bolt thrower is a (in my opinion totally underrated) death metal band. being around for over twenty years, their name being a reference to the tabletop warhammer, they produced eight albums with always the same bolt thrower style. their sound was once described to me as like a freight train, crashing into a terminal station with full speed: they’re not that fast, but their impulse is so strong that they feel like steamroller rolling over you. lyrically they are centered around war and its consequences.
let me start with a track from their newest album, those once loyal, called the killchain. an incredibly goovy, powerful tune. its hard to not somehow start moving when listening to it, or even start headbanging.
for the rest of this post, i want to present one song of each of the four newest albums. let me begin with the 1994 album …for victory.
the next song is mercenary from the 1998 album mercenary. slower than the above two songs, but nonetheless powerful.
the fourth track is 7th offensive from the 2001 album honour – valour – pride.
finally, the last piece is those once loyal from their 2005 album those once loyal:
to those once loyal now wreathed in crimson
solemn reminder of silent sacrifice
to the once loyal forever wrapped in glory
in white crossed acres – lines of sorrow laid
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