Bolt Thrower
Realm of Chaos

THE REVIEW

If bands like Napalm Death and Carcass can be considered those who planted the seeds of grindcore, then we could define Bolt Thrower, along with other bands, as the gardeners who have tended to the genre's growth. Indeed, while establishing themselves within the death scene, the Bolts began their journey in the rawer hardcore environment, eventually evolving their sound into what we know today. The first two albums well represent their original style, and while In Battle There Is No Law proves to be at times inconsistent and monotonous, the same cannot be said for its successor: Realm of Chaos.

Recorded and released in 1989, Realm of Chaos stands out as one of the most interesting releases in the year that saw the definitive emergence of death metal. The weight of the album may not be comparable to an Altars of Madness or a Slowly We Rot, but its importance for the evolution of the genre is undeniable.

Upon listening, the album reveals itself as extremely chaotic, with very low-tuned guitars (it's even said they tuned to an A!) driven by some unknown destructive fury, delivering extremely raw and crushing riffs and a drum set racing at full throttle, striking blast-beats with speed and power, which was quite original for its time. Interesting, for once, is the role of the bass, which can be heard and at times overshadows the guitars, despite not doing anything particularly complicated, yet still contributes to creating that dark atmosphere characterizing the album. The songs, averaging 3-4 minutes, are 10 very fast compositions, certainly not diverse (after all, we're not talking about Opeth here), but there are memorable moments, such as "Through the Eye of Terror" or "World Eater", where the riffs are very groovy and, I dare say, epic (though far from the self-celebratory cheerfulness of Manowar). Moreover, making the work more interesting is the characteristic alternation between more cadenced parts and full-throttle outbursts typical of Bolt Thrower (albeit still in embryonic form), thus giving rise to songs that are at times doomy such as "All That Remains" or songs that are decidedly more intense and engaging like the opener "Eternal War", truly ingenious for introducing you to the realm of chaos. I cannot deny that there are songs that are not necessarily avoidable, but certainly leave nothing particular with the listener (like the frantic "Plague Bearer" and "Drowned in Torment").

In any case, this album is a fundamental episode in the genesis of death metal and also represents a point of no return for Bolt Thrower, as after this experience, they would never again be so low, so fast, so chaotic, so grind as in this work. An absolute must-have.