HAIL OF BULLETS – On Divine Winds CD review

HAIL OF BULLETS – On Divine Winds CD
Metal Blade Records

I ‘m not shy about expressing my appreciation for traditional Death Metal, or what people today refer to as “old school”, in fact I’m pretty in your fucking face about it. With that said (don’t get me started) I’ve always been a fan of Martin van Drunen as a vocalist, whether it was when he was in PESTILENCE, ASPHYX or BOLT THROWER. So when HAIL OF BULLETS released their debut full length Of Frost and War in 2008 I went into combat with it. Remember people I am a vet. At the end of the year I placed it, like the flag on Mount Suribachi, at the top of the Scumfeast Metal 666 favorite’s list of Death Metal. Not to anyone’s surprise Death the Brutal Way by van Drunen’s other band, the reactivated ASPHYX, landed in the top spot last year with GOD DETHRONED’s Passiondale placing second and was a great war themed epic in it’s own right. So if you think I’m about to be a little bias here well that’s an understatement.

The latest from HAIL OF BULLETS takes us to the Pacific theater during World War Two. Since this is only the Dutch Death Metal band’s second full length we’ve got plenty more tales of twentieth century war to come. Taking on war as a subject for songwriting, especially in Metal, is far from being a new concept. So many bands have done it that it’s become monotonous and at worse down right silly. What makes it intriguing nowadays is that some bands have actually done their research into the history. Add to that some traditional sounding death thrash riffage with crushing bass and drums plus a vocalist who actually sings. That’s what HAIL OF BULLETS has achieved once again on here. On Divine Winds is not a step up from Of Frost and War or even 2009’s Warsaw EP. It’s simply a continuation of the all encompassing theme of war all the time.

Like I mentioned earlier this battle takes place in the Pacific which is a strange place for a Dutch Death Metal super group to take us but remember, it’s all about the research. After the obligatory one minute symphonic intro, ”The Eve of Battle”, the release gets going with “Operation Z” which hits you like the Japanese sneak attack on Pearl Harbor that it was code named as. The combined punch of guitarists Paul Baayen and Stephan Gebedi will not excite the ADD crowd but for fans of “old school” bludgeoning it will and afterwards you’ll be dusting off those BOLT THROWER LPs for reminiscing. Baayen and Gebedi plus bassist Theo van Eekelen and drummer Ed Warbly simply create a sound that reminds the listener of battle. This works well on the fast thrash cuts like “On Choral Shores”, “Strategy of Attrition” and “Kamikaze”. Seriously you’ll want to grab that vintage M1 carbine you’ve got hanging on the wall and charge into the front door of the nearest Japanese Steak house. Also when the band decides to down tune things like with “Full Scale War” the death/doom crushes like the sinking of a ship. All through this van Drunen’s caustic and tortured vocals cry out as if he were the narrator of a live documentary. As with history of that war this ends with a big bang, “To Bear the Unbearable”.

Some critics today say that “old school” Death Metal has become an official trend du jour for people protesting against the genre’s technical and progressive moves. I think they’re part right but they miss a major point especially with a band like HAIL OF BULLETS. The sound and style might be a throwback to times when pure aggression was the key factor but lyrically it’s progressed. That’s the difference people should use as a stick to measure things by. On Divine Winds is a perfect example and another great release by this band of veterans.

Label: www.metalblade.com

MySpace: www.myspace.com/hailoffuckenbullets

Official: www.hailofbullets.com/