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Brad Towers Unleashes Epic Fantasy Novel Series With Heavy Metal Soundtrack!

Author/Musician Brad Towers is releasing the first epic fantasy novel with an interactive heavy metal soundtrack!

by The Metalverse

Updated September 12, 2024

Brad Towers Unleashes Epic Fantasy Series “Ethasar Chronicles” With Heavy Metal Soundtrack!

Fantasy writer and musician Brad Towers just released “War of the Seven”, the first volume in the Ethasar Chronicles. This project is an epic series that blends fantasy storytelling with heavy metal in a new, innovative way.

After writing the first three books in the series, Brad decided to produce a metal album for each novel and to link the albums and the books together. After reading a set of chapters, readers are greeted by a QR code that takes them to an original song about a hero or event from the story. Inspired by Iron Maiden, Manowar, and Hammerfall, what better than shredding power metal to listen to while reading a fantasy epic?

As far as we know, Brad is the first author to do this, and we hope he won’t be the last.

The series takes place in a world where seven powerful kingdoms clash in a great war for the fates of their gods. It features orcs, giants, vampires, fantasy Vikings, medieval knights, assassins, and wizards, all tied up in a fast-paced story with end-of-the-world stakes. The conflict sends Ethasar’s heroes to battle against each other, and some will not survive.

Each book is accompanied by a full metal album (9 songs, 40-50 minutes runtime).

To produce the songs, Brad composed the lyrics, vocal lines, chord progressions, and the occasional riff or solo. He recorded acoustic demos of each song, and he worked with a team of talented studio musicians to turn them into Metal. Together, they created different musical styles for the orcs, vampires, seafaring Islanders, desert men, and other factions in the story.

Brad Towers - Author of the Esthasar Chronicles — Brad Towers (Pictured Above)

Brad lives in Tenerife, Spain and is currently working on the production of the next book / album duo in the series — “Quest of the Champions”.

The first book in the Ethasar Chronicles, “War of the Seven”, is available on Amazon now, with books 2 and 3 releasing by November 2024. You can listen to Brad’s music for free on YouTube and if you enjoy it, you can check out his fantasy series! You’ll find the links after the album review.

Our Review of the Album:

The musical project is named Ethasar, after the name of the fantasy series. The album is named “War of the Seven”, the same as the first book in the series.

Ethasar’s 9-track album starts with “Six Gods Must Die”, which presents the story’s main conflict. Filled with shredding guitar riffs, booming drums, and storytelling vocals with a clear power metal style, Ethasar creates a sound that perfectly matches fantasy.

“King Knut’s Final Swim” features an anthemic and catchy chorus that takes the form of a pirate-sailing theme song. Feeling modern yet nostalgic at the same time, the song does an excellent job of creating soundscapes that carry distinct aesthetics.

“Defender of the Empire” introduces another faction, the Julian Empire. The song uses thrashing riffs, distant choirs, and powerful scream-singing to form fiercely melodic yet metal atmospheres. With vocals that grow progressively higher, creating harmonies and an overall epic sound, Ethasar’s music captures a power metal sound expertly.

The 4th track “The Blood Rage” showcases the vampires’ strength and savagery in battle. It starts with a slowed tempo, before launching into speeding melodies. Featuring an instrumental chorus that sounds akin to a guitar solo, “The Blood Rage” takes a more technical and instrumental approach to the sound while still storytelling through verses

“Through the Greatest Storm” begins with upbeat leads and continues to emphasize vocals that tell the tales of the Ethasar Chronicles. Resuming the sea-sailing shanty vibe introduced in “King Knut’s Final Swim”, this song brings back a familiar sound while still sticking out as a unique track.

“First of the Braves” introduces the orc faction. It’s full of fantasy gusto, with rolling R’s and power metal at the forefront. With this track, Ethasar explores a heavier sound, with the first harsh vocals of the album so far. Deep growls and racing double bass drum patterns create an aggressive sound that picks up the pace of the song as well as the story’s events.

The 7th song, “Black Blade”, tells the story of a deadly assassin. It introduces itself with a dramatic narrator before jumping into rapid thrash, soaring guitar melodies, and energetic drum work. The song pauses halfway through with ambient background music before bringing back the narrator from the introduction. In an explosive finale, “Black Blade” launches back into epic power metal.

“Augustus” is full of bright guitar solos, chugging rhythm guitars, and belting vocals filled with Ethasar’s fantasy lore, telling the story of one of Ethasar’s seven gods. The album “War of the Seven” excellently mixes old-school heavy metal with refined modern production.

The final track of the album, “War of the Seven”, follows the melodic line of “Six Gods Must Die” and provides a six-minute musical summary of the book. It starts with mellow piano before introducing catchy guitar leads and the distinct power metal vocals established throughout the 42-minute LP. Wrapping up the first book of the Esthasar Chronicles and album, “War of the Seven” is an epic track that finishes gallantly with a strong stadium-ready chorus and distant backing
choirs.

Overall, the album is an impressive display of power metal that pays homage to the all-time greats of the genre, all while delivering the in-depth stories of Brad Towers’ fantasy world

Brad Towers’ first book in the Esthasar Chronicles “War of the Seven” is available on Amazon now. You can listen to Brad’s music for free on YouTube, and if you enjoy it you can check out his fantasy series!