Roxx Records is once again very excited to be part of another killer new reissue we are about to share with the world. This artist and their music has long needed to be remastered and reissued, in fact it has never officially been on CD before, ever! But even more, the band has blessed us with many of their long lost tracks from their archives that have never before released! That band is Battlecry, with their sole release, Red, White and Blue. Now coming this Summer, Roxx Records will bring you ‘Red, White and Blue and Beyond’!
Battlecry was a GEM that was somehow not given the credit they so deserved in the Classic Christian Rock world. Hailing from Southern California and founded in 1984 by Doug Morris (lead vocals, guitars) Battlecry play a classic 80’s style AOR Hard Rock n’ Roll in the vein of bands like Survivor, Foreigner, Fighter, Journey & Servant. Not long after Doug decided to form the band, he began looking for other musicians to fill the remaining positions. He soon brought on guitarist Robert Kirk Giverink, bassist Ronald Simmons, drummer Bret Kik, and keyboardist-Mariko Martinez to complete the line-up.
The idea behind the band name came from Isaiah 42:13 “The Lord will march out like a champion, like a warrior he will stir up his zeal; with a shout he will raise the battle cry and will triumph over his enemies.” Not long after Battlecry was launched they would head into Songwriters Dream Studios in Los Angeles to begin working on material for their debut release.
In 1985 Battlecry would release their debut 6-track EP entitled ‘Red White And Blue’ via an indie label called Greenworld Records and was originally released only in a vinyl format. Almost a year later in early 1986 the cassette version was released after Doug Morris himself had left the band and was replaced by vocalist Dave Chumchal.
Battlecry
Red, White and Blue and Beyond
Track Listing
Red, White and Blue
(Album)
1. Red, White and Blue
2. When the Lord Comes Back
3. Life with the Lord
4. Not Tough Enough
5. Power and Might
6. You’ve Got to Know
Tracks taken from the original live bootleg cassette only release
(featuring Dave on Vocals)
7. Red, White and Blue – Live Bootleg Recording
8. Battlecry – Bootleg Recording
9. Not Tough Enough – Bootleg Recording
10. Back to the Rock – Bootleg Recording
Tracks taken from the bands personal archives (previously unreleased demo cassettes)
11. When the Lord Comes Back (Demo)
12. Red, White and Blue (Demo)
13. The Dream [Too Late] (Demo)
14. Power and Might (Demo)
15. Brother You Can’t (Demo)
16. Praise the Lord (Live)
17. Something for You (Demo)
This radio friendly AOR release featured some amazing guitar work from Robert Giverink, timely keyboards by Mariko Giverink, on point Bass lines from Ronald P. Simmons and some killer drum work by Bret Kik Keys. In addition, Frontman Doug Morris’ delivers up a solid performance on this project with his vocal delivery drawing comparison to vocalist Sean Murphy (Fighter) and vocalist-Bob Hardy (Servant). Morris sings in the mid to upper vocal ranges and plays a big part in helping bring the EP recording to life.
After the release of ‘Red White And Blue’, the band garnered some notable recognition with their track “When the Lord Comes Back”. The song went on to land in the “top 40” on orange county’s largest Christian rock radio station KYMS.
Battlecry is for fans of Servant, Fighter, Survivor, Greg X Volz, and Journey. ’Red White And Blue’ is one of those rare and hard to find gems that deserves an official remaster on CD for new and old fans alike to enjoy. And that’s exactly what we did, Roxx Records is excited to work with the band to remaster and expand the bands catalog for all the world to hear once again. Remastered by Rob Colwell (Bombworks Sound), new layout and updated cover art courtesy of Scott Waters (NoLifeTilMetal) and a booklet with a brand new interview telling the history of the band compiled in to a full 16 page booklet. The remastered and expanded package includes previously unreleased tracks and photos directly from the bands personal archives that have never been seen before.
On June 7, 2024 this very limited edition CD will be released.
Band Line Up
Doug Morris – Lead Vocals, Guitars
Robert “Bob” Giverink – Lead Guitars
Dave Chumchal – Lead Vocals, Keyboards, Guitars
Mariko Martinez Giverink – Keyboards
Ronald P. Simmons – Bass
Bret Kik Keys – Drums