“Traitor Or Savior”

Gotland-TRAITOR

The Italian black metal band GOTLAND has released their new single “Traitor Or Savior”, extracted from their second, yet-untitled album, that will be released in 2017 for the 10th anniversary of the band. This will be the first work with their new singer Irmin (who joined the band one year ago) and the new session member Gabriele “Hyde” Gilodi (Misteyes, Energy Of The Elements) who took care of the composition and recording of the orchestrations.

This single and the upcoming album mark a new way for the sound of the band, that definitively leaves the folk influences of the beginnings to dedicate to a black/pagan metal with an epic and symphonic touch.

Another difference from the past is that this new work will be a concept album, based on the life of Arminius, the German chieftain who defeated Varus and the Roman Empire during the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest, which is considered one of Rome’s greatest defeats.

The part of the story told in the single “Traitor Or Savior” is the one right before the battle. It’s a very personal and introspective part: Arminius, who had already programmed the ambush for Varus, betraying his trust advising him to change course through the insidious Teutoburg forest, now has doubts. His aims and ideals are noble, to free his people from the Empire dominion, but in order to reach them, is it right to betray his commander, a friend and even his brother (who decided to stay on the side of the Romans)? What will be his legacy? It will be remembered as the savior of his people, or simply as a vile traitor?

The recordings, as well as the mixing and mastering process, are by Alessio Sogno of Alarm Studio in Turin (who worked also on the first album of the band “Gloria Et Morte”). The artwork of the single was realized by the Italian artist Alessandro Alimonti (Design Overload), who will also work on the graphic works for the upcoming album.

You can listen to the new single here: