The last album was War Master, this one should have been called Riff Master. It is currently my favorite Bolt Thrower album, always subject to change. It starts off slow and plodding, and continues that that way almost throughout. When you think it is going to speed up, it slows down even more first (see: Ritual). The groove is heavy, showing up first on Icon. Our favorite World Eater riff appears on Embers. Side B’s opener This Time Its War is almost a lesson in patience, a relentless mid-paced march - and it’s so good.
The cover art is from an 1840 painting, “Entry of the Crusaders into Constantinople” - a painting in the Louvre, depicting a scene from the Fourth Crusade. Crusaders decided to annihilate Constantinople, a Christian city and not their primary objective. This being Bolt Thrower’s fourth LP, the reference fitting if not a bit on the nose, but the main lesson here is that war for religion has been stupid since the old days.
Another nearly flawless record again. It may feel too long at times, but I feel like that’s part of the schtick, oppressive heavy repetition: just like an army wearing down its enemies.