Live War

This "Live War" recording dates to 1992. It represents Bolt Thrower at the peak of their powers. This is the classic line-up on tour for "The IVth Crusade". The set-list reflects the era. Six of the nine songs here were taken from that album, the remaining three came from "War Master". It is an interesting snapshot of Bolt Thrower's career at the time, as the band seem to have ditched the songs from their first two albums. Bolt Thrower were always evolving, albeit slowly, and this is proof.

The song selection is awesome. I could happily listen to songs like "Cenotaph", "Spearhead" and "Where Next to Conquer" all day long. These live versions aren’t as good as the studio versions but they’re still relentless. Even the lesser songs like "Dying Creed" and "Ritual" sound good. The live environment shows how much of a powerhouse this band was. These guys were always an elite death metal band, which was reflected in their popularity at the time and their continued popularity to this day.

The recording quality isn't bad. It sounds better than most death metal live recordings. There is plenty of heft to the guitars and you can hear everything you need to hear. Of course, it sounds rougher than the studio versions. This brings the band's punk roots back to the fore, particularly on the glossier songs from “The IVth Crusade”. Karl Willetts delivers some stage patter in between the songs, sounding suspiciously like a young Lemmy during these interludes. I swear he mentions Cradle of Filth at one point (who may have been a fledgling support act for this show). The performances are as tight as hell. You can tell that the band was a professional outfit who were not going to disappoint the Manchester crowd that paid to see them. This show would have been a treat to watch, no doubt.

The mileage you'll get from “Live War” will vary depending on how much you enjoy live recordings by classic death metal bands. It offers no surprises. There are no unreleased, secret tracks here. I am unlikely to listen to these live versions when I can listen to the studio versions instead, regardless of how good they are. This recording will never be anything more than a curiosity, but Bolt Thrower fans should at least be aware of it.