(Metal Blade)

There’s a fine line between consistency and redundancy, and English grind merchants Bolt Thrower have been toeing that line for most of their career. Since the band reached their sonic peak with 1991’s mammoth epic Warmaster, they’ve settled into a Ramones-like mode, rarely straying from the apocalyptic soundscape they perfected all those years ago.

For a while, that wasn’t too big a deal. The IVth Crusade further honed Warmaster’s raw, steamrolling fury and the Gulf War-inspired ...For Victory finally saw the band move beyond the realm of Conan The Barbarian fantasy. But by 1998’s lethargic Mercenary it was obvious Bolt Thrower had been riding the same war horse for too long. Other brothers in grind - Napalm Death, Brutal Truth, Carcass, etc. - had long since introduced new elements to their sound and, in some cases, quite radically transformed themselves. Some times it worked, some times it didn’t, but at least they gave it a shot.

With their first album in three years, following some line-up turmoil that saw singer Karl Willets leave and ex-Benediction singer Dave Ingram join, Bolt Thrower finally take some baby steps into new territory. The differences are subtle, but they do bring some needed new life to the band’s tired sound. Most noticeably, things are looser and livelier on Honor Valour Pride. With the crisper guitar tones and a more adventurous approach, Bolt Thrower’s grind doesn’t seem quite so smothering or single-minded - even though it’s still plenty heavy and brutal.

Where guitars and bass once formed one big buzzsaw, there’s now a welcome separation between riffs and rhythm that by itself makes the songs more, well, “song-like.” The huge hooks and swaggering bottom end of “K-Machine” and “A Hollow Truce” offer some of the band’s most inspired and memorable work in years. And the straight speed metal attack of “Valour” is a pleasant surprise indeed, especially when contrasted against “Honour” which is pure, old school Bolt Thrower opening with a dirge-like rumble before taking off like a runaway steamroller.

Thematically, Honor Valour Pride is pretty much business as usual - war, death and the end of the world - but at least this time Bolt Thrower make it seem bit more fun. ***

boogins - 7/2/2008 3:06:58 PM
hey where did meat gazer 'satan' (chris little) go to? smokin' poles in hell hopefully... lol...

eastsider - 3/12/2006 9:56:39 PM
satan=fag2/3/2002 11:59:23 AM Didn't we rid the boards of Chris Little (aka korrode, uprooted or whatever name he's using?) back in 2000? RobJ? Your comments. you fags.

eastsider - 3/12/2006 6:33:15 PM
satan is this your problem? get over it... Bernard Edwards Project Homicide 13 song self titled debut release from Emerald City Records Of Hollywood kontains klassik KISS kover COLD GIN order via kredit kard at the site. GrindCore PowerGroove Metal Rock N' Roll... BloodSpitting FireBreathing flying 'V's from Hell! Theatrical metal www.emeraldcityrecords.com - 3 free MP3's on the site... We've Got Something for your Punk Ass! DEATH TO FALSE METAL!

oleVonBastardo - 4/10/2003 11:03:12 PM
satan is this your problem? get over it... Bernard Edwards Project Homicide 13 song self titled debut release from Emerald City Records Of Hollywood kontains klassik KISS kover COLD GIN order via kredit kard at the site. GrindCore PowerGroove Metal Rock N' Roll... BloodSpitting FireBreathing flying 'V's from Hell! Theatrical metal www.emeraldcityrecords.com - 3 free MP3's on the site... We've Got Something for your Punk Ass! DEATH TO FALSE METAL!

oleVonBastardo - 3/29/2003 5:01:10 AM
kick ass bands both mentioned here...

jizzyfart - 2/5/2002 9:12:19 PM
buy it--nothing new here just melts yor head

satan - 2/3/2002 11:59:23 AM
Didn't we rid the boards of Edward Przydzial (aka Bernard Edwards or whatever name he's using?) back in 2000? RobJ? Your comments.

The_Space_Lord - 1/30/2002 5:46:56 PM
Bolt Thrower kick ass. Bernard Edwards Project Homicide sucks. As does Linkin Park. There will be a test on this.

DemonFilth - 1/29/2002 1:37:05 PM
You know what is really good? Bernard Edwards: Project Homicide. That guy rocks.

i_love_taz - 1/29/2002 9:59:37 AM
Ya got that right grendelson, C. Rich could never do justice to BT's sound on the albums...lacked Ms. Jo Bench's bass that's for sure!!! I have the mp3s from Metal Blade (from the German and US sites) and I definitely will put this album on the hit list. Time to start getting some grind-core again for me... It's groups like this that make me forget about the Viacom empire (the company that owns MTV, VH1 and Nick...used to like that network when "Ren & Stimpy" was on, until Nick butchered it and watered down the show!)

Schemp - 1/29/2002 7:33:54 AM
Bolt Thrower rules, Warmaster was the shit. "Deathmetal will never die."

metalking - 1/29/2002 5:49:26 AM
Damn right, we don't need to impress. If that's what we were into, we could find a lot of music that would impress people a lot more than Bolt Thrower. Honestly I will never understand why bands don't get enough attention. Nice of KNAC to cover these guys.

deadguy - 1/29/2002 1:06:56 AM
I haven't bought this CD but Warmaster was the shit when it came out 10 years ago. Hopefully this Bolt Thrower album will help me to forget all the stupid shit that is played on the radio and MTV.

ReggieNoble - 1/28/2002 10:38:21 PM
Let me tell you something, fans of the heavier side of metal are not out to convert or impress anyone, it's not in our nature. That being said, I am firmly on relative groud. This Bolt Thrower release, Honour, Valour, Pride is the best album I've heard in literally 5 years. This album has been pummeling my car speakers for two solid weeks and I can't get enough. Bolt Thrower rules and I am begging for a North American tour.

CrimsonTiburon - 1/28/2002 8:12:00 PM
Hey, if your favorite band isn't BOLT THROWER... The your favorite band SUCKS!!!!

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