initially formed by guitarists Tony Asta and Hiran Deraniyagala, who recruited drummer Mike Kreger, singer Kyle "Gumby" Gunther, and bassist Don Slater. Battlecross made their debut in 2010 with the self-released Push Pull Destroy, though it would be re-recorded the following year after the band signed on with Metal Blade, which released the remade version, Pursuit of Honor, in 2011. A follow-up, War or Will, arrived in 2013, a year that also saw the departure of Kreger from the band (with drummer Kevin Talley filling in for touring).