The influence of England’s Bolt Thrower is vast and far-reaching. The band’s paying homage and straight-up clones are endless. From Indonesia’s Humiliation, Germany’s Scaplture , France’s Infern, Canada’s World Eaters, Australia’s Domination Campaign, and of course England’s own tribute band Memoriam, the list goes on and on.

Well, here is another one. A solid one at that.

Death Kommander is an international project with members from Scotland, Greece, Germany, and Switzerland, and Never To Grow Old is their second album of Bolt Thrower worship, which doesn’t hide the fact that they are literally a Bolt Thrower cover band. As their style isn’t kinda or sorta like Bolt Thrower… It’s a virtual clone of the band’s classic style, notably the slower, more somber material.

The 8 songs contained on this short, no frills, 31-minute affair focus on the trundling, slower tropes of Bolt Thrower’s 20th century, war-infatuated era ( Mercenary, Honour Valor Pride, Those Once Loyal, For Victory), complete with those somber strains contained in the leads and solos that layered the hefty, rumbling riffs.

I really don’t have to expound that much more; it’s that simple. The songs have titles like “Bayonet Drill”, “Through the Chest”, and “Where Is the Front”. And they really lean into the doomier, mid-paced aspect of the sound, as tracks like opener “Bayonet Drill”, “Bazentin Wood”, “Yellow Cross”, and standout memories “Memories” rarely get out of second gear. And when they do such like “Through The Chest”, it’s still pretty restrained. It’s basically 31 minutes of the main riff from the title track from Bolt Thrower‘s For Victory. It even comes with a moody, semi-spoken word closer in “Where Is The Front”.

Only minor gripe is that production (mainly the bottom end) could be a little beefier, as its a little light for the style. I mean with a truly burly production, tracks like “Memories” could have been truly artillery barrage heavy, instead its like small arms fire. But, still, it’s a fine homage that makes no bones about its clear influence.

 

[Visit the band's website]

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