BATTLEROAR – Petrichor

Hailing from Greece, Battleroar has been a staple of epic metal for more than two-and-a-half decades, and since their self-titled debut in 2001, they have been delivering new music approximately every four years. With every new release, they proved again that they can carry the banner, now that some old pillars of the style either no longer exist, like Manilla Road or Bathory; don’t release new albums, like Omen or Brocas Helm; moved away from the classic epic style, like Manowar; or are obviously about to call it quits, like Cirith Ungol. Newcomers like Triumpher, Under Ruins, or Fer De Lance still have to prove that they can continue where the great old ones left off for more than an album or two, something that Battleroar may rightfully claim they have already done.

Legends and Battles

Thematically, epic metal has always centered on medieval warfare, knights and armor, fantasy, and dragons, and Battleroar and their new album Petrichor are no exception. Centered on the strong voice of Michalis Karasoulis, the six-piece band also adopted the genre’s typical sound, blending traditional metal with a hefty dose of doom metal, with the vocals soaring above the music.

But Battleroar has one characteristic that sets them apart from the pack, and that is Alex Papadiamantis and his violin. The beauty and the wailing of violin strings add a deeply emotional side to the music, and sometimes, in “The Earth Remembers, The Rain Forgives”, Battleroar even manages to include parts sounding like My Dying Bride. Two guitars and one violin could make for an overwhelming string assault, but none of the musicians has to show off; they give each other and their compositions room to unfold and shine, creating dense but not overblown songs that often exceed seven minutes in duration—and are usually best when they do.

The pinnacle of their works – so far

The band’s five preceding albums have all been hailed as great examples of the classic genre, featuring atmospheric, deep, and powerful metal. Their folky touch, created by the violin, which also acts like a second singer at times, sets their compositions apart from the rest of the pack and gives their music a unique character. Over the years, they have fine-tuned their sound and created a reputation that they now confirm with Petrichor. The album is new and still has to stand the test of time, but for now, it seems to be just a tad stronger than the five earlier releases.

That may well be because of singer Michalis Karasoulis, who joined the fold in 2025. His deep, operatic voice fits perfectly with the dramatic songs. Still, his performance is not perfect, giving the band an authentic feel of old storytellers and avoiding the trap of dulling their metallic edges with flawless but artificially sounding recordings that many modern power metal bands seem to favor.

Fulfilling Old-School Metal

If the thought of cliché-laden metal based on Greek mythology, epic fantasy, and tragedy delivered in an almost cinematic drama piques one’s interest, Petrichor is a warm, over-50-minute-long embrace of classical metal that does not mind reaching into corny territory at times, musically as much as lyrically, and does not pay any mind to the fact that their album number six is anything but original and grows out of the ashes of Crystal Logic, Into Glory Ride, and Warning of Danger. And if one liked Battleroar’s earlier works, Petrichor is a must-have anyway.

Album Tracklist

1. The Last Mythkeeper
2. The Missing Note
3. Atē, Hybris, Nemesis
4. Legacy of Suffering (Flagellants)
5. The Earth Remembers, the Rain Forgives
6. What is Best in Life?
7. Chaosbane
8. Wiled the Myth
9. Storm Inside (Bonus Track)

Band Lineup

Michael Karasoulis – Vocals
George Tsinanis – Drums
Zack Kotsikis – Guitar
Lukas Libertos – Bass
Alex Papadiamantis – Violin
Kostas Tzortzis – Guitar

Check out the music video for “What Is Best In Life” from Battleroar’s Petrichor!