Artist: Bones
Title: Bones
Type: Album
Label: Planet Metal Records

Featuring members of the defunct Chicago band Usurper, Bones infect the crustier side of death metal. With striking artwork and the opener ‘March of the Dead’ you can be perplexed, whilst there is never going to be massive precision or complex guitar work, it’s like listening to a Mötörhead album; it is fast, aggressive, simple and to the point and that is something that is most comforting. The bass is massively distorted, rumbling away in the background providing not much respite for a horrible hangover. At some point in their lives, Bones have been infected with Celtic Frost, but then you can say that about a lot of bands around the world. What I hear from ‘Good Die Young’ reminds me of albums that were mixed a good few years ago. Clearly audible in one ear is the bass, and then in the other is the guitar and vocals, it’s annoying in a car, but other than that, the sound is powerful and in some respects reminds me of the US band Panzer Bastard in the approach and adrenaline filled performance.

Fellow city folk (Chicago) are honoured with a cover of Devastation’s ‘Apocalyptic Warrior’ and on the whole Bones takes some of the aspects of Usurper to hand, but without the technical display of some material. ‘Lonely Death’ picks up the pace and interest, whilst ‘666’ entertains your ribcage with its groove and ultimate power akin to watching a battalion of tanks rumbling towards you and all you have to defend yourself is a can of beer and a screw-you attitude. This is not a bad release by any stretch of imagination, the initial excitement is forgotten after a short period of time, but then you can stop being so lazy and give it another play. ‘Bones’ is an album that is raw, dirty, aggressive and simplistic.

http://www.myspace.com/bonesofchicago

Paul Maddison

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