Essential Bands – BOLT THROWER


It’s been more than two years since drummer Martin Kearns died, and over a year since Bolt Thrower announced that they were splitting up as a result – both sad days for metal.

On a side note, all is not lost -  in between those events, vocalist Karl Willetts started a new band called Memoriam (which will be featured on this blog separately in due course).

Bolt Thrower existed for almost 30 years, anyway; and the overriding theme of their work is/was war.

They really came into their own in the ‘90s - all of their albums from War Master on (as pictured above) are outstanding.

The IVth Crusade (Earache Records, 1992) is particularly essential:


...as is their final studio album, Those Once Loyal (Metal Blade, 2005):


Simply put - they're one of the greats. And their approach to riffing has been extremely influential.

If you've been living under a rock (or are new to death metal), and are yet to discover Bolt Thrower, then you should rectify that immediately.

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