The band was founded in 2003 by Tony Asta and Hiran Deraniyagala in Canton, MI, where the childhood best friends and neighbors formed the earliest beginnings of Battlecross while attending Salem High School.

In 2006, vocalist Marshall Wood was hired who brought a new level of aggression ultimately altering the vocal direction of the band.

[1] In 2008 and 2010 respectively, bassist Don Slater and singer Kyle "Gumby" Gunther joined the band, after Marshall's departure for family reasons.

Together, they played local shows around Detroit and in the Midwest and opened for such acts as Dying Fetus, GWAR, DevilDriver, The Absence, Vital Remains, and The Faceless.

[2] In late 2010, the band caught the eye of Metal Blade Records while members were replacing their vocalist, Marshall Wood.

Lewis, responsible for the production and/or engineering for bands such as The Black Dahlia Murder, Trivium, DevilDriver and Deicide, said: "I can't wait to be a part of BATTLECROSS' next record.

Kevin Talley of Six Feet Under was announced as the touring drummer for the band for their New England Metal and Hardcore Festival and Orion Music + More appearances.

While in Europe, the band hit many smaller venues with fellow Mayhem Festival tour mates Huntress.

Following a return to the States, Battlecross wasted no time in hitting the road again across America, in direct support of Canadian metallers Protest the Hero.

[13] On August 20, Battlecross hit the stage in Mexico City, their first concert in the country, in support of Black Label Society.

Following the show, they set off on a small South American tour in support of Killswitch Engage and Memphis May Fire.

On May 27, 2015, the band released a new single entitled "Not Your Slave", and revealed the title of their upcoming studio album as Rise to Power.

The website described the album as "traditional thrash metal, but not in a retro wannabe sense, and is delivered in a package that is modern, yet avoids being too cookie-cutter; melodic, yet not 'pretty' or cleanly sung.