Bolt Thrower - Realm of Chaos (1989)

Britain's finest batter us within just over thirty minute's of rain-soaked doomy thrash, that grinds like the innards of a rusty clock. It doesn't get much better than this, Bolt Thrower carving their own niche with their Warhammer-inspired slab. Whether it's the throaty vocal drool of Karl Willetts or those blast-beat drums from Andrew Whale, this band has always guaranteed an experience something akin to being in the mud-lined trenches. Couple this with Jo Benche's hammering bass and the twin guitar attack of Thompson and Wade, and in you're in for a treat. Bolt Thrower manage to bridge the gap between several metal genre's, speeding up the saault for 'Eternal War' and then creating quicksand riffs with the groove-based 'Through the Eye of Terror,' 'Realm...' is typically British in it's Gothic outlook, 'World Eater' has all the subtlety of an out of control tractor running riot across a farmer's field, whilst 'All That Remains' rises from the ash like some battle-scarred tank. Bolt Thrower are a MUST have for any metaller who likes his music heavy, dirty and punishing. With staggering artwork to match, 'Realm...' is very much the soundtrack to war. Forget the reviews, just buy it and wallow.
8/10