EPK – Immortal Guardian – Unite and Conquer (2023) (M-Theory Audio)

EPK – Immortal Guardian – Unite and Conquer (2023) (M-Theory Audio)

Publicist – Jon Asher – jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com

Release Dates: October 27th, 2023 on M-Theory Audio and WARD Records / December 1st on Massacre Records
Label: M-Theory Audio (NA)  / Massacre Records (Europe) / WARD Records (Asia)
Distribution: M-Theory Audio – Worldwide, outside Europe and Asia 

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“A mega-catchy prog-power anthem (Read Between The Lines) mixed with a blend of crushing performances that’ll leave you salivating for more.” – Metal Injection

“Immortal Guardian are a band that are so technically proficient that it’s infuriating. Gabriel Guardian is, as usual, the star of Psychosomatic with his self-dueling guitar/keyboard work, but the shiny new rhythm section is right there with him. The album covers a lot of ground. It’s power metal at it’s core but some moments sound very Dethklok, while others have a bit of a Latin flare, and you’re also getting classical influences.” – Metal Injection​
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​“Psychosomatic, an album that will likely be viewed as one of 2021’s best releases, and a landmark record for Immortal Guardian. ” – Metal Nation​
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​““Psychosomatic” is a super catchy (Prog) Power Metal album” – Metalheads Forever Magazine

“With this album (Psychosomatic) Immortal Guardian should no longer be seen as a promising band. Not only have they shown that they have an enormous compositional quality and an elite technical level, they have also shown that they are a band that faces difficulties and that they have all the will to continue. Making a high-quality second album two years after their dazzling debut tells us about the enormous inner power these musicians have.” – Metal Rules

““QUARAN-TAAAAAYN!” No matter what you think about Immortal Guardian, it’s refreshing to hear a band that plays their style while confronting modern life. Though there’s a lot of big, epic, technical stuff going on on Psychosomatic, it never devolves into a lot of bullshit about chivalry and orcs. As such, they feel poised to be the inheritors of Nevermore’s throne, a gritty power metal band who feel relevant even as they soar. Get this in your brain.” – The Pit​
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​“If you enjoyed Age of Revolution, you are bound to be thrilled by Psychosomatic. The band continues to up their game with technical thrills, but grounds it in some darker and personal songwriting that gives it a slight edge over their previous material. An easy pick-up for those in the power/prog section.” – Dead Rhetoric

Release Dates: October 27th, 2023 on M-Theory Audio and WARD Records / December 1st, 2023 on Massacre Records
Label: M-Theory Audio (NA)  / Massacre Records (Europe) / WARD Records (Asia)
Distribution: M-Theory Audio – Worldwide, outside Europe and Asia 

Track Listing:
1. Ozona (4:44)
2. Echoes (4:50)
3. Roots Run Deep (5:21)
4. Perfect Person (4:07)
5. Divided We Fall (6:17)
6. Lost in The Darkness (4:38)
7. Southern Rain (3:58)
8. Unite and Conquer (6:03)
9. Un Dia A La Vez (2:39)
10. Rise of the Phoenix (5:51)
Album Length: 48:28

Album Recording Credits:
• All songs performed by:
•  Gabriel Guardian – Keyboard Guitars and Backing vocals
• Carlos Zema – Lead Vocal and Backing vocals
• Joshua Lopez – Bass Guitar
• Justin Piedimonte – Drums
• Special Featuring vocalist on Roots Run Deep: Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear)
• Special Featuring vocalist on Lost in The Darkness: Vicky Psarakis (The Agonist)
All songs written by:
1 – Immortal Guardian – Ozona (4:44)
– Music: Guardiola
– Lyrics: Guardiola / Zema
2 – Immortal Guardian – Echoes (4:50)  
– Music: Zema / Guardiola
– Lyrics: Zema
– 3 – Immortal Guardian – Roots Run Deep (5:21)
– Music: Rivera / Guardiola
– Lyrics: Rivera / Guardiola / Zema
4 – Immortal Guardian – Perfect Person (4:07)
– Music: Guardiola
– Lyrics: Guardiola / Zema
5 – Immortal Guardian – Divided We Fall (6:17)
– Music: Guardiola / Piedimonte
– Lyrics: Guardiola / Zema
6 – Immortal Guardian – Lost in The Darkness (4:38)
– Music: Guardiola
– Lyrics: Guardiola / Vicky Psarakis
7 – Immortal Guardian – Southern Rain (3:58)
– Music: Zema / Guardiola
– Lyrics: Zema
8 – Immortal Guardian – Unite and Conquer (6:03)
– Music: Guardiola  
– Lyrics: Guardiola
9 – Immortal Guardian – Un Dia A La Vez (2:39)
– Music: Guardiola  
– Lyrics: Guardiola
10 – Immortal Guardian – Rise of the Phoenix (5:51)
– Music: Guardiola  
– Lyrics: Guardiola / Zema

• Produced By: Gabriel Guardian & Joshua Lopez
•  Mixed And Mastered By: Joshua Lopez At Widowmaker Studios Engineered By: Joshua Lopez, Gabriel Guardian, Jesse Zito
• Cover Artwork: Masiha Fattahi
• Booklet Artwork: Jobert Mello – Www.Sledgehammergraphix.Com
• Widowmaker Studios – Mcallen, Tx Usa: Bass Tracking / Re-Amping /  Editing By: Joshua Lopez  
• IG Metal Studio – Las Vegas, Nv Usa: Guitars / Keyboards / Vocals –  Tracking By: Gabriel Guardian
• Truesonix Studio – Montreal, Canada: Drum Tracking / Engineered And  Edited By: Jesse Zito
• Editors:
– Joey Diaz At Widowmaker Studios In Mcallen, TX
– Alex Nasla At Gear Gods Studio In Los Angeles, CA
– Choir Vocals Arranged And Conducted By: Gabriel Guardian
• The Guardian Choir:  
Rachel G – Mary Zimmer – Maya Cohen – Mason Fleet
Carlos Zema – Gabriel Guardian
• Special Guests:  
– Vocal On “Lost In The Darkness” By: Vicky Psarakis (Former The Agonist)
– Vocal On “Roots Run Deep” By:  Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear, Avantasia)  
• All Songs Written By: Immortal Guardian
© 2023 Immortal Guardian
• Administered By Riffs Of The Rose Music (BMI)

Album Band and Live Band Lineup:
Gabriel Guardian – Keyboard Guitars and Backing vocals
Carlos Zema – Lead Vocal
Joshua Lopez – Bass Guitar
Justin Piedimonte – Drums

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About the Album Artwork:

In Every Immortal Guardian album, we follow a sort of pattern, representing the  Immortal Guardian itself or herself, in the graphic of the cover of each album. In  Super Metal – Edition Z, the Guardian was simply: represented by Space, seen through a glass IG-band-logo-shaped window. Revolution Part I, represented by the Heavens, in front of a peace flag, standing at half mast, mourning for the end of  2 worlds, by a sole survivor. Age of Revolution, the Guardian is the Mother of  Time, foreseeing a future for mankind, where artificial tries to mimic humans.  Psychosomatic, talks about the force that controlled our body and mind through the pandemic period, so it’s represented by a Guardian which possesses the power that controls the mind, she’s the main character in the middle. In Unite and  Conquer, Immortal Guardian is represented by Mother Earth, which is in the very center, on the back, gathering the humans and non-humans, to finally conquer.  Understanding each other’s spaces and differences, is a powerful reflection, on the challenges of our modern world, urging us to remember the simplicity of unity and peace before the chaos of division and conflict took hold.

About the album as a whole (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY)

Lyrics: Unite and Conquer, lyrically approaches several different subjects that all have one thing in common, Understanding each other’s spaces and differences,  as a powerful reflection, on the challenges of our modern world. Nowadays technology in a sense, separates us from human interaction and presence at the moment we live in. Within our realities, we created obstacles and divisions,  but that also made us come to this realization. Urging us to remember the simplicity of unity and peace, before the chaos of division and conflict took hold.  Bringing us to the times before the wars.  

Music: We embarked on a fresh creative journey for U.A.C., introducing innovative elements into our writing process and overall musical style. While experimenting with new approaches that Immortal Guardian hadn’t explored before, we also preserved elements of our signature sound. The album is a true reflection of the tumultuous life experiences each of us was undergoing during its creation. This time we dove deep into the essence of those real-time emotions and experiences. We worked really hard on representing it in every riff, groove, and melody created in the album, very carefully written with the nuances of the lyrics and motion of emotions  

Track by Track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):

Immortal Guardian – Ozona:

Lyrics: A few years ago, while we were on the road, we broke down in the middle of nowhere in a little Texas town called Ozona. We had no way of getting home, and no money to resolve our problem. We just wished and wished we could get home somehow…. While we waited we decided to write a song about our experience because we knew that weren’t the only ones going through times like this. This song is for all the traveling souls just trying to find their way back home.
 

Music: This song was written to have a very heavy vibe and with a big sing-along chorus! A cry out for a return to a place that can be called home. The music carries on with a build-up melody and dynamic, very groovy and heavy into a more aggressive chorus, climaxing into a singalong at the end of the chorus. The whole melody and instrumental was built around the theme and dynamic of the song that comes from the lyrics, to make much more sense with the theme of the specific parts of the song lyrically.

Immortal Guardian – Echoes:

Lyrics: For generations, humanity has longed for a truth. The right to unite what has been divided. We long to be free from all our differences,  genders, colors, nationalities, religions, beliefs, and any other type of separation. This real freedom relies on our minds, to be free from all these fears, repressions, oppressions, and everything else that stops us from being united. In the name of this truth, our voice will echo endlessly –  Freedom!

Music: This song was a small taste of the new territory that IMMORTAL GUARDIAN was exploring and having plans to take their sound to. Very fast and powerful riffs! Lots of speed and remarkable melodies, with a taste of European power metal. Although the song leads to a very heavy breakdown, intentionally made without missing the BPM. The goal was for the song to lead into a glorious ending with a huge sing-along.  Immortal Guardian – Roots Run Deep:

Lyrics: Roots Run Deep takes us on a journey back to a time when we were all united before our differences and conflicts divided us. It reminds us that we all share a common history and that as a society we must learn to survive the separations and unite to conquer. With a message of hope,  unity, and perseverance, ‘Roots Run Deep’ encourages us to make the world a better place. So let us embrace our shared history and let this song inspire us to make a positive change in the world. This is about the levels of today’s division. Black and white, religion vs. religion, left vs. right, rich and poor, war and peace, etc.

The world is so divided right now and what we want more than ever is unity.  This song is about putting our differences aside and remembering that we are all humans just trying to survive. We all just want a happy life, and that would be more likely to happen if we all just agreed to disagree respect each other, and celebrate the things that make us all so different and unique.

Music: This song has been written with the intention of breaking the band’s patterns, the vocals already start with the lowest pitch vocal recording that Carlos has ever recorded. The instrumental comes in super fast and intricate, very heavy in arrangements and bombastic melodies that come close to a huge clash building up to the chorus, in which we built the melody to be the perfect fit for Ralf Scheepers, which is our special feature in this song.

Immortal Guardian – Perfect Person:

Lyrics: Gabriel grew up in a very religious Mexican family. It was a big part of their lives, especially every Sunday morning when they went to church.  But one day, the pastor had a heart attack while in the middle of a sexual act cheating on his wife, and died right there in the church after-hours. It was absolutely bonkers and they remember it really stirred up the moral point-of-views in our tiny Texas town. They stopped going to church after that and really started questioning why they were there, to begin with. You see, some Christians had such a bad taste of the church that they left religion altogether and felt lied to and deceived, while others said the  Christian thing to do would be to forgive him and move on and find another church. It was super interesting how they grew up and watched both sides of this play out. This made a very interesting topic to write about and it  definitely fueled the spark for ‘Perfect Person.’

At the end of the day, it is about NOT over-idolizing and over-glorifying religious figures, politicians, celebrities, even musicians, and the like. We wonder if that pastor had just lived his life and died a non-religious man,  nobody would have been bothered, but because everyone sought this man’s advice every week, got baptized by him, got married by him, and put his words and lifestyle on a pedestal, it made it that much more devastating. Everyone can pin a local ‘icon’ in their minds as a perfect figure that could do no wrong and preach endless golden words when in fact, he is just a mortal man with a mortal sin.

Music: Perfect person for being a very dark song in terms of theme and lyrics, we built this structure in a very different way than the rest of the songs in the album, the whole song carries out with very dark melodies until the chorus comes with a more upbeat melody delivering the final message of the song in a more uplifting fashion.

Immortal Guardian – Divided We Fall:

Lyrics: These lyrics reflect a thought-provoking and socially conscious perspective on the challenges of contemporary society. Especially the biggest of the problems we face as a society is the lack of interaction locked in our social media and phones. The song begins by highlighting how some of the most ambitious dreamers can emerge from impoverished backgrounds, questioning the true meaning of wealth without aspirations. It then delves into the ongoing racial tensions, suggesting that a more harmonious world, represented by the color gray, might be the key to saving lives. The lyrics also touch on the theme of self-identity and societal

divisions, emphasizing the paradox of connecting through screens while deepening the divide. The song calls for a change in mindset and the need to explore different paths and perspectives to address the existing conflicts,  ultimately emphasizing the importance of unity in the face of divisive choices presented by those in power.

Music: This song is a completely different song compared to the rest of the album, it has a very modern approach with a very different up and down in dynamics, and very intricate melodies as the song has a very unique passage within a very ethereal atmosphere, flirting between heavy and melodic, this is the song of the album that represents the doom of the whole theme of the album, divided we fall, instead of unite and conquer. Musically it also does make sense in being the most different song in the album.  Immortal Guardian – Lost in The Darkness

Lyrics: These lyrics touch a very delicate subject, it was written for people who lost somebody very important in their lives, but still have a very strong connection with them, they convey a sense of haunting and introspection, touching on themes of loneliness, lost opportunities, and the possibility of redemption. The main subjects of this song reflect on the persistent presence of a ghostly figure that seems to accompany them through life’s trials and tribulations. The lyrics suggest a yearning for connection and a desire to find the light in the darkness, emphasizing the potential for reconciliation and healing despite the broken dreams and painful memories. The repetition of “together lost in the darkness”  reinforces the idea of shared struggles and the hope of reuniting and finding salvation.

Music: This song was built in a very different structure compared to the other songs in the album, with the special feature of Vicky Psarakis, who also contributed with her own lyrics and improvisations over the original vocal melody, created a beautiful duet with Zema and made it a majestic masterpiece with highly remarkable melodies, bringing a very emotional atmosphere to this piece. The songs is still very heavy, but definitely with the focus on the vocal melodies to deliver this overwhelming emotional feeling to the final result.

Immortal Guardian – Southern Rain

Lyrics: For several moments in our history, we have doubted the humane side of humanity. Now, this is the moment we arise to say: ENOUGH! No matter how hard things get, no matter how south things go, we will never back down. We will not race against the races. We will not stand as victims

anymore. We will unite and persevere against all the bullets that our families dodge every day. Together as one, we stand against the next bloodstain in our history, at all costs.

Music: This is the ballad of the album, definitely one of the power ballads that the band wrote that made a remarkable impact. Especially in being super diverse and dynamic. Originally written as an acoustic song, this track took a completely different shape and form when recorded. The result is a very melody and arrangement-rich song, with a very spacious vibe.  Immortal Guardian – Unite and Conquer

Lyrics: These lyrics express a poignant commentary on the modern age’s challenges, where our emotions are dulled by the constant presence of screens and technology. The singer questions our current state, yearning for a return to simpler times when dreams and peace were paramount. The repeated call to go back to that idyllic era underscores the desire for unity and conquering divisions in a world marked by mistrust and conflict. The lyrics encourage us to reflect on the consequences of our digital age and long for a return to a more genuine, harmonious existence. Music: We definitely took a new direction trying new grooves and riffs, that we have never jammed before together. At the same time, after jamming dozens of times together, we learned that we have a signature sound  

Immortal Guardian – Un Dia A La Vez

Lyrics: Un Dia A La Vez, reflects a powerful theme of inner conflict and the struggle for balance in life. Running from past conflicts, facing our inner demons,  and ultimately seeking love and hope despite the challenges. The repeated chorus “dying to live, one day at a time” reinforces the idea of taking life one step at a time, overcoming doubts, and striving for a better future, but also living the present, and being more present. The inclusion of phrases in different languages adds a multicultural dimension, emphasizing the universal nature of these struggles and the shared desire for a brighter tomorrow. We had 4 of our native languages spoken in the band, English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese, but we’ll speak a little bit of Italian if you ask us to, as well…  

Music: Because of how deep this subject is, this song was written and arranged in a very different way, we didn’t even jam it as a band, this is a piano piece written by Gabriel, that he built into a huge arrangement-rich track, full of different emotions and atmospheres. It was perfectly made to be in between Unite and  Conquer and as a build-up to the Gran finale, the Rise of The Phoenix.

Immortal Guardian – Rise of the Phoenix

Lyrics: This is a heartwarming tribute to Gabriel’s mother, conveying her challenging upbringing and the resilience she embodies. These lyrics paint a vivid picture of a childhood marked by hardship and sacrifice, with a  sense of isolation and struggle. Despite the adversities she faces, the lyrics carry a message of hope and transformation, likening her to a phoenix rising from the ashes. The chorus powerfully encapsulates her strength and determination to overcome, emphasizing her ability to soar higher and stronger, even in the face of adversity. Overall, these words beautifully capture the theme of resilience and triumph in the face of adversity, dedicated to his mother’s inspiring journey.

Music: This track is a massive build-up and when you think it has gotten to the maximum, it will still surprise you. Remarkable vocal melodies with a  very heavy sound, orchestrations, and very low riffs fulfill a huge massive, and harmonic colossus. This song is very riff-heavy as well as one of the most beautiful guitar and keyboard themes in the album. We could not see a better song to close Unite and Conquer.

Power/Progressive Metal band IMMORTAL GUARDIAN has slowly been teasing their forthcoming album since the spring of 2022 releasing new songs digitally alongside some great music videos every few months. Fans of the band have enjoyed the development and creativity of the album’s content and evolvement into a concept and final work. ‘Unite and Conquer’ finally has a release date, Oct. 27th, and preorders launch today.

“We definitely took a new direction with our writing process and overall sound on the new album. We tried some new things Immortal Guardian has never done, but also kept a taste of our classic sound in the process,” explains guitarist/keyboardist Gabriel Guardian. “We were all going through some crazy experiences in our lives while making this album and I think it really reflects in the music. As we did during our ‘Psychosomatic’ album, we were writing these songs in real time as we lived through these major events in the world and in our personal lives.”

‘Unite and Conquer,’ like the hailed and successful 2021 ‘Psychosomatic’ was written and recorded by the band themselves with credit going to Gabriel Guardian and bassist Joshua Lopez, who also mixed the album at his Widowmaker Studios. They enlisted the help of artist/photographer Masiha Fattahi (Threshold) with further design work by Jobert Mello (Sabaton, Primal Fear, Acid Reign), as well as guest vocalists Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear, Gamma Ray) and Vicky Psarakis (The Agonist) to create a stellar new album.

“For generations, humanity has longed for a truth. The right to unite what has been divided. We long to be free from all our differences, genders, colors, nationalities, religions, beliefs, and any other type of separation,” elaborates vocalist Carlos Zema. “This real freedom relies on our minds, in being free from all these fears, repressions, oppressions, and everything else that stops us from being united. In the name of this truth, our voice will echo endlessly – Freedom!”

“Immortal Guardian’s ‘Unite and Conquer,’ lyrically traverses a multifaceted emotional journey, from introspection and self-discovery that passionately calls for unity and change. The poetic verses entwine seamlessly with the captivating melodies, delivering a musical narrative that resonates with the listener on a profound level, leaving an indelible mark on the heart and soul. With a simple message — this is the time to Unite and Conquer.”

Always lyrically insightful and pushing musical boundaries, the latest from IMMORTAL GUARDIAN will please fans of progressive, power, and traditional metal with so much tasty playing and melodies. Evidence is already apparent in the five songs released to date, but there is still another half of the album ready to enjoy.

Pre-order ‘Unite and Conquer’ now on limited-edition vinyl –- the standard retail version (250 copies on insomnia red and black splatter) or the exclusive to band/label variant (100 copies on bone/black mix), as well as CD and Digital. https://lnk.to/immortalguardian

IMMORTAL GUARDIAN – founded by Gabriel Guardian, whose uncanny ability to play guitar and keyboard simultaneously has been showcased on MTV’s “Amazingness” and on his unique dual-instrument covers of classics by the likes of Iron Maiden, Pantera and Guns N’ Roses that have garnered hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube – began building their following through multiple self-released EPs before signing with M-Theory Audio. The band has also performed live alongside some of the biggest names in metal, including Judas Priest, Dragonforce, Kamelot, Symphony X, Sonata Arctica, Slayer, Marty Friedman, Metal Church, Soilwork, and Steve Vai, and in countries such as Brazil and Russia, and during high-profile performances at ESPN’s X Games, South By Southwest, Mad With Power Fest and Fun Fun Fun Fest.

Immortal Guardian:
Gabriel Guardian – Keyboard Guitars and Backing vocals
Carlos Zema – Lead Vocal
Joshua Lopez – Bass Guitar
Justin Piedimonte – Drums