Bolt Thrower
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2008-07-15T12:29:17Z
LatitudeBot
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robot Adding: [[ru:Bolt Thrower]]
{{otheruses4|the [[death metal]] band|the weapon sometimes called a bolt thrower|Ballista}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
| Name = Bolt Thrower <!-- can someone make a transparent version of this? [[Image:Btlogo.png|250px]] -->
| Img = Boltthrower foto.jpg
| Img_capt = Bolt Thrower live at the [[Inferno Metal Festival]] 2006
| Img_size =
| Landscape =
| Background = group_or_band
| Origin = [[Leamington Spa]], [[England]]
| Genre = [[Death metal]]<br />[[Grindcore]] (early)<br />[[Doom metal]]
| Years_active = 1988–present
| Label = [[Vinyl Solution]], [[Earache Records|Earache]], [[Metal Blade Records|Metal Blade]]
| Associated_acts =
| URL = [http://boltthrower.com boltthrower.com]
| Current_members = Karl Willetts<br />[[Jo Bench]]<br />[[Gavin Ward (musician)|Gavin Ward]]<br />Barry Thompson<br />Martin Kearns
| Past_members = Andrew Whale<br />Martin van Drunen<br />[[Alex Thomas]]<br />Dave Ingram<br />Alex Tweedy<br />Alan West
}}
'''Bolt Thrower''' are a [[death metal]] band from [[Coventry]], [[England]]. They formed in [[1986]] and released their first album with [[Vinyl Solution]] in [[1988]]. They then shifted to a new [[record label]], [[Earache Records]], soon becoming one of the best selling bands on that label. Their current label is [[Metal Blade Records]]. The band has had a succession of members and have toured [[Europe]], the [[United States]] and [[Australia]].
The band takes its name from a weapon in the popular tabletop strategy game ''[[Warhammer Fantasy Battles]]''.{{Fact|date=January 2008}} The lyrics and artwork of their second and third album were based on Warhammer Fantasy Battles, as well as its futuristic companion ''[[Warhammer 40,000]]'', with much of the art actually being provided by the game's publisher, [[Games Workshop]]. The general theme of their lyrics is war and its consequences.
==History==
===Early history: 1986-1988===
Bolt Thrower were formed in September [[1986 in music|1986]] as a [[hardcore punk|hardcore]] and [[thrash metal]] band, influenced largely by thrash bands such as [[Slayer]] and hardcore punk bands like [[Crass]] and [[Discharge (band)|Discharge]]<ref name="Bolt Thrower Official Biography">{{cite web |url= http://boltthrower.com/band/biography.php|title=Bolt Thrower Official Biography |accessdate=2007-03-04 |format= |work= }}</ref>.
The band was founded by bassist [[Gavin Ward (musician)|Gavin Ward]] and guitarist [[Barry Thompson]] in a [[Coventry]] [[pub]] toilet during a hardcore punk [[concert|gig]]. Shortly thereafter [[Andrew Whale]] and [[Alan West (musician)|Alan West]] joined on drums and vocals respectively. In April [[1987 in music|1987]] the ''In Battle There Is No Law'' demo was recorded with this line-up.
Their second recording was the ''Concession of Pain'' demo, which they made in September 1987. Gavin had switched to guitars and they recruited [[Alex Tweedy]] to play the bass. However, Alex did not show up for the recording, and so Gavin played both guitar and bass for the demo. Two weeks after the recording session, Gavin's girlfriend [[Jo Bench]] replaced Tweedy.
With this line-up they recorded their first Peel session on [[January 3]], [[1988 in music|1988]], with [[John Peel]], the alternative disk jockey of [[BBC Radio One]]<ref name="Overview of Peel sessions">{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/johnpeel/artists/b/boltthrower/ |title= BBC - Radio 1 - Keeping it PeelArtist A-Z |accessdate=2007-03-04 |format= |work= }}</ref>. He had received their second demo and became enthusiastic about the band. They recorded four tracks for it, resulting in a deal with [[Vinyl Solution]] to release one album. Just before the recording of their first full-length album, they replaced their singer with their driver [[Karl Willetts]]. Their debut [[Vinyl record|LP]], ''[[In Battle There Is No Law]]'' is only a half hour in length and has a primitive and raw sound often categorized as [[grindcore]].<ref>''Terrorizer Magazine'' #75 (2000), 'The Decade in Death Metal', p.6-7</ref>
===1989-1994===
[[Image:Bolt realm.jpg|right|thumb|The cover of the 1989 album ''Realm of Chaos'', similar to the cover of ''Rogue Trader'', the first edition of ''[[Warhammer 40,000]].]]''
They were not satisfied with the deal with Vinyl Solution as it was a pure [[hardcore punk|hardcore]] label at that time. The label did little promotion for Bolt Thrower and their blend of death metal and hardcore punk, so after one album Bolt Thrower decided to leave Vinyl Solution and were signed by [[Earache Records]]. Earache Records had also signed many other death metal bands including [[Carcass (band)|Carcass]] and [[Napalm Death]]. The band worked a little on their style and changed to playing faster, more aggressive and powerful songs, becoming more of a [[deathgrind]] band.{{Fact|date=February 2008}} The production of this album was not great, though it was an improvement on previous attempts. The artwork was done by [[Games Workshop]] as a gaming supplement they produced had a similar name to the album Bolt Thrower was about to release. After Games Workshop heard the recording of the songs for Bolt Thrower's second Peel session, which was recorded on [[6 November]] [[1988]]<ref name="Overview of Peel sessions"/>, they offered to do the expensive artwork for Bolt Thrower's album. The band accepted this offer. The record was released in [[1989]] with the title of ''[[Realm of Chaos (album)|Realm of Chaos]]'' and with the subtitle ''Slaves to Darkness''. Most of the lyrics to the songs were also influenced by the game, but not merely because of the deal with Games Workshop. Karl, Andy and Gavin were very much into the games Games Workshop produced and they wrote a couple of songs about these games. Some obvious examples are "[[Nurgle|Plague Bearer]]" and "[[World Eaters|World Eater]]". Most lyrics can however be projected on war, the general theme Bolt Thrower uses. After the recording of ''Realm of Chaos'' they went on the ''[[Grindcrusher Tour]]'' with label mates [[Napalm Death]], [[Carcass (band)|Carcass]] and [[Morbid Angel]]. On the ''Cenotaph'' EP one song ("Realm of Chaos") appears that is recorded during this tour. This EP also features the two CD-bonus tracks from ''War Master'' and ''Realm of Chaos'' plus the song "Cenotaph".
Continuing, they recorded their third and final Peel session on [[22 July]], [[1990 in music|1990]]<ref name="Overview of Peel sessions"/>. On this three songs from the upcoming album were performed in raw versions as well as "Lost Souls Domain" off ''Realm Of Chaos''. Next step in the history of Bolt Thrower was the album titled ''[[War Master]]''. It was recorded, as the previous album, in the Slaughterhouse studios, which burned down two weeks after the recordings were completed. Again Games Workshop offered to do their artwork; however as it was considered too expensive, Bolt Thrower declined the offer. The former head-designer of Games Workshop would do the artwork, resulting in quite similar artwork as that of ''Realm of Chaos''. For the [[United States|U.S.]] tour they did to promote the ''War Master'' album, they used an old U.S. school bus as tour bus, loaded with many computer games. All three Peel sessions were then released on one CD named ''The Peel Sessions 1988-90'' in [[1991 in music|1991]].
Their next step was the album ''[[The IVth Crusade]]''. The title has a double meaning, as it was their fourth studio album (not counting the Peel sessions), but the album title also refers to the [[Fourth Crusade]] and the capturing of [[Constantinople]]. The cover artwork is a painting from [[Eugène Delacroix]], showing "The Entry of the Crusaders in Constantinople".
They [[downtune]]d their guitars even more and wrote slower songs which were heavier and more bombastic. It leans more towards [[doom metal]] influenced by bands like [[Candlemass]], in combination with their own massive death metal sound. The album was followed by the tour ''World Crusade'' with the [[Poland|Polish]] death metal act [[Vader (band)|Vader]] and the [[Sweden|Swedish]] death metal band [[Grave (band)|Grave]] in Europe. The band toured the [[United States|U.S.]] again as well as [[Australia]]. During this time a single was released called ''Spearhead'' containing a very heavy, extended remix of the CD track "Spearhead" plus two new tracks and "Dying Creed" off the album.
Classic line-up (from [[1988]] to [[1994]]):
* Karl Willetts – vocals
* Gavin Ward – guitar
* Barry Thompson – guitar
* Jo Bench – bass guitar
* Andy Whale – drums
Their next album is called ''[[...For Victory]]'' and was released in [[1994 in music|1994]]. It was the final album with Karl Willetts and Andrew Whale. Both left the band because of changing life directions<ref name="BOLT THROWER Working On New Material - Feb. 12, 2007">{{cite web |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=66858 |title= BOLT THROWER Working On New Material - Feb. 12, 2007|accessdate=2007-03-04 |format=HTML |work= }}</ref>. The latest American tour did not go well, they returned home prematurely and by this time the band was quite fed-up with touring. They too made a partial return to their [[Hardcore punk|hardcore]]/[[thrash metal]] roots, whilst not forgetting their doom influences, though the vocals tended to sound a bit different: less [[death grunt|growling]], but more hardcore punk styled; they were somewhat more like hoarse screaming, especially on "When Glory Beckons" and "Armageddon Bound". A limited edition of the album exists containing a bonus live CD, called ''War'' (sometimes called ''Live War''). After the album release Karl Willetts was replaced by former [[Pestilence (band)|Pestilence]] singer [[Martin van Drunen]], and [[Martin Kearns]], who took over the drum kit.
===1995 to present===
In [[1995 in music|1995]] and [[1996 in music|1996]] the band did two European tours<ref name="Tours">{{cite web |url=http://boltthrower.com/tour/pasttours.php |title=Bolt Thrower: Past Tours |accessdate=2007-03-04 |format=HTML |work= }}</ref>. Then in [[1997 in music|1997]], Martin van Drunen decided to leave the band again as he had never felt he really became a part of Bolt Thrower, and also because he got a disease that made his hair fall out due to which he felt insecure on stage<ref name="Martin van Drunen Interview">{{cite web |url= http://www.voicesfromthedarkside.de/interviews/vandrunen.htm|title=Interview with Martin van Drunen in Voices from the Darkside |accessdate=2007-03-04 |format=HTML |work= }}</ref>. For at least one show in [[Germany]] long time friend [[Dave Ingram]] stood in. Martin Kearns decided to leave again. The position at the [[drum kit]] is now taken by [[Alex Thomas]]. Karl Willetts temporarily rejoined the band to do the vocal duties on the next album. The band switched record labels from [[Earache Records|Earache]] to [[Metal Blade Records]], because since the U.S. ''...For Victory'' tour they had seen a lack of success with Earache. Earache had also wanted to get rid of them and Bolt Thrower wanted to leave Earache as soon as possible, so they parted company.
The album titled ''[[Mercenary (album)|Mercenary]]'' was released on [[8 September]], [[1998 in music|1998]] in [[Europe]] and on [[10 November]], 1998 in the USA, and features 9 tracks. It is over all a bit slower than its predecessors. However, it is definitely very heavy and sounds very much Bolt Thrower. And Karl returned to perform his previous style of singing; the hardcore punk influences have disappeared again. After the album recording, Karl left the band again and the band have recruited Dave Ingram permanently after he left [[Benediction (band)|Benediction]].
In November 1998, Earache Records released ''Who Dares Wins'', an album featuring various older recordings, including the songs from the ''Spearhead'' EP and ''Cenotaph'' EP. The band themselves do not agree with the release of this album and warn not to buy it as they consider it a cheap cash-in from Earache. Originally, it was titled ''No Guts - No Glory'' but the title was changed because one song on ''Mercenary'' has the same title and [[Metal Blade Records|Metal Blade]] objected. Following the release of the album a European tour was done, called ''Into the Killing Zone'' with [[Dave Ingram]] on vocals<ref name="Tours"/>.
After a short [[Europe]]an tour in [[2001 in music|2001]] (only 5 dates)<ref name="Tours"/>, they started to work on a new album. ''[[Honour - Valour - Pride]]'' was released in late 2001 on [[Metal Blade Records|Metal Blade]] and shows a progression from the direction taken on ''Mercenary''. It contains 9 tracks; the [[digipak]] has one bonus track. Martin Kearns is now back with the band after he settled his things in his life. Alex Thomas departed since he lacked interest in the musical direction of Bolt Thrower.
In [[2004 in music|2004]] the band began working on new material for their latest album. They intended to record it in the May 2004, with the release set to the end of the year by Metal Blade. Meanwhile a European tour and a U.S. tour were prepared. Unfortunately, right before the recording could begin, Dave Ingram decided to leave, due to health and personal issues<ref name ="Ingram departure">{{cite web |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=26382 |title=BOLT THROWER Part Ways With Singer, Seek Replacement - Sep. 1, 2004 |accessdate=2007-03-04 |format=HTML |work= }}</ref>. This put off the new record and tours, and priority was set to finding a new singer. On [[18 November]] [[2004]], the band announced the return of [[Karl Willetts]]. Recording of the album, titled ''[[Those Once Loyal]]'', started in May 2005; it was released on 11 November in Germany, 14 November in the rest of Europe and 15 November in the USA [[2005 in music|2005]]. It has been met with widespread critical acclaim from magazines such as [[Rock Sound]], [[Rock Hard]] and [[Metal Hammer]]. A European tour followed in January and February [[2006 in music|2006]]<ref name="Tours"/>. A second leg followed in April, with dates in [[Scandinavia]], [[UK]], [[Spain]] and more<ref name="Tours"/>. A U.S. tour was planned to take place later in the year, however lack of financial support from the label forced the band to cancel these plans<ref name="Interview with Willetts">{{cite web |url=http://www.metalreview.com/ViewInterview.aspx?ID=30146 |title=Metal Review interview with Karl Willetts of Bolt Thrower |accessdate=2007-03-04 |format= |work= }}</ref>. The band are now considering leaving Metal Blade, although they are currently continuing to work on an (as yet untitled) new album<ref name="Interview with Willetts"/>.
Meanwhile, Earache has coincided the release of ''Those Once Loyal'' with a re-release of the ''Realm of Chaos'' featuring new artwork. The band encourage people not to buy it as (like ''Who Dares Wins'') it was released without their consultation let alone consent. Furthermore, it has been alleged that the band has not received royalties from Earache for a number of years<ref name="BOLT THROWER Condemn EARACHE">{{cite web |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=44467 |title=BOLT THROWER Condemn EARACHE 'Realm of Chaos' Reissue - Nov. 19, 2005 |accessdate=2007-03-04 |format=HTML |work= }}</ref>.
Bolt Thrower recently announced that as they were totally satisfied with the ''[[Those Once Loyal]]'' album, they will be indefinitely postponing the recording of another LP, as their goal was always to stop after releasing "the perfect Bolt Thrower album".<ref>[http://www.boltthrower.com/news/news.php Official Bolt Thrower website News Section]</ref>
==Members==
===Current line-up===
* Barry "Baz" Thomson – [[rhythm guitar]], [[lead guitar]] (1986–present)
* [[Gavin Ward (musician)|Gavin Ward]] – rhythm guitar, [[bass guitar]] (on demos) (1986–present)
* [[Jo Bench]] – bass guitar (1987–present)
* Martin "Kiddie" Kearns – [[drums]] (1994–1997, 2000–present)
* Karl Willetts – [[vocals]] (1987–1994, 2004–present)
===Former members===
* Alex Tweedy – bass guitar (1987)
* Alan West – vocals (1986–1988)
* Dave Ingram – vocals (1997, 1998–2004)
* Martin van Drunen – vocals (1995–1997)
* [[Alex Thomas]] – drums (1997–1999)
* Andy Whale – drums (1986–1994)
==Discography==
===Demos===
*''In Battle There Is No Law'' (self-released cassette, [[1987 in music|1987]])
*''Concession of Pain'' (self-released cassette, [[1987 in music|1987]])
===Studio albums===
*''[[In Battle There Is No Law]]'' (Vinyl Solution, [[1988 in music|1988]])
*''[[Realm of Chaos (album)|Realm of Chaos - Slaves to Darkness]]'' (Earache Records, [[1989 in music|1989]])
*''[[Cenotaph (album)|Cenotaph]]'' ([[Extended play|EP]]) (Earache Records, [[1990 in music|1990]])
*''[[War Master]]'' (Earache Records, [[1991 in music|1991]])
*''[[The IVth Crusade]]'' (Earache Records, [[1992 in music|1992]])
*''[[Spearhead (album)|Spearhead]]'' ([[Extended play|EP]]) (Earache Records, [[1993 in music|1993]])
*''[[...For Victory]]'' (Earache Records, [[1994 in music|1994]])
*''[[Mercenary (album)|Mercenary]]'' (Metal Blade Records, [[1998 in music|1998]])
*''[[Honour - Valour - Pride]]'' (Metal Blade Records, [[2001 in music|2001]])
*''[[Those Once Loyal]]'' (Metal Blade Records, [[2005 in music|2005]])
===Live and compilation albums===
*''[[The Peel Session]]'' ([[Extended play|EP]]) (Strange Fruit, [[1988 in music|1988]])
*''[[The Peel Sessions 1988-90]]'' (Strange Fruit, [[1991 in music|1991]])
*''[[War (Bolt Thrower album)|War]]'' (Earache Records, [[1994 in music|1994]])
*''[[Who Dares Wins (album)|Who Dares Wins]]'' (Earache Records, [[1998 in music|1998]])
===Video clips===
*"The IVth Crusade" (1992)
*"...For Victory" (1998)
*"Inside the Wire" (2000)
*"Cenotaph" (2001)
==Audio files (mp3)==
*''[[Mercenary (album)|Mercenary]]'' (1997)
**8. [http://www.metalblade.de/mp3/noguts.mp3 "No Guts, No Glory"]
**10. [http://www.metrixmetal.home.pl/bt/download/BoltThrower_Infiltrator.mp3 "Infiltrator"]
*''[[Honour - Valour - Pride]]'' (2001)
**2. [http://www.metalblade.de/mp3/boltthrower_insidethewire.mp3 "Inside the Wire"]
**7. [http://www.metrixmetal.home.pl/bt/download/BoltThrower_K-Machine.mp3 "K-Machine" (demo)]
*''[[Those Once Loyal]]'' (2005)
**2. [http://www.metalblade.com/bands/Bolt_Thrower/Bolt_Thrower-Entrenched.mp3 "Entrenched"]
==Trivia==
{{trivia|date=October 2007}}
* [[Bong-Ra]], a popular artist from the [[hardcore techno|hardcore]]/[[breakcore]] electronic music genre, released an LP in 2005 titled ''Grindkrusher''. It almost exclusively features samples and remixes of various Bolt Thrower recordings, as well as a song entitled "[[Jo Bench]]".
* A Bolt Thrower tribute project was created in the late 1980s. One tape was produced titled ''Colt-Thrower - Under the Sign of the Black Horse'' It was released on cassette only, and 30 copies were produced. The idea was a Christmas present to the band members. It consists of the tracks "Intro", "Through the Eye of Jap", "Dwarf in Torment" and "Outro".
* The [[Japan]]ese band [[Butcher ABC]] used the Bolt Thrower band logo for the promotional poster of ''[[Maryland Deathfest]]'' 2006.
* [[Jo Bench]] performed spoken word lyrics as a guest in the [[The Project Hate MCMXCIX]] song "Resurrected for Massive Torture" on their album ''Armageddon March Eternal (Symphonies of Slit Wrists)''.
==External links==
* Bolt Thrower's current label [http://www.metalblade.com Metal Blade Records]
* [http://www.burningmisery.com/ band space Biography, Discography etc]
* Official web site http://www.boltthrower.com
==References==
{{reflist}}
*{{cite book|author=Sharpe-Young, Garry|title=Rockdetector: A-Z of Death Metal|publisher=Cherry Red|year=2003|id=ISBN 1-901447-35-9}}
*{{cite book|author=Christe, Ian|title=Sound of the Beast : The Complete Headbanging History of Heavy Metal|publisher=Harper Entertainment|year=2003|id=ISBN 0-06-052362-X}}
*''Vinylnet Record Label Discographies''. [http://www.vinylnet.co.uk/record-label-discographies.asp link]. - Earache catalogue numbers where applicable.
{{BoltThrower}}
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1986]]
[[Category:English musical groups]]
[[Category:British heavy metal musical groups]]
[[Category:British death metal musical groups]]
[[Category:Grindcore groups]]
[[Category:Music from Coventry, England]]
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