Bolt Thrower – “Realm of Chaos” – [Earache]

FOR THE EMPEROR!! Bolt Thrower storms and conquers across the galaxy in this, their second album, with all tracks themed on the dystopian and now classic Warhammer 40k scifi universe. 40k has since been toned down for kids, but back in 1989 it was raw, bloody, and radically grim (38,000 years in the future, humanity regresses into a theofascist galactic nightmare).

This album perfectly captures that fleeting moment in scifi history where the flame of hope guttered and disgruntled men/boys around the world could play Inquisitor-Commissar, execute the heretics, nuke a billion innocent people, and save the galaxy from demons of pleasure and ambition.

Songs are relentlessly heavy and dedicated to being angry without any specific reason. Intro and Outro are ambient, skip ‘em. World Eater is probably Bolt Thrower’s best ever. Check out the liner booklet for a whole lot of classic 40k art. Overall this album might be mediocre without context, but what metalhead can dislike an entire album dedicated to-

“MY ARMOR IS CONTEMPT. MY SHIELD IS DISGUST. MY SWORD IS HATRED. IN THE EMPEROR’S NAME, LET NONE SURVIVE.” ?