DRAGONSCLAW DEBUT “SURVIVAL” MUSIC VIDEO

Dragonsclaw have released a music video for “Survival”, offering another glimpse into their upcoming album, Moving Target. Watch the video below, and pre-order Moving Target, out August 22 via High Roller Records, here.

Giles Lavery is best known as the vocalist of Warlord, Alcatrazz and Jack Starr. On top of that, he is also a highly prolific band manager, record producer and label co-owner.

Dragonsclaw is the name one of the first bands Giles Lavery co-formed with Ben Thomas in 2010, while still residing in Sydney, Australia. Their debut album Prophecy was quickly recorded in 2011, followed by Judgement Day (2013). And now, a record breaking twelve years later, it’s time for the follow-up.

Apart from Giles Lavery on vocals, Moving Target features Australian citizens Ben Thomas (guitars) and Aaron Thomas (bass) as well Warlord members Mark Zonder (drums) and Jimmy Waldo (keyboards).

“For me the direction on Moving Target was intended to be if Judas Priest had made an album somewhere in 1985 between Defenders Of The Faith and Turbo,” describes the vocalist the sound of the new Dragonsclaw album, “with some of the second Fifth Angel album in there too.”

Keyboards are prominently featured on Moving Target, which was actually the original plan of the band: “I think for this album the keyboards are very important, they create the needed atmosphere and drama. I would say that we used them in a similar way that Virgin Steele did on Age Of Consent, namely to build atmosphere. I really like that haunting effect keyboards can have when used right. Like Tony Banks from Genesis does, or Tony Carey on his Planet P Project albums .. Jimmy Waldo is one of those guys too.”

Probably the fastest and most upbeat number on Moving Target is called “Shadowfire”. And it comes with a surprise: “’Shadowfire’ reminded me of a current-day Riot song, so I asked Todd Michael Hall to sing on it with me, and he was kind enough to do so!”

“(Tell Me) All Your Lies”, on the other hand, another standout track on Moving Target, is quite an accessible composition, possibly the catchiest tune on Moving Target. It’s got a bit of that “Wasted Years” Maiden-vibe, following the Adrian Smith school of songwriting. “I am glad you noticed that,” laughs the singer. “As I heard that too … Co-producer Thomas Mergler was largely responsible for helping to finish that song up as it wasn’t quite right and he added some very good ideas to it.”

With the band on fire and Giles Lavery, the singer, coming across as a blend of Michael Kiske, Geoff Tate and Ronnie James Dio, Moving Target has every chance to become a modern-day heavy metal classic.

Tracklisting:
The Road Beneath Your Wheels
Survival
Cry Wolf
Don’t Break The Silence Again
Back On The Streets
Ghost Soldiers
Shadowfire
Tell Me) All Your Lies
Raise Your Fist

Lineup:
Giles Lavery – Vocals
Ben Thomas – Guitar
Aaron Thomas – Bass
Jimmy Waldo – Keys
Mark Zonder – Drums

Credits:

Todd Michael Hall – Guest Duet Vocals on “Shadowfire”
Alan Rueda – Guest Duet vocals on “Raise Your Fist”
Eddie St James – Background vocals on “Raise Your Fist”
Kenny ‘Rhino’ Earl – Background vocals on “Ghost Soldiers” & “(Tell Me) All Your Lies”
Thomas Mergler – Guest second guitar on “(Tell Me) All Your Lies”
Joe Stump – Guest guitar solos on “Raise Your Fist”