GATEKEEPER Release "From Western Shores" Official Video

Vancouver (BC) – Epic/Melodic Heavy Metal heroes Gatekeeper, in association with RZ Cinema, have released the official video for “From Western Shores,” the title track from the forthcoming album.

Check it out at youtu.be/0JwwZre5u7Q

Gatekeeper released the following statement concening the new video:

“All scenes were filmed at Jones Lake, BC. We almost died while filming this. Halfway through the band performance shots we got caught in a literal blizzard and were forced to continue filming while the snow fell upon us, covering our instruments and equipment. Our bassist went through a patch of ice on the beach and lost one of his boots in the mud and we almost had to take him to the hospital—thankfully we were able to warm him up in time. The drive home from the mountain was terrifying: an icy, muddy logging road where we couldn’t see more than four feet in front of our eyes.

The narrative scenes went much more smoothly and our director Rob was able to flex his film-making muscle with some incredible shots. Our lead actress and production designer Shannon came up with some brilliant costumes for herself and our two actors, Johnny and Oliver. The entire team knocked this video out of the park and we couldn’t be more proud and excited to share with you all.”

Gatekeeper will release From Western Shores – their first full-length album in five years – March 24 on Cruz Del Sur Music. A captivating eight-song journey that redefines epic, melodic heavy metal!

“Given the proper attention and perhaps a worthy level of wholesome nerdery, From Western Shores will surely work a welcomed form of magick into your life that’s very suited to Duncan Storr’s amazing cover artwork.”

– Last Rites

Jeff Black relocated Gatekeeper from Edmonton, Alberta, to Vancouver in 2014. Black’s East Vancouver locale finds him 30 minutes away from beaches, mountains and incredible woodlands. He attests to Vancouver’s “boundless quality” that makes inspiration come easy — he is surrounded by nature, after all. But Vancouver’s enduring beauty has a double meaning for Black and Gatekeeper. It is here where their career took off, beginning with 2018’s heralded East of Sun full-length and the 2019 Grey Maiden EP, planting them firmly in the middle of the thriving underground melodic metal scene. It was only fitting, then, that their latest studio foray bears the title of From Western Shores as an homage to their home province.

Change has been afoot in the Gatekeeper camp since East of Sun. Guitarist Adam Bergen replaced Kenny Kroecher in 2019 and lead singer Tyler “Tex” Anderson supplanted Jean-Pierre Abboud in early 2022. (The band is rounded out by bassist David Messier and drummer Tommy Tro.) These moves strengthened Gatekeeper’s lineup and enabled Black to harness the talents of its newest members to pick up where the band left off with East of Sun. From Western Shores is populated with eight new razor-sharp songs in execution and production, thanks to the band cutting guitars, bass and vocals at Black’s Vancouver home studio. Drums were laid down at Little Red Sounds Studios in Westminster, British Columbia with Michael Kraushaar. And the highly in-demand Arthur Rizk (Cavalera Conspiracy, Kreator, Sonja) handled

mixing duties.

Anderson undertook the daunting task of writing most of the lyrics and melodies on From Western Shores. He delivers with sharp, passionate vocals that delve into topics like pulp fantasy, mythology and fantasy. “Exiled King” details Harald Hardrada, the last Viking king of Norway, while “From Western Shores” and “Keepers of the Gate” are autobiographical and dedicated to Gatekeeper’s devoted fanbase. Any way you slice it, Anderson’s charisma and vocal prowess should easily help Gatekeeper navigate the treacherous singer-switch terrain that has befallen far lesser bands.

Ultimately, From Western Shores doubles down on the elements that have made Gatekeeper an international standout. The heavy metal parts are more heavy metal; the epic parts are more epic and the sad parts — as Black carefully puts it — are “sad as fuck.” It reinforces the notion that Gatekeeper is a melting pot of styles unlike very few within the melodic metal scene.

Armed with a new singer and eight indomitable metal anthems, Gatekeeper storms into 2023 poised to continue to fly the Canadian metal flag with honor and pride. Best of all, From Western Shores proves that few can match Gatekeeper when it comes to epic heavy metal.

Pre-order From Western Shores:

CD:

https://tinyurl.com/2gz4j283

Vinyl LP Coke Green (LMT 100):

https://tinyurl.com/4k7dwn7n

Vinyl LP Swamp Green (LMT 200)

https://tinyurl.com/4xk5ajbm

Vinyl LP Sea Blue (LMT 200)

https://tinyurl.com/yys9zcvx

Vinyl LP Black

https://tinyurl.com/5xhav7wj

Bandcamp: