Album Review: Bonded - Into Blackness
Reviewed by Paul Hutchings
There’s a demonstrable increase in ferocity and pace on Bonded’s second full length. Whilst debut ‘Rest in Violence’ was a heavy mutha, the groove and hooks that ran through the core of the album meant that some of the visceral anger that one would have expected from two former members of Sodom was missing. The Pandemic may have pissed on everyone’s chips, but it seems to have fired a dark and demonic beast within the Bonded camp, for ‘Into Blackness’ is about as nasty and thrashy as you could want. In summary, this is 45 minutes where you need your seatbelt firmly fastened.
If ever there was a more aptly titled song for these troubled times than ‘Watch (While the World Burns)’ I’d be amazed. It’s a razor-sharp start, violent and energetic with an explosive feel. The drumming is exceptional as one would expect from Markus “Makka” Freiwald, a classic thunderous approach, with the pace relentless. His double bass brutalises on ‘Division of the Damned’, just one track that should we ever get to see Bonded, will incite pits that rage like the fires of Hell.
Alongside Friewald is former Sodom colleague Bernd “Bernemann” Kost who alongside fellow guitarist Chris Tsitsis stand accused of aural assault, such is the lacerating carnage they create. This is an album that stands tall, proud with its chest puffed fully out. Muscular but retaining the hooks from the first release, this is an album that thrash fans the world over cannot ignore. It may not be anything particularly new and it’s not all blistering violence. ‘Destroy The Things I Love’ is more Five Finger Death Punch than blazing thrash, demonstrating that despite the intensity there is a variety which may not suite the diehards.
But search deeper, and you’ll find the stomp of ‘Ill-Minded Freak’ and the semi-hardcore piledriver ‘Final Stand’ that both get the blood pressure racing. Ingo Bajonczak’s gravel-throated roars aren’t going to float the entire thrash flotilla, but the Assassin singer brings plenty of pent-up rage to the table and it works well across the album.
There’s enough here to ensure that interest remains focused on Bonded. It may not be the most original album of 2021, but when you want a gnarly, angry thrash record, Into Blackness will tick all the boxes.
