Review Summary: Despite the less than tremendous originality present, The Day of Wrath stand it's 30+ years in existence as an exceptional mid 80s blackened-speed metal album, worthy to the collection of any die-hard Venom or early Sodom fan.
Bulldozer were an speed/black metal band who emerged from the uncharted metal grounds of Italy in the 1980s. The band's debut full length was a largely Motorhead/Venom inspired effort while although not being a stylistically significant or outstanding album, is still a very enjoyable piece of first wave black metal.
After the eerie, 'satanic ritualistic' intro track "The Exorcism," the album gets right to the ballistic speed/black style with "Cut-Throat." Ripe with violent and misanthropic lyrics, the more mid-paced tempo of the track makes for a substantial opener, one of the most memorable on the album. The vocals throughout this LP are considerably inspired by Cronos of Venom, (rather typical for first wave BM bands of this nature) full of hateful sneering and sinful wailing. "The Great Deceiver," and "Whisky Time" stand as examples of the albums several more punk-y, frantic tracks, full of hectic guitar solos and punk inspired, simplistic drum patterns.
The sound and production of the full-length is just as you'd expect for an old-school black/speed metal album from the 80s. Raw, grimy, and dirty, and admittedly not very tremendous in the bass department. One could compare the overall sound quality of this album to works such as: Ace of Spades by Motorhead, or Venom's infamous Black Metal record.
Welcome Death represents one of the slower moments on the LP, full of creeping, crunchy riffs, echoed vocals, and tasteful tempo transitions, make this one of the albums most gratifying pieces, as well as the longest. The album ends with a near 6 minute long instrumental entitled "Endless Funeral." The track features an echo filled vocal track, (perhaps supposed to represent a member of some ritual?) played over by the most melodic guitar work the album has to offer. The instruments get increasingly excited as the track reaches it's tail end and the guitar leads become more climactic. The work ends with the guitar audibly 'riding off in the distance,' as Bulldozer's debut opus comes to its conclusion.
This is not a genre defining album for black or speed metal, nor is it the most outstanding effort of the ever vast and often overlooked first wave of black metal, yet The Day of Wrath by Bulldozer remains an underrated gem of this age of underground metal, a substantially recommendable LP to any fan of mid 80s black or thrash metal.
