The music for this song originally came out from a long standing practice joke of “stump the drummer”. Alex reached deep into his Bulgarian ethnic roots and played some 7/8 odd rhythms. It was only fitting to tag on some faster speed metal riffs on to this. Despite his name being invoked in the title, this one has nothing to do with good Ol’ Scratch. Considering the jagged odd rhythm theme, Justin felt that mathematics was a fitting theme. The lyrics are about the feud between Sir Isaac Newton and Leibniz over which of the two should be credited with the development of calculus. The lyrics present a first-person perspective, but leave the door open to speculation as to which of the two luminaries in question is providing the narrative.

07 - Scrollkeeper - Devil's Calculus

Scrollkeeper are a Traditional Heavy Metal band from Houston, Texas that specializes in high energy, anthemic original material that is reminiscent of Metal's halcyon days.

After a revolving door of guitarists, Simon Marfleet (drums) and Justin McKittrick (vocals) asked Alexander K. to join on guitar in November of 2016. Soon after William Sullivan (bass) and John Morris (guitar) joined the band.

 

Out of these rehearsals eventually emerged the bulk of songs on the band's current set list.

During rehearsals for their debut show, Scrollkeeper recorded a 2 song EP titled “Fortune Favors the Bold”  which was tracked live in their Downtown Houston rehearsal studio and mixed and mastered at Nocturnal Sound Studios (Houston, TX).

 

The band’s debut show was as support act for Delain and Hammerfall in June 2017. Since then, Scrollkeeper has shared the stage with Manilla Road, Dirkschneider, Angra, Cloven Hoof and kept a busy show schedule.

 

The song “Surrender” was selected for the “Doomed and Stoned in Texas” compilation, featuring doom legends Solitude Aeturnus, deadhorse and other Texas stoner/doom bands with proceeds going towards hurricane relief.

 

The band finished an EP "Path to Glory" in 2018, recorded at Sound Arts Studios and Nocturnal Sound Studios (Houston, TX), engineered by Brian Baker and the band's guitarist, Alexander K. The EP was mixed and mastered by Ricardo Camargo @ Tidalwav Studios, Queens, New York. For the artwork, the band chose German illustrator Helge C. Balzer.

 

"Path to Glory" is available for sale on Bandcamp, Amazon, iTunes, Google Play and other media and streaming platforms. Houston residents can also buy a physical copy in CD format at Cactus Music, Sound Exchange, Vinal Edge (Houston), Music Millenium (Portland, OR), Waterloo Records and End of an Ear Records(Austin, TX), Radio Active Records (Fort Lauderdale, FL), Hog Wild Records (San Antonio, TX), Amoeba Records (Los Angeles, CA). “Path to Glory” is also sold in select US cities and in the EU though German label Underground Power Records.

 

For 2019 Scrollkeeper supported British heavy metal veterans Saxon, Canadian thrash legends Voivod, Enforcer, Warbringer and B.T.R. on their tour stops in Houston, TX. John Morris and William Sullivan exited the band, and after several months of auditions the band decided to continue with one guitarist. Soon thereafter, in January 2020, Andrew Sutton (Descent Into Madness, MercenaryX) joined on bass guitar.

 

The band is finishing it's first full length album, titled "Auto da Fe", scheduled for release June 19, 2019.