Artist: BOLT THROWER
Album: "IN BATTLE THERE IS NO LAW (CD)"

Year: 1988/ 2004
Media type: CD

Founded in Birmingham during 1986 BOLT THROWER gained notoriety on the local Metal scene with a unique, war obsessed heaviness. At this time the band featured vocalist Alan West, guitarist Barry Thomson, bassist Gavin Ward and drummer Andy Whale. The name BOLT THROWER is taken from a siege device in a fantasy role playing game.

Following a 1987 demo, 'Concessions In Pain', the fledgling band added bassist Jo-Anne Bench, shifting Gavin Ward to second guitar. A further demo ensued, which resulted in a Radio One session on the John Peel show. This airing led to an album deal with Vinyl Solution Records, but not before West's departure.

The band added vocalist Karl Willetts to record the debut 1988 album 'In Battle There Is No Law'. A notable gig that July saw the band supporting DEATH ANGEL and WARFARE at London's Astoria. Having performed well on the Earache organised "Grindcrusher" tour of 1989 after contributing a track to the compilation album of the same name, the band then executed dates in Holland with AUTOPSY and PESTILENCE on the 'Bloodbrothers' tour.

The group's first album for Earache, 'Realm Of Chaos', was to sell in excess of 50'000 copies worldwide and utilised artwork from Games Workshop that carried on the theme of fantasy wargaming. Meantime Vinyl Solution would re-issue the debut on CD, this variant coming complete with totally different artwork to the original.

With the release of the 'Cenotaph' EP BOLT THROWER once more toured Europe, this time with support from NOCTURNUS. The release of the next studio affair, 'Warmaster', saw the band's first American dates before engaging in further European shows, where they were supported by BENEDICTION and ASPHYX. However, BOLT THROWER's first Australian tour in 1993 ended in debacle when the band were stuck without a flight home!

Eventually managing to make it back to Britain the Birmingham bunch undertook another American club tour in July 1994 with fellow brummies BENEDICTION as support, but failed to complete the schedule. The album of that year, 'For Victory', witnessed strong sales. Initial copies came with a free bonus live disc recorded in Manchester during 1992. Ex-PESTILENCE, ASPHYX and SUBMISSION vocalist Martin Van Drunen joined the band in 1994 replacing the departed Willets and drummer Martin Kearn was added in the line-up shuffle.

Severing connections with Earache Records in early 1997 and signing to American label Metal Blade, before recording on a brand new album could commence, Van Drunen, suffering from a disease which made his hair fall out, quit unexpectedly on the eve of some European festivals. BOLT THROWER killed time by throwing in a few live gigs with BENEDICTION's Dave Ingram guesting.

As BOLT THROWER went into the studio in late 1997 it was announced that 19 year old Alex Thomas had succeeded skinsman Kearns and that Willets had rejoined. With this line up the band cut the 1998 album ‘Mercenary’ for new label Metal Blade Records. This offering, despite the lengthy hiatus between recordings, re-established BOLT THROWER’s fan base and gave the group a showing in the national German album charts too. Although Willetts had performed on the album it would be a re-instated Dave Ingram, having recently quit BENEDICTION, who took up the vocal mantle for live work. Confusingly Thomas would then leave and the drummer he had usurped in the first instance duly took over once again in time for BOLT THROWER’s second showing at the major German ‘Full Force’ festival.

BOLT THROWER toured Europe in January 2001 supported by FLESHCRAWL and HEAVEN SHALL BURN. Martin Van Drunen resurfaced in mid 2002 debuting his new act DEATH BY DAWN on the European live circuit. BOLT THROWER would be confirmed as one of the headline acts at the October 'Westfalen' festival in Dortmund, Germany. BOLT THROWER would be finalised for the running order of the 'Rock Hard' magazine festival at the Gelsenkirchen Amphitheatre for June of 2003 but withdrew at short notice to allow singer Dave Ingram to be present at the birth of his first child. BOLT THROWER announced the departure of Ingram, apparently due to the singer "suffering with health and personal problems", in August of 2004. The singer later revealed he had been suffering with mental difficulties, but once recovered, duly founded FULL SCALE HATRED, this new band subsequently evolving into DOWNLORD.

In November BOLT THROWER welcomed the return of original vocalist Karl Willetts, soon re-entering the recording studio to craft a new album. Willetts also re-recorded the vocal lines on the 'Honour, Valour, Pride' album.

Early 2005 found former singer Martin Van Drunen and erstwhile PESTILENCE bassist Jeroen Paul Thesseling collaborating with KING LOCUST guitarist Niels Drieenhuizen in a new band entitled PROJEKT TABUN. The trio entered Studio Het Lab in Schaarsbergen to put down initial recordings. Back on the BOLT THROWER front, vocalist Karl Willetts and guitarist Barry Thompson would guest on a cover version of SACRILEGE's 'Lifeline' recorded by fellow Brummies BENEDICTION.

In May the band entered Sable Rose Studios, working with ex-MARSHALL LAW bassist Andy Faulkner as producer, to craft a new album for Metal Blade Records. 'Those Once Loyal' emerged in November and gave the band its highest charting record in Germany, debuting at no. 76. To coincide, former label Earache re-issued the 'Realm Of Chaos' opus, re-mastered and clad in all new artwork. European headline shows in January and February 2006 witnessed strong backing from MALEVOLENT CREATION, NIGHTRAGE and NECROPHAGIST.

TRACKLIST:

1. In Battle There Is No Law
2. Challenge For Power
3. Forgotten Existence
4. Denial Of Destiny
5. Concession Of Pain
6. Attack In The Aftermath
7. Psychological Warfare
8. Nuclear Annihilation
9. Blind To Defeat

LINE-UP:

Karl Willetts (vocals)
Barry Thomson (guitar)
Gavin Ward (guitars),
Jo-Anne Bench (bass)
Andy Whale (drums)