Year : 2024
Style : Heavy Metal , Speed Metal
Country : United States
Audio : 320 kbps + all scans
Size : 85 mb
Bio:
Primitive Heavy Speed from Richmond, VA, US.Richmond, Virginia metal trio BAT have been delivering their own blood-spattered horror since ascending from the underground a decade ago on a dark, leather-winged trajectory. The brainchild of MUNICPAL WASTE guitarist,Ryan Waste, BAT’s origins actually go back to 2008 when Waste and former D.R.I. drummer, and Texas native, Felix Griffin, hatched the idea of working together. “We’d see each other when I’d pass through Texas,” says Waste, “and we talked about doing a project where I played all the instruments—guitar, bass, and vocals— and he would drum. We both love Discharge and Celtic Frost and we wanted to do something real straightforward, no frills.BAT remained a shadowy concept more than an actual band until Waste enlisted guitarist Nick Poulos from VOLTURE, the heavy metal project he’d been doing in addition to his MUNICIPAL WASTE duties. As VOLTURE ran out of steam in 2013, BAT took flight with Waste and Poulos crafting a sonic origin story that grew from the original ‘straightforward, no frills’ ethos into something rougher, darker, and laden with an approach that’s straight out of the down-and-dirty side of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. With Nick’s soaring lead playing, Ryan returned to his distorted bass roots, all rounded out by Felix’s relentless battery.BAT’s 2013 debut, Primitive Age EP, was recorded on analog reel-to-reel tape in Richmond at the trio’s first rehearsals with Texas-based Griffin. “That first session was just meant to be a demo tape,” says Waste. “We hardly overdubbed anything and kept it loose, as the songs were just taking form. That primitive style became the way the band rolled.” This raw demo was nonetheless issued on cassette by Tankcrimes before BAT had even played a show. BAT made their first live appearances opening three shows for SATAN (UK) in April 2014. With more touring to follow, these demo songs matured into their own after being put to the test live. They re-recorded the five demo tracks along with seven new tunes that would become their 2016 debut full-length album Wings of Chains (Hells Headbangers). They released a music video for their namesake song also known as ‘Beware of the BAT’ which featured a fully fabricated costume designed by Margaret Rolicki (GWAR) based on the album artwork by Christoph Breit (Infected Arts).After a series of tragic personal events befell Griffin, he was forced to depart the band in 2017, with his swansong being the Axestasy EP (recorded in 2017, released in 2019). To replace Griffin, BAT tapped local drummer Chris Marshall, a vet of D-beat outfit NO TOMORROW, adding the perfect punk foil to Poulos and Waste’s speed metal riffing. “I’ve always preferred punk drumming with a single kick for our style,” says Waste. “I think his playing suits the band and Chris does it with a lot of soul.”Once Marshall joined BAT in 2017, the three were finally able to rehearse on a regular basis since all members were living in the same town for the first time. They were now available to pick up and play gigs on demand, and ultimately made it to Europe supporting NAPALM DEATH right up until the pandemic closed the world down in 2020. Given the opportunity to woodshed uninterrupted, BAT attacked what would become album number two. “The songs came together incredibly easily and quickly, like something you’d see in a movie,” Waste explains. “We were writing together as a three-piece—with drums finally in the room—and the ideas just came flowing out. I’d go home and write lyrics immediately afterwards, the inspiration was palpable.”In June 2021, the trio decamped to Philadelphia where Arthur Rizk recorded the basic tracks for the new BAT full-length. Yavé Rust tracked lead guitars and vocals later when the band was back in Richmond, ultimately mixed by Rizk. With a newly inked deal with Nuclear Blast and a new drummer, BAT’s sophomore full-length would be a significant step forward, and Waste and Co. were determined to make an impact.
Album:
Virginia’s street-lurking speed metal mob Bat are finally back with their second full length album. As a huge fan of its predecessor and more so the EP between them, I am ecstatic to dive into this. Release is set for May 17th via Nuclear Blast Records.An eerie introduction begins our hellish descent into horror. This is short lived and soon speeding armageddon begins. Thundering bass booms atop ferocious drumming with some vicious riffs pulling the neck with a whiplash effect from its venomous onset. Punchy and visceral instruments require equally direct vocals, which Ryan Waste delivers savagely, spitting pure street ready filth which every verse. Bat straddle pure d-beating speed metal fury while holding a sense of melody in their songs which gives their gutter-dwelling assaults a bit of flavour beyond the average. Although they have gone from a smaller more cult label to a mainstream one, their music still has that underground feeling and hasn’t been compromised at all. The opening moments of “Under The Crooked Claw” picks up where there violent past left off gloriously.Many of you are hopefully familiar with the two killer singles and their equally brilliant music videos by the name of “Rite For Exorcism” and “Streetbanger”. These two mighty anthems should give you a strong idea of Bat’s music which anyone in their right mind will be drawn in by. Fist-pounding heavy metal anthems with the fury of Tank, Venom and Motörhead with a touch of horror; what the hell is not to love? Bat take it back to the 80s, with a real British feeling to some of their tracks that don’t feel out of place here in grey London, when heavy metal was played by a bunch of ugly leather clad blokes. This relatability and their obvious passion for underground mayhem is so endearing while the music does not speak, but screams for itself.Overall there is a simplicity that is primal and so damn enchanting here. Sometimes a passionate trio of rockers belting out anthemic hellfire is all you need and we get there in abundance on this record. There’s no bells and whistles (although a vibraslap appears), just straightforward killer tunes. For me there is an honesty that you cannot deny here, no pandering or hype but just rockin’ music that is hard not to love. This charming and humble approach incinerates all the pretentiousness of the modern day and age with real musicianship but not only that; a real record with real songs, a real production, a real album cover and overall a feeling of genuine authenticity. In a world of AI art, copy-paste production and lazy songwriting something so simple can feel like a breath of fresh air. Be warned, these rusty street-lurking maniacs are coming for all the pretty, polished and wimpy bands.Bat deliver speed metal carnage and they do it well. If you’re hungry for havoc and need a dose of debauchery, this is the record. Every second is fun, ferocious and readies you to bang your head against the stage. Beware of the Bat, horror and chaos will drag you into the night blazing a trail with nothing but the true old die-hard spirit and some loud tunes. Another triumph for this power trio.
Line Up:
Ryan Waste Bass, Vocals (2013-present) - See also: Municipal Waste, Volture, ex-Immortal Avenger
Nick Poulos Guitars (2013-present) - See also: Municipal Waste, Volture, ex-Parasytic, ex-Organ Donor, ex-Combat Delta (live), ex-Cannabis Corpse, ex-Battlemaster (live), ex-D.R.I. (live), ex-Byam Klavor
Chris Charge Drums (2019-present) - See also: Ultimate Disaster, ex-Kommunion, ex-No Tomorrow, ex-Sow
Tracklist:
01. Una torcia illumina il cielo 00:52
02. Vampyre Lore 02:58
03. Rite for Exorcism 02:43
04. Streetbanger 02:59
05. Just Buried 02:37
06. Warshock 02:41
07. Horror Vision 03:43
08. Battered 02:17
09. Revenge of the Wolf 01:42
10. Marauders of Doom 02:38
11. Electric Warning 02:25
12. Bastardized Force 04:20
13. Final Strike 03:12
Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/
