One of England's most powerful death-metal forces, "Bolt Thrower," have returned again, lightning bolt in hand, ready to scorch the earth with their fire and thunder. "Mercenary," which is their first release in four years. and the first for Metal Blade Records, finds the band at their most brutally conquering. It's nine bone-crunching examples of musical chaos and destruction, giving one the impression the entire thing was written within the eight-foot trenches just inches away from enemy lines. The band has overcome quite their share of adversity, and the album would appear written in that context. Having originally burst on the scene toward the latter stages of the 1980's, shot-gunning an influence that held both the militant stance of a Slayer or Manowar, with the explosive uprising of the many death-metal forces, "Bolt Thrower" was the symbol of relative obscurity for years. Though the name held for itself a certain distinction, their music appeared to go largely unnoticed amidst a near continuous membership restructuring.

Now, reunited a third time with original vocalist Karl Willetts, "Mercenary's" war-like theme is a given. In following such other "romanticized" portraits of the war-is-hell ideal like they first produced with "War Master," "The IV Crusade" and beyond, "Mercenary" is a close-fisted barrage that'll leave more dents in your helmet than you could have thought humanly possible.

With reckless abandon and determined vigilance, "Mercenary" will have successfully "Laid to Waste" any nonsensical suggestions that they've seen their final days on the battlefield. They'll fight whole-heartedly "To The Last" until their "Return From Chaos" reaps the rewards of their tribulations, for on this, their "Sixth Chapter," "Bolt Thrower" is taking no prisoners, and is prepared to blow away any unfortunate soul who's unlucky enough to stray over into their territory.