Bonded By Blood – Feed The Beast
1. Immortal Life
2. Feed The Beast
3. Psychotic Pulse
4. Necropsy
5. Mind Pollution
6. Another Disease
7. The Evil Within
8. Tormenting Voices
9. Civil Servant
10. Self Immolation
11. Vengeance
12. Theme From Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles
Thought that Evile, S.S.S. and Gama Bomb had turned thrash into a UK-led scene in 2008? Think again, because Bonded By Blood are as American as a bald eagle humping an apple pie – and they have the musical chops to live up to their peers. The Californian party starters’ debut ‘Feed The Beast’ is a timely reminder of exactly why the kind of heavy metal shenanigans endorsed by Slayer, Megadeth and Exodus are, in fact, timeless themselves. Ferocious riffs, ball-bursting solos and lyrical topics that range from social commentaries to introvert perspectives, Bonded By Blood have all the hallmarks of their 80’s heroes, but make no mistake - this is a very 21st century thrash album.
Each bruising song is soaked in a sea of spit and sweat that just screams out for a head bang, and while the talents of guitar duo Alex Lee and Juan Juarez are evident, it is perhaps the snarling, punky delivery of vocalist Jose ‘Aladdin’ Barrales that sets ‘Feed The Beast’ above many other recent releases. His voice echoes that of a slightly less-bitter Dave Mustaine which, naturally, only enhances the band’s credentials as potential successors to the thrash throne that is still hogged by acts of the Bay Area scene. Of course, there are dozens of bands vying for that particular title, and Bonded By Blood may struggle to compete with some of the real heavyweights as time wears on. For now though, they can rest easy in the knowledge that they have released of the most assured thrash debuts of the past few years.
Reviewed by Merlin Alderslade
‘Feed The Beast’ is out now on Earache Records
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