Claymorean - 'Arioch, Knight of the Swords' (2023 re-recording)

Drawn to the altar where demon awaits
Invoked by the power of ancestral hate
Lurking in shadows, a childlike in form
Save for his eyes of prime evil reborn

I call you, Knight of the swords
Your servant once and for all


Lord of the dark I am yours to command
Eternal champion - your faith guides my hand
Darkness and magick, the Chaos awake
Stormbringer wants all the souls he can take

You asked for vengeance
It shall be yours

I call you, The Dragonlord
Your master once and for all

And I keep falling far from the light I found
My fate remains forlorn - Elric Dragonlord

Οι Claymorean σχηματίσθηκαν το καλοκαίρι του 1994 -ως Claymore- από τον Vlad Invictus (ψευδώνυμο κι αυτό!) στην Σερβία (Lazarevac). Το 2003 η μπάντα κυκλοφόρησε το ντεμπούτο της ("The First Dawn of Sorrow") και διαλύθηκε. Επανασυνδέθηκε το 2012, ενώ πριν από εννέα έτη πήρε το "σημερινό" όνομά της. Αρέσκεται στο επικό heavy metal και μας παρουσιάζεται κάπως έτσι:

«Claymorean is an independent epic-power metal band from Lazarevac, Serbia. The music of Claymorean can be described as a mix of traditional European power and epic metal with some doom and folk influences»

...αναφέροντας ως επιρροές μπάντες - καλλιτέχνες όπως οι: Black Sabbath, Rush, Kiss, Kansas, Jethro Tull, Judas Priest, Manilla Road, Iron Maiden, Gary Moore, Manowar, Running Wild, Virgin Steele κλπ.

Έχουν κυκλοφορήσει πέντε "ολοκληρωμένους" στουντιακούς δίσκους, ένα live album πέρυσι ("Alive in Vultureburg"), τέσσερα demos και ένα single. Φέτος η δισκογραφική τους παρουσία είναι συλλογή. Τιτλοφορείται "By This Sword We Rule: A Decade of Steel" και αναμένεται σε λίγες ημέρες...

Δελτίο τύπου: «After the release of critically acclaimed album "Eulogy for the Gods", Serbian heavy metal force Claymorean, fronted by the vocalist extraordinaire Dejana Garčević, unleashed the newest piece of music called "By This Sword We Rule: A Decade of Steel".

This monumental edition spans across the first decade of the band's work, carrying 15 songs in total and clocking at 76 minutes of pure epic power metal eargasm.

The CD is released worldwide through Stormspell Records and it contains the brand new EP named "The Vendetta Trilogy" (featuring 3 newly recorded classic tracks), the re-recording of "Cimmeria" featuring Alexandra Lioness (Jenner), 1st version of "Blood of the Dragon" featuring Cederick Forsberg (Blazon Stone) on all instruments, a selection of 8 rare demo songs (recorded from 2014 to 2020) and 2 live tracks recorded during the band's first show in the city of Kragujevac.

None of the songs have been previously released on any physical media. The sleeve artwork is beautifully done by the amazing artist Yannick Bouchard (King Diamond, Blazon Stone, Ancient Empire, Merciless Law), while the superb sound mixing and mastering was once again nailed by the Claymorean's producer Boris Šurlan (Midnight Studio).»

Band: Claymorean
Country of origin: Serbia
Location: Lazarevac
Formed in: 1994
Genre: Epic Metal
Themes: Fantasy, History, Horror novels/movies
Years active: 1994-2003 (as Claymore), 2012-2014 (as Claymore), 2014-present

Audio: "Arioch, Knight of the Swords" (2023 re-recording)
Album: "By This Sword We Rule: A Decade of Steel"
Type: Compilation
Release date: April 21st, 2023
Label: Stormspell Records
Format: CD (500 copies), Digital

Track listing:
01. Arioch, Knight of the Swords (2023 re-recording)
02. Hymn of Vengeance (2023 re-recording)
03. The Triumph (2023 re-recording)
04. Cimmeria (2023 re-recording feat. Alexandra Lioness of Jenner)
05. Blood of the Dragon (feat. Ced Forsberg of Blazon Stone)
06. Dreamer on a Path of Light (demo 2014)
07. Night Eternal (demo 2014)
08. Prince of Immortals (demo 2014)
09. Old Mountain (demo 2016)
10. The Final Journey (demo 2016)
11. Blood-Red Shield (demo 2016)
12. Blackest Void (demo 2016)
13. Battle in the Sky (demo 2020)
14. Spirit of Merciless Time (live 2021)
15. We Fight Like Lions (live 2021)

Band members:
Vlad Invictus - Guitars, Vocals, Songwriting, Vocals (lead) (track 7), Bass (tracks 6-13)
Goran Garčević - Bass (tracks 1-4, 14-15)
Dejana Betsa Garčević - Vocals
Marko Novaković - Drums (tracks 1-4, 14-15)
Vladimir Novaković - Guitars

Guest/Session:
Alexandra Lioness - Vocals (lead) (track 4), 1st Guitar solo (track 4), Vocals (backing) (track 4)
Cederick “Ced” Forsberg - All instruments (track 5), Songwriting (track 5)
Uroš “Uki” Kovačević - Guitars (tracks 14, 15), Guitars (lead) (track 11)

Miscellaneous staff:
Boris Šurlan - Mastering
Yannick Bouchard - Artwork
Mumintroll - Design (booklet)
Stefan Vidojević - Photography