If you've been in the Koresh-like state that reading Uber Rock induces from the very beginning, you'll recall around two years ago one of the first bolts from the blue that appeared on here was a review of a demo by Bulletridden. A cider drenched howl from the Bristol backwaters, it kicked the shit out of me. It also kicked the shit out of a few others, as the demo was snapped up and became their debut album, 'Songs Written Before Jumping Out Of An Eight Storey Window'. Unfortunately, illness and the logistical nightmare of the band members being spread around the UK meant that some momentum was lost after the initial release of the album, but things sorted themselves and a few choice gigs saw Bulletridden get back in the saddle and ultimately record this very tasty ten-tracker, which is proving as hard to get out of my CD player as the first album was.

Boasting, as they do, members whose CVs include Warprayer, Rejected, Violent Arrest and Gurkha amongst many others their sound is the alcohol-fuelled, European metallic crust-influenced hammer blow you hope it always will be. From the sinister, brooding opening riff that Chris churns out on 'Deny The Serpent' to the closing blast of 'Catholic Rape Stimulus' it's damn good shit. The guitar tone which underpinned the first album is still there in all its glory, whether it's clattering along on 'The Exits Are Blocked' or making you headbang your tits off on 'Harm Maximisation Service'. Add the Audio Kollaps-like rhythms of Andy and Karl and you've got a band that have developed into a ferocious musical proposition. Topped off with Martin's acutely cynical observations of the "human condition" and you've got a thinking man's knee-capping in musical form. The production job by Bri Doom at the 1 in 12 Club in Bradford is peerless and gives every song an edge that takes it over the edge. Blistering stuff that brings to mind some of the crust heavyweights of recent times like Stormcrow, Sanctum and Instinct Of Survival. 

If this album translates as expected to a live environment and Bulletridden can get themselves a decent run of shows they are really rip some heads off somewhere near you very soon. Also please note that whilst the album can be bought directly from the band at the links below they are also wholesaling it to DIY distros at stupidly low prices, which is to be applauded and a welcome boost for a dying breed.

www.myspace.com/bulletridden666

www.badnewsrecords.com