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Most metal fans discovered 3 Inches Of Blood after their 2004 Roadrunner Records debut Advance And Vanquish. But the Canadian band's actual debut came a couple years earlier on a small label, and wasn't originally released in the U.S.

U.S. fans will now have the chance to hear Battlecry Under A Wintersun, as Sonic Unyon is re-releasing 3 Inches Of Blood's 2002 full-length debut. There are also four bonus tracks, taken from the band's 2001 EP Sect Of The White Worm.


3 Inches Of Blood's sound hasn't changed a huge amount over the years. Like their later work, Battlecry Under A Wintersun is heavily influenced by the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, with elements of thrash as well. A bunch of tracks have an Iron Maiden vibe with big hooks and melodies, crunchy guitars and soaring vocals.

Cam Pipes sings the melodic vocals, and his high-pitched Halford style sound takes a little getting used to. Jamie Hooper provides the screams, which are also high pitched, and that along with some harder edged thrash guitars gives some of the songs a little more extreme sound.

The production isn't great on Battlecry On A Wintersun, but the band's musicianship is on full display, as is their love of Viking inspired lyrics, evident in song titles like "Hall Of Heroes" and "Sunrise Over The Fjords."

(released February 24, 2009 on Sonic Unyon)