BOLT THROWER — Cenotaph (review)

BOLT THROWER — Cenotaph album cover EP · 1991 · Death Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
UMUR
"Cenotaph" is a four-track EP release by UK death metal act Bolt Thrower. The EP was released through Earache Records in January 1991 and it bridges the gap between the band´s second- and third full-length studio albums "Realm of Chaos (Slaves to Darkness)" (October 1989, Earache Records) and "War Master" (February 1991, Earache Records). It also effectively works as a promotional product for the latter mentioned album, and features the album track "Cenotaph" as the title track. All material from the EP was re-released on the September 1998 "Who Dares Wins" compilation album (Earache Records).

The three remaining tracks are "Destructive Infinity", "Prophet Of Hatred", and a live version of "Realm Of Chaos". The former is an outtake from the September 1990 "War Master" recording sessions (it appears as a bonus track on the CD version of the album), while "Prophet Of Hatred" is an outtake from the July 1989 "Realm Of Chaos" recording sessions (it appears as a bonus track on the CD version of the album). It has the same gritty sound production and composition style. The live version of "Realm Of Chaos" is a pretty lo-fi and not very well sounding live recording.

"Cenotaph" appears here in exactly the same version which is also featured on "War Master", so the big draw here is definitely "Destructive Infinity" and "Prophet Of Hatred" (at least to those who only own the original vinyl versions of "Realm of Chaos (Slaves to Darkness)" and "War Master". "Destructive Infinity" is quality wise on par with the material which ended up on "War Master" and the same can more or less be said about "Prophet Of Hatred". None of them would probably have been standout tracks on their respective albums though. They are just good quality Bolt Thrower tracks...nothing more nothing less. The inclusion of the live version of "Realm Of Chaos" is completely unnecessary though. The recording quality is simply not of a professional quality and you should expect more from a band like Bolt Thrower.

Upon conclusion "Cenotaph" is a nice little EP, but it had more value back when it was originally released, than it has today where all tracks are available elsewhere. Still it´s a good quality release (except the live track) and a 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.
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