WarCry (band)

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For the self-titled album, see WarCry (album). For other uses, see War cry.
WarCry
Origin Asturias, Spain
Genre(s) Heavy metal
Power metal
Years active 1992 - 1994 (project)
1996 - 1998 (project)
2001 - present
Label(s) Jaus/Avispa
Associated acts Avalanch, Relative Silence, Sauze, Darna.
Website WarCry.as
Members
Víctor García
Pablo García
Roberto García
José Rubio
Rafael Yugueros
Former members
Manuel Ramil
Alberto Ardines
Fernando Mon
Alvaro Jardón

WarCry is a Spanish power metal band led by founder, frontman, lead singer, and songwriter Víctor García. WarCry was officially formed in 2001, following García's departure from Avalanch, the band has since released five studio albums, one live album, and one demo in 1997 (not considered an official work).

WarCry was formed in 1992, but disbanded two years later when Víctor became Avalanch's guitarist. In 1996 the project was reformed, recording the demo in '97. Unfortunatelly, a year later disappeared once again when Víctor accepted Avalanch's invitation to re-join them as the lead vocals; until 2001 after Víctor García, along with former drummer Alberto Ardines decided to reform the band.

Despite being relatively new, WarCry has become one of the most successful and famous Spanish metal bands, combining heavy and power metal into their music; style that has led them to win numerous awards in Spain, as well as outside of the country.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Early days & WarCry (2001-2002)

"Señor"

"Señor" from WarCry.
Problems listening to the file? See media help.

WarCry was formed in 2001 when vocalist Víctor García and drummer Alberto Ardines decided to record an album with the songs that they had been composing in their spare time while working with Avalanch, knowing that those songs had no place in that band. The recording was done by themselves, although they had the collaboration of Fernando Mon and Pablo García, two prestigious guitarists in the region. Both founding members left Avalanch on March 2002 after Alberto Rionda let know that the band didn't count on them anymore. Pablo García left Relative Silence, the band where he had been working so far, after releasing Mixture? their first and only official album. That same month on March 16, Alvaro Jardón decided to leave Darna to become an entire part of WarCry, but didn't work on self-titled debut album WarCry, which was released on April 17, 2002, recorded, mixed and edited by Jaus Records, cover by Ricardo Menéndez (represented by Rick-Art), mastered by David de la Torre in the M20 Studios, and photography by Romi. All the music and lyrics were written by Víctor García, dealing mostly with epic stories, inmortal warriors, tales, and personnal experiences.

On April 28 WarCry was the group invited to participate in a live interview by Mariano Muniesa in his program for Los 40 Principales, "RockStar", where they played some of the songs from the album and answered questions about this last release. It was decided that the band should have a keyboardist, so in June 22, 2002 they showed an e-mail adress where musicians all around Spain could show their works. On September 5, after checking all the demos sent to that adress they recruited Manuel Ramil, a well-known Spanish keyboardist. Víctor and Alberto kept working in the composition and arrangements of a new album, with the collaboration of the rest of the members as soon as they are joining the band.

[edit] El Sello De Los Tiempos (2002-2003)

El Sello De Los Tiempos was recorded, mixed and edited by Jaus Records, the album-cover was made by Luis Royo (represented by Norma Editorial), mastered by David de la Torre on November, in the M20 Studios in Madrid, and released on December 1, 2002 through Avispa Music; a work with much faster tempos, aggressive drumming, and songs that soon gained popularity, such as "Alejandro", "Capitán Lawrence", "Un Lugar" (sample (help·info)) and "Vampiro". Falk Kollmannsperger from The Metal Observer caracterized the album as "melodic metal between Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force and the first two Shadow Gallery albums".[1] Mariano Munieza from Rock Hard said "the sound is basically European heavy metal, such as Stratovarius, Rage, Blind Guardian, Helloween, Iron Maiden... that is WarCry's musical basis".[2]

The tour supporting the album started on December 13, 2002. Two days later, the magazine Heavy Rock asked the radio program "Derrame Rock" to choose the year's ten best albums according to the program, the album appeared on the list among bands such as Hammerfall (Crimson Thunder), Avantasia (The Metal Opera Part II), Dio (Killing the Dragon), and Shaman (Shamániac).[3] The first concert was in a Presentation Party in Avilés, Asturias and the second one as a guest artist in the "Metal Christmas Festival" in Madrid. The tour extended for a whole year, playing with many important bands in the Spanish heavy metal, such as Saratoga, Barón Rojo, Requiem,[4] ending with a final concert in Avilés on December 13, 2003[5] where Alvaro Jardón left the band stating that the reasons were all due to musical and personal issues, thanking his band-mates and fans for everything, and hoping to return to music in upcoming years. On the same communicate the rest of the members said that they respected his decision, and Alvaro's work on WarCry would always be a part of the band history, having the friendship of all of his partners.[6]

WarCry announced they were going to release an album in English,[7] but after the good critics in Central Europe about El Sello De Los Tiempos sung in Spanish, made them realize that it could be a good option to get into the music market in that language, so they postponed the album for an undefined time and opted for Alea Jacta Est to be their third studio-album.

[edit] Alea Jacta Est (2003-2004)

WarCry (2003), (L-R) Mon, Ardines, Jardón, García, Ramil & García
WarCry (2003), (L-R) Mon, Ardines, Jardón, García, Ramil & García

During the first months of 2003, the band was getting the machinery ready for the next tour, which officially began on March 7, and finished December 12 in their natal land, Asturias. During this year, WarCry played and rocked the whole Spanish territory, obtaining new fans in every single concert, and having a great acceptance by the audience. In the middle of the year, the band got ready to begin the conception of their third album, "Alea Jacta Est", released on January 1, 2004, striking all the music-stores. Just 12 days later, on January 13 Alea Jacta Est reached # 3 in the FNAC's list of sales, competing with albums from all musical styles

WarCry started Alea Jacta Est Tour on March 5, 2004 to support their third album, touring Spain during 7 months with bands such as Sôber, Abyss, Transfer, ending up on November 21 that same year. On the first concert they made the official presentation of Roberto García, better kown as the former bassist of Avalanch, as the replacement for Alvaro Jardón.[8]

[edit] ¿Dónde Está La Luz? (2004-2005)

¿Dónde Está La Luz? was recorded and mixed by Esteban Casasolas in Jaus Records and mastered by Simón "Big Simon" Echeverría in the M-20 Studios in Madrid. This was the first and only album by the band to be mastered by Big Simon, a widely-known record producer who had worked with artists such as Alejandro Sanz, Joaquín Sabina, Miguel Bosé, Sergio Dalma, and metal bands like Mägo de Oz, Sôber, Skizoo, Dark Moor after he passed away on July 31, 2006 due to pancreatic cancer. The album cover was made by Ricardo Menéndez (represented by Rick-Art), and photography by Sergio Blanco, all the lyrics and music for the songs were written by frontman, lead singer, and songwriter Víctor García. The album was released on February 1, 2005 through Avispa Music, in digipak format, as CD-DVD. The DVD contained a music video of the song Contra El Viento, an interview to the band members, some of the recording sessions in the studio, and more. The answer of the public was spectacular, a disc without double big drum, a more social-thematic in their songs, like El Amor De Una Madre and El Regreso. This work has been credited as "WarCry's heaviest album to date",[9][10] having a great repercution on their career helping them to be known around Spain and part of Europe.

On March 4, 2005 officialy started WarCry's tour to suport "¿Dónde Está La Luz?", playing with bands such as Los Suaves, Saratoga, Abyss, Valdemar, and participing in many concerts around Spain, such as the festival "Viña Rock" on April 30, 2005 in front of more than 15,000 people receiving the best of the critics by both press and fans who criticized them as "a machine!" and stating that WarCry was "delivering pure heavy metal".[11] Some days later, on June 25, 2005 the band participed on the second edtion of the "BullRock Festival" celebrated in Asturias in a concert that marked the first time progressive metal band Angra performed in Spain, and beat/rock band Sex Museum.[12] This tour extended for a long time, ending up with a concet in a football pitch in Buñol, Valencia on August 26, 2006[13]

Víctor García participated on Mägo de Oz's Gaia II - La Voz Dormida, along with Leo Jiménez from Stravaganzza and former Saratoga vocalist. They recorded Mägo de Oz's longest song "La Cantata del Diablo (Missit me Dominus)", clocking at 22:18.[14]

[edit] Directo A La Luz (2005-2006)

Taking advantage of the great moment that the band was going through and with a public wishing a live presentation they recorded at the end of the year, a great DVD from a live-concert in the room "Divino Aqualung" in Madrid in front of over 2,000 people, which was named "Directo A La Luz". On February 25, just 2 days before its release, Directo A La Luz was awarded as best national concert of the year, on th Amas Awards first edition. This was a great ascended step in their search for the top; the critic, the public and the sales have praised this work which tries to transmit every single thing who describes WarCry on the scene. This work helped to be better known all around Spain, being WarCry invited twice to the TV channel Televisión Española in less than 2 months, the first show was given on April 4, with the song Nuevo Mundo on the program "Música Uno"; and the other one on May 12, 2006.[15] Directo A La Luz was also the number 1 on DVDs sales in Spain and stood in high positions for many weeks, among works from bands like U2 (Vertigo 2005: Live from Chicago), Iron Maiden (Death on the Road), Jimi Hendrix (Live at Woodstock).[16] During all that time, they started the recording of their fifth studio album.

[edit] La Quinta Esencia (2006-2007)

On September 18, 2006, "La Quinta Esencia" saw the light, signing hundreds of discs in Madrid (More than 1500 people), and the delivery of the gold DVD in a celebration with the press and fans. In "La Quinta Esencia" they turned backward trying to combine the elements who have taken WarCry to the top, from the musical and lyrical point of view. Entering directly to the position 19th, in the national chart-list of sales.

As said by Blabbermouth.net, in September 23, 2006 WarCry performed on the main stage, between some of the biggest names in heavy metal music from all over the world, such as Edguy, Deicide; in the Monterrey Metal Fest at the Coca Cola Auditorium in the city of Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico, billed as "Hell and Heaven United", headlined by Slayer and co-headlined by Stryper.[17]

After taking a little break started their tour on November 2006 in Spain, which extended for a very long time, ending with a final concert on the third edition of the Jamón Rock festival on December 28, 2007 in Guijuelo, Salamanca, Spain[18]

[edit] New Era (2007-present)

On the band's website Víctor García communicated that Alberto Ardines and Fernando Mon had left the band. The reasons remained within the members as accorded from both parties. All these occurred in a professional and friendly way.[19] Alberto left after forming the record label Triple A-Metal and his own recording-studio to help new bands who had just entered in the world of music and record their works.[20] Some days later Víctor announced again on the website that the new drummer was going to be Rafael Yugueros,[21] a well-known musician within the Asturian heavy metal who had worked for the band on the demo Demon97 in 1997 while been just a project from their official bands. Rafael had also worked with bands such as Darna and DarkSun where he gained some prestige around Spain.
He also took the time to find a new guitarist, and in that same announcement showed an e-mail address so that any guitarist interested could send a demo of their skills. Many musicians sent their works, but finally decided to get José Rubio[22] who had worked in many projects, better known as the former guitarist of the band Trilogy.

In an interview with Miguel Egun from MetalZone, on November 25, 2007 Víctor commented on what was going to be WarCry's sixth studio album, stating that their biggest problem at that moment was time due to the fact that they were in the tour for "La Quinta Esencia" and getting ready to start the recording of the album, they should also qualify the songs, work on the lyrics, and seek themes and appraches. The idea was to release it before the summer (May/June).[23]

On December 19, 2007 Pablo García and José Rubio signed an endorsement contract with the prestigious and well known guitar brand Ibanez, who pointed on their individual works, and the band's great impact in the Spanish heavy metal. Both musicians highlighted their professionalism as well as the quality and versatility of the Ibanez's guitars within the music scene.[24]

On February 18, 2008 it was announced on the website that Manuel Ramil, who so far had been a member of the band was leaving them due to the distance from his home in Galicia to the rest of the band's members in Asturias, it was also said that Manuel could only attend to the new album's recording in the studio just a 10% compared to the rest of the members.[25] Beacuse of that they had to push back the date for the album release to September, 2008.[26]

[edit] Style and Influences

Since their inception, WarCry has always maintained a twin-guitar sound, combined with Víctor García's gravelly voice, and the drum's fast tempos, creating a heavy/power/speed metal style, also tending to progressive metal, often cited as a combination of Manowar and Iron Maiden.

Most of the band's recordings come from lead vocals and front man Víctor García, in the begginnig the lyrics tended to deal with medieval, historical, and epic issues with romantic or mythological themes, along with agony and fantasy. Their latest albums with have been centred more in social issues such as punishment, abuse, crime, sin, and discrimination.

The band has often cited: Manowar, Iron Maiden, Dream Theater, Stryper, Virgin Steele, Yngwie Malmsteen, Dio, Judas Priest, Symphony X, Megadeth, Metallica, Angra, Kamelot, Racer X, Children of Bodom, Testament, U2, Soilwork... As their principal and most important influences.

[edit] Band members

For more details on this topic, see List of WarCry band members.

[edit] Current members

[edit] Past members

[edit] Discography

Main article: WarCry discography

[edit] Albums

[edit] Live

[edit] Demos

[edit] Tours

  • El Sello De Los Tiempos Tour (2002/03)
  • Alea Jacta Est Tour (2004)
  • ¿Dónde Está La Luz? Tour (2005/06)
  • La Quinta Esencia Tour (2007/08)

[edit] Awards

Main article: List of WarCry awards

Multiple-Awards(02/19/2004):

  1. Best Singer - Víctor García
  2. Best Keyboardist - Manuel Ramil
  3. Best Website - WarCry.as

Multiple-Awards(04/06/2005):

  1. Best Album Of The Year - Alea Jacta Est
  2. Best Live-Presentation - WarCry
  3. Best Singer - Víctor García
  4. Best Keyboardist - Manuel Ramil
  5. Best Website - WarCry.as

Best Live-Presentation (02/25/2006): WarCry received the prize for the best live-concert, "Directo A La Luz" in the Premios Amas' first edition.

Number 1 On Sales (03/09/2006): WarCry was at the top of the sellig-chart, and remained there for a week.

Gold Certification (DVD) (09/01/2006): "Directo A La Luz" was prized as gold DVD.

Multiple-Awards (01/26/2007):

  1. Best Album Of The Year - La Quinta Esencia
  2. Best Disc's Coverbox - La Quinta Esencia
  3. Second And Third Song Of The Year: 'Ulises' & 'Tu Recuerdo Me Bastará'
  4. Best National Singer - Víctor García
  5. Best Drums - Alberto Ardines
  6. Best Keyboardist - Manuel Ramil
  7. Best Concert - Directo A La Luz
  8. 10 First Places: Roberto García (Bassist), Pablo García & Fernando Mon (Guitarists)

Multiple-Awards (01/29/2007):

  1. Best National Band - WarCry
  2. Best Guitarist - Pablo Garcia
  3. Best Keyboardist - Manuel Ramil

Best Singer (02/17/2007): Víctor García, obtained by voting, the prize as "best singer". In the second presentation of the Asturias' Yearbook of music.

Best Band (08/15/2007): Heavy Metal Radio (From Argentina) named WarCry 'best inernational band' of the month .

Best Keyboardist (02/04/2008): Ramil was elected once again as "Best National Keyboardist" by MetalZone.biz readers.

Multiple-Awards (03/02/2008):

  1. Best Guitarist - Pablo García
  2. Best Drummer - Rafael Yugueros

[edit] References

All sites in Spanish:
  1. ^ The Metal Observer's review about El Sello De Los Tiempos metal-observer.com Retrieved June 11, 2003
  2. ^ Rock Hard talking about WarCry's sound warcry.as Retrieved January 23, 2003
  3. ^ El Sello De Los Tiempos in the the ten best albums warcry.as Retrieved December 15, 2002
  4. ^ WarCry playing with important Spanish bands warcry.as Retrieved October 9, 2003
  5. ^ Final concert for El Sello De Los Tiempos Tour warcry.as Retrieved December 12, 2003
  6. ^ Jardón leaves WarCry maxmetal.net Retrieved December 19, 2003
  7. ^ WarCry postponed the album in English manerasdevivir.com Retrieved August 13, 2003
  8. ^ Roberto García as new bassist manerasdevivir.com Retrieved February 4, 2004
  9. ^ Rolling Stone WarCry.as Retrieved October 8, 2005
  10. ^ Metal Storm MetalStorm.ee Retrieved July 26, 2005
  11. ^ Concert on Viña Rock rafabasa.com Retrieved May 1, 2005
  12. ^ WarCry on BullRock Festival II lavozdeasturias.es Retrieved June 27, 2005
  13. ^ Last concert for "¿Dónde Está La Luz? Tour" rafabasa.com Retrieved August 26, 2006
  14. ^ Collaboration with Mägo de Oz metalarchives.com Retrieved November 14, 2005
  15. ^ WarCry in TVE tu.tv Retrieved May 15, 2006
  16. ^ Directo A La Luz in the Music-Chart warcry.as Retrieved March 9, 2006
  17. ^ WarCry at Monterrey Metal Fest metalunderground.com Retrieved August 14, 2006
  18. ^ Concert on the Jamón Rock festival metalzone.biz Retrieved December 28, 2007
  19. ^ Ardines & Mon leave WarCry metallerium.com Retrieved August 29, 2007
  20. ^ Ardines & Triple A-Metal rafabasa.com/ Retrieved April 16, 2007
  21. ^ Yugueros as the new drummer rafabasa.com/ Retrieved August 30, 2007
  22. ^ José Rubio becomes WarCry's new guitarist metalzone.biz Retrieved September 21, 2007
  23. ^ Interview to Víctor García by MetalZone metalzone.biz Retrieved November 25, 2007
  24. ^ Pablo and José get endorsement contract with Ibanez metalzone.biz Retrieved November 25, 2007
  25. ^ Manuel Ramil leaves WarCry metalmas.com Retrieved February 18, 2008.
  26. ^ Víctor García interviewed by Patanes Tour patanes-tour.com Retrieved May 17, 2008

[edit] External links

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v • d • e
WarCry
Víctor García · Pablo García · José Rubio · Roberto García · Rafael Yugueros
 Manuel Ramil · Alberto Ardines · Fernando Mon · Alvaro Jardón
Studio albums
Live albums
Demos
Tours
"El Sello De Los Tiempos Tour" · "Alea Jacta Est Tour" · "¿Dónde Está La Luz? Tour" · "La Quinta Esencia Tour"
Related
Articles
Bands
Avalanch · Sauze · DarkSun · Relative Silence · Darna