The metal world was in rage when Anton Kabanen parted ways with his former band Battle Beast back in 2015. “To put it simple: When one road ends, another one begins. Isn’t that so? We wanted different things and to do them in a different way. I’m living for the music and I will die for it. Period.” Anton comments on the split. However, it didn’t take much time for Anton to rise from the abyss… Only a few months later, a new five-piece beast was born in Helsinki, the Beast In Black. Anton continues, “To me Battle Beast was just a beginning, my first vision and creation, and I’m actually happy to see how well it’s going for Battle Beast since what they are doing now derives from that vision, from the first three Battle Beast albums. But now it’s time to revive the original vision, make it stronger than ever, together with my comrades, with my brothers in arms in Beast In Black!” The group started to work on their debut album immediately and later in 2015 they got a chance other bands would die for: Beast In Black made their live debut as opening act for Finnish symphonic metallers Nightwish. Produced by the band themselves in Kabanen’s Sound Quest Studio, the forging of ‘Berserker’ was finally completed in summer 2017, followed by signing a record deal with Nuclear Blast. “Our wildest dreams came true when we made a deal with Nuclear Blast, the biggest and the best heavy metal label in the world!” Anton smiles. What does the result sound like? First of all, Anton’s fans, who expected a totally new musical direction, can take a deep breath: The album 2017 keeps up the style of his previously composed works which include the first three Battle Beast albums. Influenced by 80’s metal bands such as Judas Priest, Manowar, W.A.S.P., Black Sabbath and Accept, the record is nothing but a great heavy metal album. “It’s very straightforward, catchy and powerful and occasionally mixed with some symphonic influences,” Anton adds. Lyrically, Kabanen also continues his previous way: “Many songs such as the title track, ‘Beast In Black’ and ‘Zodd The Immortal’, are strongly influenced by the Japanese manga and anime ‘Berserk’.” The album’s artwork marks the return of the collaboration between Anton and Roman Ismailov who was the original illustrator and graphic artist for Battle Beast. Since Anton is also known for his disco and dance music influences, which can especially be heard in Battle Beast songs such as ‘Touch In The Night’, ‘Berserker’ also awaits with a really special track named ‘Crazy, Mad, Insane’. “Well, the title says it all. It’s the craziest and maybe the weirdest song to be on a heavy metal album,” he laughs. “If you are a friend of Italo disco and 80’s synth pop, you’ll like this one!” CD and digital download album include two bonus tracks. LP packaged in a gatefold sleeve.
