Wellington Metallers Bulletbelt are back and bring with them, their third full length release, Nine Centuries.
Bulletbelt are no
strangers to the Wellington Metal scene and have been kicking around for years,
with a lot of respect within their genre.
Nine Centuries is a visceral
assault to the senses, and true to form, a reflection of their hardworking
ethos while still maintaining their ferocious, innovative metal sound.
Vocalist, Jolene
Tempest is an unstoppable force in vocal style. Her brutal, guttural screams are
rich, and emanate not only from her throat, but also from her heart. The band’s
passion for what they do is ever present and are always a step ahead, crossing
those boundaries between Black Metal/Thrash.
Stand out tracks Orpheus and Hypatia are darkly delicious in their changes of tempo and delivery.
From start to end, Nine Centuries is another testament to Bulletbelt as musicians and collaborators,
and an intense journey that simply leaves you feeling one or both things; to
destroy or be destroyed. If you’re new, come along for
the ride and open your ears to Bulletbelt and Nine Centuries, you might just be
surprised.
Review written by Kerry Monaghan
There are two types of metal bands in the world today: those who innovate and those who are content to merely imitate. Bulletbelt have risen above the hordes of imitators to firmly establish themselves as innovators, successfully straddling the divide between thrash and black metal.
This five-piece from Wellington, New Zealand, have proven themselves time and again amongst their peers. Since forming in 2009, nationwide tours, including alongside Goatwhore (US) and Impiety (Singapore) on the Underground Legions tour of New Zealand, and supporting The Black Dahlia Murder (US) and Bolzer (Switzerland), have shown that they can rival any international metal band with their intense and energetic live performances.
Their 2010 EP The Black Army Stands smashed expectations and showcased the band to an unsuspecting world, while 2011’s Writhe and Ascend cemented their reputation for unforgiving, primal metal. The forthcoming album, 2012’s Down In The Cold Of The Grave, described by the band as their proudest moment, will see the band continue to hone their craft and challenge their collective musical boundaries.