J-Man Back when death metal first began as a bastard child of extreme thrash metal, a raw hardcore punk attitude was certainly not uncommon from the genre's early pioneers. Fast forward over 25 years since death metal's formation, and coming across an album that manages to (successfully) find a happy balance between death metal, thrash metal, and crust punk is near impossible. That is, until I've stumbled upon Bones, an agonizingly filthy trio hailing from Chicago, Illinois. On this, their self titled debut full-length, the band manages to pump out over thirty-five minutes of crushingly heavy extreme metal that should satisfy anyone in search of the true meaning of "old school". Bones may not have a sound that is revolutionary on the surface, but their dedication to death metal's roots is undeniably refreshing in today's scene... not to mention that the music absolutely kicks ass!

The music on Bones is just about as "old school" as it gets when we're talking about death metal. Expect a heavy dose of thrash influence, traces of doom metal and hardcore punk, an unpolished production, and a raw, primitive vocal delivery. Certainly not unlike the classic work of death metal legend Paul Speckmann with bands like Master or Death Strike. The songwriting is actually surprisingly strong, though, and filled with memorable riffs and frantic drum patterns - and that raw, "fuck you!" attitude makes this album a perfect sentiment to what rock and roll is actually about! The fairly interesting compositions and memorable riffs, often paired with terrific guitar solos, prevent boredom from ever settling in, and instead leave Bones an interesting listen for its full 35 minute duration. A raw, unpolished production also helps further emphasize the album's old school vibe, while still sounding professional and well-done.

All in all, this is a very successful debut full-length from Bones and a high recommendation to those who enjoy their old school death metal on the more primitive, punk-influenced side. I'd like to see a bit more originality and variation next time around, but by-and-large this is a tremendous album that should be making waves in the extreme metal community! 3.5 stars are well-deserved here. Great job, guys - I look forward to hearing more in the future!

optisailor2002 Among all the death metal variants, bands that infuse crust elements into death metal are some of those that tend to attract me the most, incorporating some form of simplicity and raw energy of crust with the heaviness and brutality of death metal. Bones is Illinois' Bones' debut full length album, and from the start to the end of the album, the band promises a fun ride of a fusion of these 2 musical styles.

With March of the Dead, the playing style of the band is immediately apparent. Unlike most of their death metal counterparts, the drumming on the album stands out with the constant d-beats that are present. Furthermore, guitarist Chris often unleash riffs that would also sound fit for a punk or thrash metal record, sounding frantic and chaotic at the same time, yet managing to sound natural throughout, and this not only makes Bones an easy listen for those looking to transit into more extreme forms of metal, but also helps in making the release an extremely fun listen. The usage of a lone guitar, without a rhythm guitar at the background during the guitar solos help in bringing about a somewhat old-school vibe and charm to the music, and more chaotic guitar solos like those on Apocalyptic Warrior would instantly bring bands like Slayer to mind. Vocalist/bassist Jon utilises death growls, but along with his lead vocal lines, the rest of the band also at times join in with shouting vocals at the background.

The song structures of most of the tracks are also extremely straightforward, with the presence of many fist-pumping, sing-along and memorable moments like on March of the Dead and Bitch. The sheer energy of the band is clearly audible, on more aggressive tracks such as Bloodlust, and shows the band moving full-speed ahead, and drummer Joe unleashes all his fury on tracks like these, and at times, the riffing on this track almost wanders into a slightly black metal territory. Songs like Apocalyptic Warrior and Lonely Death border on crossover/thrash metal territory, further displaying the influences that Bones has included in their songwriting.

The album is not a complete blast-fest though as the band incorporates slower and quieter moments, like on Bitch, though this does not mean that the band has toned down, with the ominous feedback of the guitars at the background leaving a sense of unease in the listener. It is also on moments like these that the bass of Jon is finally given space to breathe, as it tends to get buried under the other instruments most of the time. As an album though, Bones has certainly managed to provide a nice balance between all the different aspects that make a good album, making this an extremely enjoyable one.

Originally written for http://www.heavymetaltribune.com/