DUST BOLT – Sound & Fury

Formed in 2007, German Thrash Metal band Dust Bolt took a more DIY approach for their fifth studio album, Sound & Fury (2024). With no label and no money, the band decided to record and produce the album themselves, with the help of their friends and relatives. Wanting to break away from the typical Thrash Metal mold, lead vocalist and primary songwriter, Lenny Bruce, wrote songs that fell naturally to him, without thinking about what genre they were.

“We’ve expanded, but we haven’t changed. We felt like we got the label of being a Thrash Metal band, and it was restrictive. We couldn’t do certain things because they wouldn’t be considered Thrash! But, it was a good time, during the pandemic, because there was no media, no press, and I didn’t check emails and stuff, so we were free. I would write a riff and I didn’t care if it was Thrash Metal or not. It was a good time to really find out who I am as a guitar player and as a singer, and I took the time to really find it out and then we made the record. So, there is a change in style, but it’s 100 percent us, perhaps more than ever,” said Bruce in a press release.

The band lineup has remained mostly stable throughout the years, but Sound & Fury is the first studio album to feature new bassist Tom Liebing. The album will be released through AFM Records on February 23, 2024.

Not Typical Thrash Metal Music

There’s nothing old-school about Sound & Fury, but these guys obviously love making music and love what they do. “Leave Nothing Behind” is a barnstorming opener that blends screaming and singing vocals. The lyrics are great and very relatable because they cover dark times and personal struggles that everyone goes through. The backing vocals give the track some sort of melody, so it’s not all just screaming in the listeners’ ears. “I am the One” has a great groove, courtesy of drummer Nico Rayman. The bass line is dark and menacing, and there’s a short, but wicked guitar solo that’s probably the best on the entire album.

The real highlights of Sound & Fury, however, are the moody and epic tunes, such as the title track and “You Make Me Feel (Nothing).” The former has a really cool bass line and a killer groove, while the latter features some Doom Metal influences and incredible drum fills. Like most of the songs on the album, “Feel the Storm” has more Alternative Metal and Metalcore vibes, rather than Thrash Metal vibes. It’s a headbanging tune with some melody, of course.

Final Assessment

Dust Bolt are growing as a band, even after almost 17 years together. There are groups that are fine with following orders of their record labels, but Dust Bolt took advantage of their freedom and proved that a record label isn’t necessary to make good music, and thankfully, they’re not the only band to do so. The closing piano ballad, “Little Stone,” feels out of place and the inclusion of the short instrumental, “Bluedeep,” feels random. But, those are minor complaints.

The production is decent; the bass lines are thick and heavy on this album, which is good for Liebing’s part. In fact, the guitars aren’t the main focus of the album, which isn’t entirely a bad thing, depending on the listener’s taste. The modern drum sound adds to the high energy vibe of the album, as well. If Dust Bolt continues to stick to their guns, they’re in store for an even longer and more chaotic ride in the Metal world.

Album Tracklist

1. Leave Nothing Behind
2. I Witness
3. I am the One
4. New Flame
5. Burning Pieces
6. Sound and Fury
7. Love & Reality
8. Bluedeep
9. Disco Nnection
10. You Make Me Feel (Nothing)
11. Feel the Storm
12. Little Stone

Band Lineup

Lenny Bruce – lead vocals and guitars
Nico Rayman – drums
Tom Liebing – bass guitar
Flo Dee – guitars