| Battlecry | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | Two Steps from Hell |
| Cover: | TSFH-Battlecry-Steven-R-Gilmore.jpg |
| Length: | 1:36:24 |
| Producer: | Thomas Bergersen, Nick Phoenix |
| Prev Title: | Miracles |
| Prev Year: | 2014 |
| Next Title: | Classics Volume Two |
| Next Year: | 2015 |
Battlecry is the seventh studio album by the group Two Steps from Hell, released on 28 April 2015.[1] It consists of 26 tracks written by composers Thomas J. Bergersen and Nick Phoenix.[2] The album features all-new tracks, except for Amaria from the demonstration album of the same name. It features vocal performances by Merethe Soltvedt, Nick Phoenix and Felicia Farerre.
Battlecry is the first public album by Two Steps from Hell released on two discs and furthermore the first public release to feature instrumental versions of two tracks.[2] The cover artwork and the sleeve are designed by Steven R. Gilmore.[3]
It was the group's first album to peak at number 1 on the US Classical Albums chart as well as the first to feature on the Billboard 200, having sold 3,000 copies in the United States in its first week.[4]
The album was later re-released in 2017 as Battlecry Anthology, featuring instrumental and orchestral versions of all the tracks from the original album.[5]
Cannon in D Minor was first uploaded to YouTube in 2014 by Four For Music, Ltd. as a demonstration track for their collaboration with Two Steps from Hell.[6]
The original version of None Shall Live is also available as a commercial single entitled Children of the Sun, featuring vocals by Merethe Soltvedt.[7]
Victory became the first track to surpass 100 million views on the group's official YouTube channel.[8]
The cut track Chosen One was ultimately released in 2020 as L'Appel Du Vide on Bergersen's solo album, Humanity - Chapter I.
Disc 1
Disc 2
Tracks exclusive to Extreme Music
Cut tracks
James Monger of AllMusic reviewed the album positively, describing it as "death-defying gymnastic routine-ready pieces of expertly crafted, epically presented audio melodrama".
Ryan Book of Music Times was more ambivalent, initially saying, "the collection seems ready for [a] music video featuring dragons, wizards and epic battles" and comparing its "Gaelic style" favourably to scores by Hans Zimmer and Howard Shore. However he finished his critique with, "orchestral music buffs won't be too keen... but perhaps fans of Nightwish and other symphonic metal might be able to appreciate the album as a whole."[9]
IFMCA-associated reviews website, MundoBSO,[10] highlighted its "great melodic power" and rated it seven out of ten stars.[11]
| -- default listing is by Region/Country name per WP:CHARTS & References should be as specific as possible.--> | ||
|---|---|---|
| Chart (2015) | Peak position | |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[12] | 123 | |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) | 123 | |
| Belgian Classical Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[13] | 3 | |
| Belgian Classical Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[14] | 1 | |
| UK Independent Albums (OCC)[15] | 44 | |
| UK Independent Album Breakers (OCC) | 9 | |
| US Billboard 200[16] | 183 | |
| US Classical Albums (Billboard)[17] | 1 | |
| US Classical Crossover Albums (Billboard)[18] | 1 | |
| US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[19] | 1 | |
| US Independent Albums (Billboard)[20] | 9 | |
| US Top Sales (Billboard)[21] | 82 |
| -- default listing is by Region/Country name per WP:CHARTS & References should be as specific as possible.--> | ||
|---|---|---|
| Chart (2017) | Peak position | |
| US Classical Albums (Billboard)[22] | 15 | |
| US Classical Crossover Albums (Billboard)[23] | 12 |
| Chart (2015) | Position | |
|---|---|---|
| US Classical Albums (Billboard)[24] | 24 | |
| US Classical Crossover Albums (Billboard)[25] | 14 |
The tracks from Two Steps from Hell are frequently used in film trailers and other promotional materials: