BOLT THROWER — War Master (review)

BOLT THROWER — War Master album cover Album · 1991 · Death Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
UMUR
"War Master" is the 3rd full-length studio album by UK death metal act Bolt Thrower. The album was released through Earache Records in July 1991. The vinyl version of the album features 9 tracks while the CD version includes the bonus track "Destructive Infinity" and places it as track number 5 on the album.

The music on "War Master" is pre-dominantly mid-paced old school death metal with occasional faster parts. Tracks like "Unleashed (Upon Mankind)", "What Dwells Within", "The Shreds of Sanity", "Final Revelation", and "Cenotaph" are high quality material and are among the standout tracks on the album, but all tracks are of a good quality. The bonus track is the only track that´s a bit sub par to the rest.

The sound production is organic and raw, and suits the music well, and the musicianship are decent too. I´ll never be the one to praise Andy Whale´s skills as a drummer, but at least here his efforts are acceptable. Bolt Thrower´s riffing style is simple but effective and catchy. Karl Willetts vocals are more brutal and deep on "War Master" compared to his vocal style on "Realm of Chaos (1989)". The band´s trademark war and chaos lyrics are present and accounted for and on "War Master" those lyrics are delivered with catchy hooklines, that you´ll be able to remember and sing/growl along to. It´s one of those death metal albums where you can understand the words, that are being said even though the lead vocalist growls.

"War Master" is ultimately a very different sounding album to "Realm of Chaos (1989)" and it´s obvious that the band have worked hard on developing a personal sound. The focus on brutal mid-paced grooves (and even whiffs of melody here and there) instead of blasting deathgrind (only three tracks on this album features blast beats) has payed off and to my ears "War Master" is the right and logical step forward for Bolt Thrower. A 4 star (80%) rating is deserved.
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