BULLETBELT – Nine Centuries
(Headless Horseman)
Reviewed by Kate Taylor.
Bulletbelt are one thing and one thing only; completely dedicated to bringing the most heavy, very best metal they can, in all aspects of what they share with their audience. So with the release of their third full-length album Nine Centuries, it’s a comfortable zone where a good fan following, decent exposure in our best NZ Metal Horror Comedy movie Deathgasm, plus previous critical acclaim; could allow Bulletbelt to rest on their beastly haunches and chill a bit, but be forewarned weary disciple…there is no chill for you here *insert evil cackle*. Opening with the sounds of a mystical witches coven, all whispering and burbling their intent as they tend to their brewing cauldron, we’re spirited away through an assault of nine beautifully produced thrashy death metal offerings that deliver both intimidating and inspiring work in equal measure. Savagely galloping through the inky blackness of different metal genres Bulletbelt make them uniquely their own on stand outs like: Haegtessa, Dethrone and Show Me Your Throat. Also worth your while is scoping the video release for single Cloak The Night, featuring premiere NZ burlesque and performance artist Hannah Tasker-Poland starring in the nefarious vid. Variations in pace over Nine Centuries ensures a well rounded album that feels timeless; and yet is a time capsule of Bulletbelt up until this point. At the writing on this review Bulletbelt had recently parted ways with vocalist Jolene Tempest who leaves her incendiary mark on this record; as former Human front-man Scott Spatcher-Harrison will now take up the position fronting the band. Relentless and unstoppable, Nine Centuries heralds Bulletbelt as a NZ metal movement, a force that will continue at all costs; a collective of artists that are at the pinnacle of what they do.
