We’re excited to announce that Starbearer — the power metal project of American guitarist David McDaniel (known online as thedavidshreds) — has joined the Elevate Records / Virtuoso Records roster.
Combining soaring melodies, virtuosic guitar work, and epic fantasy storytelling, Starbearer takes a deliberately varied and dynamic approach to power metal — moving from heroic and triumphant to aggressive and intricate without ever losing its identity. Fans of Gloryhammer and Rhapsody will feel right at home, though Starbearer carves its own path with a more musically diverse sound and an evolving fantasy narrative running through every track.
David McDaniel brings a strong instrumental background to the project, with a focus on technical guitar playing — though Starbearer as a whole is built around songwriting and world-building, not virtuosity for its own sake.
Starbearer’s four-track debut EP arrives October 16, 2026 — the first chapter of a much bigger story still to come.
More details, including the EP artwork, coming soon. Stay tuned.
Follow Starbearer: instagram.com/thedavidshreds