Originally formed in 2009 as a solo project by guitarist Geoff Blackwell, GATEKEEPERhas assembled an impressive array of EPs and splits, including an appearance on Metal Blade’s “Metal Massacre XIV” where they contributed the song “Bell Of Tarantia”. Their signing to Cruz Del Sur will mark a new, exciting era for the band.
Comments Blackwell: “Cruz Del Sur has been a bastion for great heavy metal for a long time and it’s a pleasure to be included alongside a host of bands that have been influences on our music and bands that we consider our contemporaries. Above all, Enrico [Leccese] has been extremely fair and willing to work with us so that we can present the album the way we’ve envisioned.”
Recorded over the span of six months at Harbourside Studios in Vancouver, Canada, “East Of Sun” was produced by Mike Rogerson, whose previous credits include ANNIHILATOR, AGGRESSION, 88 MILE TRIP and LOVERBOY, with additional production assistance provided by Angelo Boose, who, according to Black “stayed up through many all-night recording sessions with us.”
The “East Of Sun” title is a shortened version of a book of Scandinavian folk tales that parallels the content on the record where each song stands on its own. The album’s cover art was created by Duncan Storr, who has previously worked with SKYCLAD, RAGE and Cruz Del Sur’s own DARK FOREST.