Author: Aleš Podbrežnik
Artist: Bullet
Label: Nuclear Blast
Release date: 08.09.2014
Runtime: 38:18
Rating: 3.5/5
Revivalism and digging through the fossils of heavy metal’s expansion at the turn of the seventies into the eighties long ago became the focus of a whole new generation of heavy metal bands. Take the sound and the style, run it through your own musical lens, and serve it up in fresh packaging. But recycling has to come with some heart too, otherwise it’s tasteless. Bullet are just one more in the phalanx of new bands that we can safely file under modern-day imitators of the old days. Since Bullet are Swedes, they approach what they do with sacred devotion, which goes hand in hand with that famous Scandinavian perfectionism.
The band keeps growing with its fifth album overall. It brings no musical revolution, but it does bring a fresh fistful of dynamite in the form of seriously catchy recycled metal treats. Sure, Bullet draw straight from the legacy of the NWOBHM movement, as well as heavy rock acts like Samson, UFO and Thin Lizzy, not to mention the occasional shameless flirting with AC/DC (Tornado), Accept (Hammer Down) or Judas Priest from the »British Steel« era (The One’s For You). Still, every song is dressed up with real heart and fires up with genuine conviction. They’re bursting with energy flux and bubbling voltage, set off by nicely placed guitar riffs, the dynamic development of the songs cleverly dosed with triplet harmonies from both guitars, sonic solos and a charging rhythmic engine. The middle instrumental section of Hawk Eyes proves the guys have slyly »swiped« even part of the solo from Hotel California (The Eagles). So what actually makes Bullet a little bit different? The production of vocalist Hell Hofer’s vocals. Not the approach. The production. It’s obvious the guy really »contorts« himself in front of the mic. His rasping voice naturally leans first and foremost toward AC/DC-style vocals, Udo Dirkschneider is once again close by, and so is Micky Moore (Samson). But Hofer’s vocal is produced as if it were drifting into the songs from another dimension, through a string of echoes. That adds an element of sinisterness and deepens the dark atmosphere of the album.
Bullet have put together an album that’s wildly appealing to the ear and sentimentally lovable, one that knocks on the hearts of the nostalgics. At the same time it matters because it steers new generations of metal enthusiasts down the right paths, since through Bullet they’ll soon arrive at the bands that created heavy metal in the first place, which is a good platform for grasping the full scope of the genre. With this album the band also cements its respected, and by now thoroughly solid, position in the metal universe of the German-Scandinavian invasion of the new wave of classic metal revivalism we’ve been witnessing for the past few years. The album stands tall on its songwriting. You can’t add a thing, you can’t take a thing away. Had it come out in 1982, it would enjoy cult status today. The guys nailed the songwriting, and they also delivered a sharp, devilishly jagged production in which superstitions and the occult come to life with real effect. All well and good, the record is thoroughly solid, competently packaged and it ignites! Right up to the word »generic«. Your call.
Line-up
Dag “Hell” Hofer – vocals
Hampus Klang – guitar
Alex Lyrbo – guitar
Adam Hector – bass
Gustav Hjortsjö – drums
Production
Magnus “Mankan” Sedenberg
Track list
01. Uprising
02. Storm Of Blades
03. Riding High
04. Tornado
05. Hawk Eyes
06. This One’s For You
07. Hammer Down
08. It’s On
09. Crossfire
10. Run With The Hunted
11. Coming In Loud
