The Aftermath

Having been reduced to one guitarist and replacing the bassist and vocalist, Bonded By Blood have chosen to tread on and release a new album. The aftermath (pun intended) of a new lineup has the band reduced to a very generic sound. Perhaps the most ironic thing about the band being named after one of the most aggressive thrash metal albums of the mid-80s is that they sound completely non-aggressive and wholly tame.

The new vocalist is a far cry from the unique vocals Jose displayed on the previous album 'Exiled to Earth'. He sounds slightly similar to Jose but without any of the aggression and insanity. The vocals lean more towards the generic and display no unique qualities whatsoever. Once in a blue moon he will release these half-growls which sound more pitiful than anything.

The lack of a second guitarist on this album is glaring when listening to the simple guitar chug out riffs we've already heard during the existence of thrash metal (only executed with more power and energy by others). During 'Among the Vultures' seems like the only time Juan gets creative and hyped enough on the guitar but it doesn't even last the entire song.

The only mildly interesting aspect of this album is the bass lines which becomes prominent during various songs at certain moments such as the the beginning of the title track or on 'Crawling through the Shadows'. As far as the drums, they are reliable at best and the production doesn't help to relieve the blandness of them either.

I really don't have much to say about this album due to how boring and sub-par it is in almost every aspect (including cover art). Perhaps the band they covered at the end of the album (Rage Against the Machine) is a hint as to where they got their inspiration this time around (rather than from Exodus). I can't see anyone getting genuinely pumped over this album unless they haven't ever heard anything else this year such as the new albums from Overkill, M-pire of Evil, Suicidal Angels, Exumer, Satanika, Hexen, etc.