NEWS RELEASE
Montreal, QC – July 20, 2023
Venezuela’s STRATUZ Becomes The First Extreme Metal Band To Be Nominated For The Pepsi Music Awards
+ South American Tour Dates (Chile, Argentina, Peru)
New Album “Osculum Pacis” Out Now!
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L-R – Franklin Berroteran (Vocals, Keyboard), Geronimo Egea (Guitar), Leonardo Rangel (Baa), Diego Cabrujas (Drums)
The band Stratuz was born to make history. In their 40 years, they have pioneered numerous events and broken many milestones within the Venezuelan rock scene. This time, the quartet from Caracas becomes the first extreme metal band in the country to be nominated for the Pepsi Music Awards in its eleventh edition, specifically in the categories of “Best Rock Artist” and “Best Rock Album” for Osculum Pacis, a record production that was listed among the best releases of 2022 in more than 20 countries, whose promotional tour will be extended to South America between August and September with performances in Argentina, Chile and Peru.
In addition, the band formed by Franklin Berroterán (lead vocals), Gerónimo Egea (guitar), Diego Cabrujas (drums), and Leonardo Rangel (bass), is celebrating their second consecutive year in the Top 50 of The Jacqui Raven Show, on US radio station 99WNRR, as well as their signing with Wormholedeath, a record label whose products are distributed worldwide by Aural Music Group, which has a publishing division managed by Warner/Chappel Music Holland BV (Warner Music Group); its distribution and digital marketing is handled by the US corporation The Orchard INC (Sony Music Ent. ).
“These two nominations for the Pepsi Awards represent for us a very significant step in the history of extreme metal in Venezuela, it’s a recognition of effort, perseverance, and dedication. We feel deeply grateful for this nomination, which motivates us to continue working and building the metal scene, until Venezuelan metal has its own category, giving it the level it deserves”, said Franklin Berroterán.
Besides the South American tour that already has confirmed dates in Argentina, Chile, and Peru, Stratuz also has two very important engagements in the city of Caracas, starting on October 29th, where they will be one of the guest bands at the “2023 Wacken Metal Battle South America, North Region – Venezuela” to be held at the Centro Cultural BOD; then, on November 18th they will perform as special guests at the “Third edition of the Metal Hecho En Venezuela Awards”.
In this year’s Pepsi Music Awards, which received more than 4,100 entries, Stratuz will compete with Venezuelan groups from different rock genres with a proven track record. In the “Best Rock Artist” category, Stratuz will compete against Los Mesoneros, Dischord, and Wincho Schafer. In the category of “Best Rock Album”, they will have as rivals 430 Steps with “Lights Out”, La Tara Bisoñe with “Crudo”, Los Mentas and their “Museo De Los Pillos”, Sorrynotsorry with “The Meaning Of Life” and again the ex – Sentimiento Muerto/Atkinson Wincho Schafer with his solo album “We Are What We Are”.
The album Osculum Pacis, mixed and mastered by Arturo Banús, is the fourth full-length album by Stratuz, which includes 11 original songs that delve into different trends such as gothic rock, death metal, doom metal, and even some elements of symphonic rock. In March of this year, it was performed live, with a choir and a string ensemble at the Centro Cultural BOD, the first time that an extreme metal band offered a concert in this venue. Journalists, musicians, producers, and cultural managers of the stature of Félix Allueva, Gregorio Montiel Cupello, Humberto Sánchez, Eduardo Sáez, and Arturo Ochoa gave excellent reviews of this performance, which they described as “historic”, “out of the ordinary”, and “unique in its style”.
The invitation is to vote for Stratuz in the eleventh edition of the Pepsi Music Awards, in the categories of “Best Rock Artist” and “Best Rock Album” through the following link:
https://premiospepsimusic.com/votaciones/view
The album “Osculum Pacis” was released on April 26, 2022, and is available on CD / Digital on Stratuzofficial.bandcamp.com, and Spotify.
Live video (accompanied by a string ensemble and a choir) “Back To The Sun“ – https://youtu.be/ErVam3miymw
Lyric Video – “Left” – https://youtu.be/uEZEU5mz9lY
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Latin American Tour Trailer Video – https://youtu.be/XhiUSPqe35w
Tour Dates:
Aug 30 – Mibar – Santiago, Chile w/ The Ancient Doom
Aug 31 – Club Segundo Piso – Valparaíso, Chile w/ Decree of Annihilation, Unkind Beast, Critical Defiance
Sept 1 – Bar Bahia Swing – Rancagua, Chile w/ Lafaln, Nox Terrorem, Necromagiuz
Sept 2 – Piedra Roja – Concepción, Chile w/ Endimion, Radamanthys
Sept 9 – Gier Music – Buenos Aires, Argentina w/ Sinister
Sept 16 – Florida Club – Cusco, Peru w/ Illdisposed
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Track Listing:
1. Intro – 1:58
2. Morning Star – 3:50
3. Father Amorth (e) – 2:58
4. Holy Grail – 4:36
5. Caelibatus – 4:33
6. In the Name of God – 3:06
7. Back to the Sun – 3:09
8. Sodomized – 4:41
9. Dawn – 5:06
10. Left – 4:57
11. Condemned – 5:26
Album Length: 44:22
Stratuz is:
Franklin Berroterán – Voices and Keyboards
Gerónimo Egea – Guitars
Leonardo Rangel – Bass
Diego Cabrujas – Drums
For more info: Stratuz.info | Facebook.com/stratuzofficial | Twitter.com/stratuzofficial | Instagram.com/stratuz_official
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“The track (Left) begins with grim, quiet strumming and then is ignited with a glowing melody pronounced by the electric piano. Gothic vocals follow, tortured with the thought, “We are alone!” As the song develops, it asks of us, “Is today one day more or one day less in your dreams?” Osculum Pacis is a mighty struggle between light and darkness, that fans of Paradise Lost and Type O Negative should take a fond liking to.” – Doomed and Stoned
“the fathers of Venezuelan death/doom” – Femforgacs
“For me this material is the best of the Latin scene of 2022” (Osculum Pacis) – Metallerium
“Osculum Pacis is a brutally artistic journey with Stratuz, it loudly demonstrates their abilities and vision, which they stayed true to throughout all the changes and dynamic shifts that we’ve been through on this sonic trip. I loved how packed is it with pure emotions of anger, melancholy, and growing brutality.” – ROCK ERA MAGAZINE
“Fans of doom metal, death metal – even black metal, can find something to appreciate with “Osculum Pacis”. For metalheads who like their metal dark and more mature with its themes, this is a great release to sink your teeth into.” – Team Brutal
It is an album, a record that can captivate anyone who loves music, both for its lyrical content and for its musical enrichment within rock in different trends and trends, along with orchestral arrangements that surround you. Without a doubt, a musical production for export.” – Cresta Metalica
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