HAIL OF BULLETS

Much better. Hail of Bullets' last EP was a shoddy rip-off, with just three songs worth your time. Eight fucking quid! It made me mad, but I'm more than happy now that album #2 has dropped in my lap. If not only because there's a dozen tunes this time around, but because they're especially brilliant. Continuing the warfare theme (judging by the cover and titles, I guess we're in the pacific this time), they have a militaristic pace and feel akin to that of Bolt Thrower, which I'm sure I have mentioned before. Martin's vocals are sounding more strained than ever, but he still barks out his words like he's about to plant a few more bullet holes in the enemy before ditching his plane in the briny. The opener to this album is less impressive. On their debut, the intro was a tangible mood-maker. This time though, there's just nothing of note, except some synths and aircraft engine noise. 'Operation Z' that follows though soon smoothes over such missteps. It has a groove that good death metal has in spades, and a swagger that is missing from modern metal with its technical nob-endery and angular haircuts. Melodic chorus? Not here mate. Just wave after wave of quality death and, in places, doom. My only worry is that Hail of Bullets will run out of wartime campaigns before they reach their creative peak.

LABEL:

FORMAT:

Metal Blade Records

Album

ON DIVINE WINDS

Review by Steve Cowan

RUNNING TIME:

52:03

RELEASE DATE:

11th Oct 2010

TRACK LISTING

1) The Eve of Battle; 2) Operation Z
3) The Mukden Incident
4) Strategy of Attrition
5) Full Scale War
6) Guadalcanal
7) On Coral Shores
8) Unsung Heroes
9) Tokyo Napalm Holocaust
10) Sugar Loaf Hill
11) Kamikaze
12) To Bear the Unbearable

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:

Netherlands

"It has a groove that good death metal has in spades, and a swagger that is missing from modern metal with its technical nob-endery and angular haircuts."