Album Review: Bulletbelt - Warlords
Reviewed by Paul Hutchings
Despite the happenings across the globe, there has been an astonishing consistency of music from across the metal world. The fourth album from New Zealand’s Bulletbelt continues the quality, with their fourth album an explosive package of blackened thrash which restores faith that decent music can come from the land of the Kiwi.
If like me, you can’t quite work out what all the hype is about with Alien Weaponry, then get stuck into this beast. Recorded at the Surgery Studio in Wellington, Bulletbelt’s current cohort is group founder Steve Francis (drums) and long-time bassist Tim Mekalick, joined by new members Josh O’Brien (guitar) and Paul Roberts (vocals). Now in their second decade having formed in 2009, the first thing that I thought after listening to ‘Warlords’ was “now I need to explore their back catalogue”. Roberts vocals are visceral and intense, every sinew strained as the album opens with ‘Impaler’ and ‘Punishment of God’. Lacerations are certain if you get too close to the speakers on this bad boy, O’Brien’s riffs razor sharp and the band are locked in tightly. Promises of extra violence come in the shape of new guitarist Andrew Collett who will add extra venom when the band finally get to a stage.
Bulletbelt have a strong touring history, adding some impressive scalps to their support slots including Sepultura, Carcass, Napalm Death, Midnight, Psycroptic and The Black Dahlia Murder. Varying their style allows them to cast the net wider, the slower paced ‘Herodian Kingdom’ for example, leads with a gentle piano intro before crushing with a sludgy, slow burner with Roberts howling his way through. Hooks and choruses are a staple of the bands sound. They take a rich punk infused approach on ‘Blade On The Fire’ and ‘Flames of Hell’, both songs destined to level venues with crowd action. It’s almost impossible to sit still just listening to it.
Of course, Roberts vocals are going to be a bit of a marmite style. If you want clean soaring vocals you are at the wrong album but if you want something rawer than a fillet steak after 30 seconds on the grill, ‘Warlords’ should tick all your boxes. The ferocity of the riffs is akin to a forest fire, the rhythm section takes no prisoners with Mekalick’s marauding bass lines sticking the middle finger to any attempt at conformity. Warlord is a wild ride, blisteringly aggressive on first listen but also with plenty of musical muscle to appreciate on follow up plays. For me, New Zealand’s metal scene is now at least not the sole domain of three juniors and a massive PR campaign. It’s time to get back to the Bulletbelt. You won’t regret it.
