Formed in December 2001, Belgian warmongers BATTALION take death metal back to its foundation. Playing gut-wrenching songs that focus on the feeling and rhythmic drive of late '80s, early 90's death metal. Influenced by genre pillars as Bolt Thrower, Autopsy, Grave and Death the band combines Terrorizer’s bombarding style with Carcass’ complex songwriting and the no-holds-barred approach of Misery Index.
Battalion facilitates its members (Ruben Luts: vocals, Kristof Hectors: bass, Pieter van de Putte: guitars, Igo Duerloo: guitars, Kevin De Leener: drums) with an entity to produce high quality, old school oriented death metal inspired by the horrors of war and ongoing global conflict. Van de Putte is the band’s musical backbone, while vocalist Luts drafts up the war motivated lyrics, concepts and vocal patterns.
With clear intent and focussed vision Battalion quickly releases their first promo in 2001, a mere three months after forming. “Warstorm” is a 6 track offering recorded with little or no money invested in the recording and printing process. Notwithstanding the promo’s rushed nature Battalion set their sights on dominating the local underground circuit. As a result of the promo’s warm reception from both underground media and fans the band starts to play shows all over the country. No compromise. this means war!
In June 2003 the band releases “Nuclear Devastation”. This 6 track offering solidified Battalion status as a promising up-and-coming death metal unit and resulted in a lot of one-off gigs with veterans such as Avulsed, Legion of the Damned, In-Quest and Suhrim. Eradication looms ever close!
2004 sees the band recording their debut album “Winter Campaign” at the acclaimed CCR Studios in Zulte, Belgium. The record provides the listener with 37 minutes of blood drenched death metal to relive the horrors of World War II or imagine the terror of post-apocalyptic and alien warfare. Annihilation is imminent!
In 2006 the band inks a contract with resurrected metal label Shiver Records and welcomes new bassist Kristof Hectors. With the 2004 recordings still being relevant, the band adds 2 new tracks, ‘Torture Tactics’ and ‘Death at the Helm’, both newly recorded at CCR in 2006. The result is a revamped sounding full-length that will grind your bones to dust! The band promotes this new release with a fantastic perfomance at the biggest festival in the Benelux: Graspop Metal Meeting.
In May 2007 Battalion records 2 promotional songs which will also be featured on the upcoming album, scheduled for an early 2008 release. Founding member Tom Van Oosterwijck leaves the band during the same month, and is quickly replaced by Erre Schellekens.
From September 2007 until January 2008 Battalion has again been hard at work on several fronts. During this period the new album was fully recorded, mixed and mastered at the CCR Studios. Featuring a massive wall of sound “Welcome to the Warzone” is released in April 2008 by Shiver Records and blows all earlier Battalion work out of the water. Despite the suggestion of the album title, the lyrics not only deal with war-related topics but also with medical horrors, religious oppression and gangland riots. Of course warlike hymns are still present: the nuclear armament race, the insanity of extermination camps and long, bloody tank battles. The music matches these subjects: it’s unquestionably death metal – hard, fast, brutal. But it’s also Battalion. They throw in a slice of heavy thrash metal: disgustingly effective for your neck muscles!
To promote the album several shows were booked: Battalion is featured on the same bill as Grave, Asphyx and Amon Amarth. April sees a FYU fest appearance with Polish unit Vader. Gigs with Aborted and Vital Remains and shows in Germany further enhance the bands image as a force to be reckoned with. In the meantime the Battalion squad is expanded with a new guitar player. Igor Duerloo adds a new layer to the band, which is now able to incorporate dual guitars and extensive solo parts into the mix. No musical barriers from the olden days of metal are shunned: thrash, doom and black are pounded on the always present anvil of pure death metal.
2010 proves to be a busy year, especially behind the scenes. The year so far sees the squad record two more promo songs and playing shows and writing songs to deliver a stunning 3th album. The band had to part ways with drummer Erre, and reqruits new hard-pounding skin beater Kevin De Leener of Emeth (and ex-Suhrim, Gorath, a.o.) fame. Without doubt, this 5-piece incarnation of the band is the strongest line-up to date and will mark a new era for Battalion. All be prepared, there is more than a slight impact to be expected!
With a hungry working ethic and murder on its mind Battalion have made their mission statement crystal clear. Their panzer division is rapidly growing, upgrading its armour and extending its arsenal. Join the death metal legion – Wir kapitulieren niemals!
Battalion – 09/2010
