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a high school dropout can become a doctor of pharmacy, there's no reason a kid from Iowa with a penchant for Gregorian Chant and flamenco guitar can't become a rock star. That said, Brian Chupp, aka Gregorian B.C., is an overachiever. The rock star part is perhaps still in question, but he's achieved the rest already. With a talent and sound born of the same rebellious spirit that gave birth to rock n roll in the first place, Gregorian B.C. blends Chant, flamenco guitar, rock, blues and metal into a sound that has perhaps not been heard before. Singing with a relaxed baritone voice that occasionally calls Jim Morrison to mind, Gregorian B.C. has to be one of the most distinctive artists in rock n roll today. Gregorian B.C. releases his debut album, Conquistadors Of War on July 6, 2010.
Conquistadors Of War opens with "Arise", a heavy rock opus that will appeal to Sabbath fans. The song is a call to war and a call to freedom wrapped into one. It's an ambitious opening foray that announces both the musical intent and personality of Gregorian B.C., who styles himself after the 16th Century Spanish Knights from whom his name is derived. "Gregorian Starlight" mixes elements of progressive rock, 1970's metal and Gregorian Chant. "Live Today" embodies "Carpe Diem" in song, admonishing listeners to live in the moment and not work their lives away. Gregorian B.C. takes the arrangement off the map mid-song, showing some wicked guitar skills in the process. "The Clock Of Time" sounds a bit like Jim Morrison fronting The Moody Blues, circa 1972. It's the most laid-back composition on the disc; a somewhat surprising and gratifying change of pace.
With "The Rise Of Spain", Gregorian B.C. moves into more gothic territory, decorating it with dashes of Flamenco guitar inside an expansive rock arrangement. "The Rise Of Spain" is a warning to today's national powers to heed history and how even the mightiest fall in time. Conquistadors Of War keeps the same tone but returns to the Sabbath-inspired slow, heavy rock style. "The Spanish Armada" takes a more conversational tone, as Gregorian B.C. highlights symbols of the Spanish empire in the 16th Century. Conquistadors Of War closes with "East Coast Rocker", sounding more like Jim Morrison than at any other time during the album.
Conquistadors Of War is an uneven but intriguing experience. Nearly half of the album is a historical song cycle with geo-political implications for today's rapidly changing international politics. The rest is a collection of Black Sabbath or Doors inspired tunes; the sum of which suggests that Gregorian B.C. has found a theme but not a solid writing voice he's yet comfortable with. The blend of sounds on Conquistadors Of War is highly original in spite of the influences referenced here; Gregorian B.C. has a sound that will gain him a lot of intention, although it's not as accessible to current mores as it would have been in the 1970s. If you're a fan of Black Sabbath, The Doors or other such acts, then Gregorian B.C. will appeal to you. His is an interesting sound.
- Wildys World
Gregorian BC really portrays the feeling through his sounds of being a conquistador of war through this album. He has a huge Spanish influence in his guitar playing with song titles like "The Spanish Armada" & "The Rise Of Spain". The second song on the CD is "Gregorian Starlight" and it sounds like it would be played in the back round of a huge battle scene in a movie, Spain against the world and Spain is dominating. Gregorian has alot of Metal influences in his music as well as the old sound of a old Spanish Monastery priest singing on a hill top overlooking Madrid.
I have had the pleasure of listening to a lot of music that was written, created, played and performed by 1 single person and not 99% of the ones I've heard have been very bland and lifeless but it's a refreshing feeling to hear the abundance of life coming from Greg's deep voice and passionate lyrics. Gregorian tells us about how life is passing by and not wasting time.
Track 5 "The Rise Of Spain" Gregorian really shows his Spanish Guitar influence with fast finger picking in this song expecially.
Gregorian BC "Conquistadors Of War" is everything you think it would be by reading the CD booklet. Through Gregorian's music it takes be back into history. Gregorian BC really is a conquistador of war. I would definitely recommend checking Gregorian BC's website and music out at www.GregorianBC.com
- Big Smile Magazine
Discography
Check out Gregorian BC songs on Pandora and Jango. Go the website www.gregorianbc.com
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Bio
Brian Chupp has been nicknamed "The Conquistador of Music" due to his eclectic musical mix of Gregorian chant and Flamenco guitar with rock and blues, as evidenced on his new album Conquistadors of War. Speaking about his unique musical style, Brian acknowledges that "Rock music is not new, but it would suck to sound like some other band because that's already been done." Having taken electric guitar as far as it could go, Brian became enamored of Flamenco guitar while in search of a higher, different classical art to incorporate into rock. This, along with influences of Gregorian chant, has Brian creating a sound all his own.
illy Ashbaugh (Drummer - Britney Spears, Tim McGraw, Pat Benatar, 'NSYNC) says "Brian's songwriting breaks down all barriers. The way he mixes classical guitar, Gregorian chant, rock, blues, and Flamenco guitar is truly original. His music is like nothing you've heard before."
rowing up in Iowa, Brian's motto became "I'm gonna do it whether people like it or not. I'm a risk taker." Once a high school dropout, he later went on to receive a Doctorate in Pharmacy. Given the choice, Brian would "rather be the dark Gothic figure than the hero." He refers to Conquistadors of War as his Labor of Love.
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