Those Once Loyal: Difference between revisions

'''''Those Once Loyal''''' is the eighth and final studio album by British [[death metal]] band [[Bolt Thrower]], released on 11 November 2005 by [[Metal Blade Records]]. Recorded with producer Andy Faulkner at Sable Rose Studios in [[Coventry]], [[England]], it was the first Bolt Thrower album since ''[[Mercenary (album)|Mercenary]]'' (1998) to feature vocalist [[Karl Willetts]], who rejoined the band in November 2004. ▼

Musically, ''Those Once Loyal'' incorporates tighter song structures and arrangements into Bolt Thrower's [[Melody|melodic]], [[Groove (music)|groove]]-based sound, whilst improving on the production of the band's previous albums. As on the band's previous albums, its lyrics discuss several aspects of [[war]]. Commentators and music critics have said that the album has a thematic focus on [[World War I]], previously covered on the band's fifth album ''[[...For Victory]]'' (1994); its cover artwork is derived from a plaque on the [[Guards Memorial]] in [[St James's Park|St. James's Park]], [[London]]. ▼

Well-received by critics upon release, ''Those Once Loyal'' debuted at number 76 on the German [[GfK Entertainment charts|Offizielle Top 100]] chart, becoming the highest charting album of Bolt Thrower's career. The band supported the album's release with the Those Still Loyal Tour across Europe, from January to June 2006. ''Those Once Loyal'' would be Bolt Thrower's final album before the band announced an indefinite hiatus from recording albums in June 2008, although they would continue to tour until the death of drummer [[Martin Kearns]] on 14 September 2015 and their subsequent disbandment in 2016, on the first anniversary of his death. ▼

In 2001, Bolt Thrower released its seventh album, ''[[Honour – Valour – Pride]]'', featuring [[Benediction (band)|Benediction]] vocalist [[Dave Ingram]]. The band began writing material for a follow-up to the album in January 2004 without Ingram, who had distanced himself from the band amidst worsening personal and [[mental health]] issues.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Blabbermouth |date=2004-01-08 |title=Bolt Thrower To Begin Work On New Album |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/bolt-thrower-to-begin-work-on-new-album/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630185326/https://blabbermouth.net/news/bolt-thrower-to-begin-work-on-new-album |archive-date=30 June 2023 |access-date=2023-06-30 |website=[[Blabbermouth.net]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name="IngramInt">{{Cite web |last=BraveWords |date=7 November 2005 |title=Former Benediction / Bolt Thrower Vocalist Resurfaces |url=https://bravewords.com/news/former-benediction-bolt-thrower-vocalist-resurfaces |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230704131222/https://bravewords.com/news/former-benediction-bolt-thrower-vocalist-resurfaces |archive-date=4 July 2023 |access-date=2023-06-30 |website=[[Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles|bravewords.com]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name="RockHardInt" /> After Ingram left Bolt Thrower in August 2004 to focus on his health,<ref name="IngramInt" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=BraveWords |date=1 September 2004 |title=Bolt Thrower Part Ways With Frontman |url=https://bravewords.com/news/bolt-thrower-part-ways-with-frontman |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230704131217/https://bravewords.com/news/bolt-thrower-part-ways-with-frontman |archive-date=4 July 2023 |access-date=2023-07-02 |website=[[Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles|bravewords.com]] |language=en}}</ref> guitarist [[Barry Thomson]] reconnected with previous vocalist [[Karl Willetts]], who agreed to re-join the band in November 2004.<ref>{{Cite web |last=BraveWords |date=18 November 2004 |title=Bolt Thrower - Original Vocalist Back in The Fold |url=https://bravewords.com/news/bolt-thrower-original-vocalist-back-in-the-fold |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230704131223/https://bravewords.com/news/bolt-thrower-original-vocalist-back-in-the-fold |archive-date=4 July 2023 |access-date=2 July 2023 |website=[[Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles|bravewords.com]]}}</ref><ref name="BTKarlInt">{{Cite web |date=5 May 2005 |title=Karl Willetts interview by Bolt Thrower.com |url=http://www.boltthrower.com/interviews/karlBTcom05.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060826022509/http://www.boltthrower.com/interviews/karlBTcom05.php |archive-date=2006-08-26 |access-date=2023-06-30 |website=boltthrower.com}}</ref> Willetts' vocal capabilities were tested as soon as he rejoined Bolt Thrower, who made him re-record Ingram's vocals over the instrumental tracks of ''Honour – Valour – Pride'', derived from the album's [[Mastering (audio)|master tapes]].<ref name="ChronInt">{{Cite web |last=Smit |first=Jackie |date=31 October 2005 |title=Armageddon's Just a Matter of Time |url=http://www.chroniclesofchaos.com/articles.aspx?id=1-862 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629124927/http://www.chroniclesofchaos.com/articles.aspx?id=1-862 |archive-date=29 June 2023 |access-date=2023-06-30 |website=[[Chronicles of Chaos (webzine)|Chronicles of Chaos]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Blabbermouth |date=2005-05-05 |title=Bolt Thrower Frontman Says He Re-Recorded Vocals On 'Honour, Valour, Pride' |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/bolt-thrower-frontman-says-he-re-recorded-vocals-on-honour-valour-pride/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630181559/https://blabbermouth.net/news/bolt-thrower-frontman-says-he-re-recorded-vocals-on-honour-valour-pride |archive-date=30 June 2023 |access-date=2023-06-30 |website=[[Blabbermouth.net]] |language=en}}</ref> Although guitarist [[Gavin Ward (musician)|Gavin Ward]] said that Bolt Thrower had no intentions of releasing Willetts' ''Honour – Valour – Pride'' re-recording, as it would "cheapen the product" and be insulting to Ingram, the band would release a rough mix of Willetts' re-recording of {{Nowrap|"K-Machine"}} in May 2005 owing to fan demand.<ref name="ChronInt" /><ref name="LatestNewsArch">{{Cite web |title=Bolt Thrower: Latest News |url=http://www.boltthrower.com:80/news/news.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051224055553/http://www.boltthrower.com:80/news/news.php |archive-date=2005-12-24 |access-date=2023-07-02 |website=boltthrower.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Blabbermouth |date=2005-05-20 |title=Bolt Thrower: 'K-Machine' Featuring Vocalist Karl Willetts Posted Online |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/bolt-thrower-k-machine-featuring-vocalist-karl-willetts-posted-online/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230419023920/https://blabbermouth.net/news/bolt-thrower-k-machine-featuring-vocalist-karl-willetts-posted-online |archive-date=19 April 2023 |access-date=2023-07-02 |website=[[Blabbermouth.net]] |language=en}}</ref>▼

Recording was completed in mid-September 2005.<ref name="Lambgoat" /><ref name="TOLLiners" /> During both the writing and recording of ''Those Once Loyal'', Bolt Thrower's songs underwent frequent and meticulous rewrites and revisions, regarding its compositions, lyrics, [[Tempo|tempos]] and the structure of its track listing.<ref name="StudioReports" />{{Sfn|Strachan|2005|p=15}} Bench noted that she was unable to hear the final album until it was [[Mastering (audio)|mastered]].<ref name="FourteenNG">{{Cite web |last=Thorne |first=Josh |date=27 February 2006 |title=Bolt Thrower Jo Bench Interview |url=http://www.fourteeng.net/boltthrower.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080708184740/http://www.fourteeng.net/boltthrower.html |archive-date=2008-07-08 |access-date=2023-06-30 |website=fourteeng.net}}</ref> Had they not been set deadlines by their record label, [[Metal Blade Records]], and by upcoming touring commitments, Thomson reckoned to ''[[Terrorizer (magazine)|Terrorizer]]'' in December 2005 that Bolt Thrower would have still been in the studio rewriting their songs by then.{{Sfn|Strachan|2005|p=15}}▼

In a 2014 academic paper discussing the relevance of World War I in [[popular music]], British [[cultural historian]] Peter Grant wrote that .''..For Victory'' and ''Those Once Loyal'' both "contain highly graphic, though stylised, point-of-view songs, but with no identified protagonist and no sense of the ability of the individual to influence events".{{sfn|Grant|2014|p=222}} Grant additionally described the ways in which Bolt Thrower presented the subject of war, specifically in regards to World War I, citing the title track of ''...For Victory'' and "At First Light" as particular examples:{{sfn|Grant|2014|p=222}}<blockquote>Both songs evoke the terrors and horrors of war, immensely magnified by the music, but paradoxically adopt a sober, neutral stance that does not condemn war outright, instead presenting the listener with its impact [...] Bolt Thrower's contemplation of war in general and the First World War in particular is complex and distinctive. They avoid simple stereotypes and instead express the ambiguities of warfare: it is both horrifying and glorious, both insane and necessary.{{sfn|Grant|2014|p=222}}</blockquote>▼

=== Title and artwork ===▼

The cover art of ''Those Once Loyal'' is taken from a plaque found on the [[Guards Memorial]], a World War I [[War memorial|memorial]], in [[St James's Park|St. James's Park]], [[London]].<ref name="Metaldeinterview" /><ref name="RockSomething">{{Cite web |last=Harrold |first=Adam |date=11 December 2005 |title=Rock Something {{!}} Features {{!}} Bolt Thrower Interview |url=http://www.rocksomething.com/features/featureBoltThrower.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061018164549/http://www.rocksomething.com/features/featureBoltThrower.html |archive-date=2006-10-18 |access-date=2023-06-30 |website=rocksomething.com}}</ref>{{Sfn|Harvie|2005|p=14}} Bench, who came up with the idea of using the plaque for the cover, said that Bolt Thrower wanted to distance themselves from the "[[fantasy]] battle" artwork used on their previous releases and find something that was less predictable and more "epic-looking".<ref name="RockSomething" /> The band commissioned a photograph of the plaque before it was altered into a cover by Jan Meininghaus.<ref name="RockSomething" /> Regarding the album's title, Ward said: "It's about soldiers. They were once loyal and now they are no longer loyal because [they're] dead!".<ref name="Metalinside" />▼

On 18 January 2006, Bolt Thrower cancelled a planned performance at the Anomalia Club in [[Prato]], [[Italy]] after one of its [[Road crew|roadies]] was [[electrocuted]] four times due to reported electrical problems at the venue.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Blabbermouth |date=2006-01-19 |title=Bolt Thrower Explain Italian Concert Cancellation |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/bolt-thrower-explain-italian-concert-cancellation/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230701115053/https://blabbermouth.net/news/bolt-thrower-explain-italian-concert-cancellation |archive-date=1 July 2023 |access-date=2023-07-01 |website=[[Blabbermouth.net]] |language=en}}</ref> The venue's promoter released a statement blaming Bolt Thrower for the show's cancellation,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Blabbermouth |date=2006-01-19 |title=Italian Promoter Says Bolt Thrower Are To Blame For Concert Cancellation |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/italian-promoter-says-bolt-thrower-are-to-blame-for-concert-cancellation/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228004953/https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/italian-promoter-says-bolt-thrower-are-to-blame-for-concert-cancellation/ |archive-date=28 February 2021 |access-date=2023-07-04 |website=[[Blabbermouth.net]] |language=en}}</ref> although this response was disputed by Necrophagist frontman Muhammed Suiçmez, who said that the owners of the venue had been uncooperative when Bolt Thrower and others attempted to sort out the electricity problem.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Blabbermouth |date=2006-01-20 |title=Necrophagist Frontman Disputes Promoter's Account Of Bolt Thrower's Italian Cancellation |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/necrophagist-frontman-disputes-promoter-s-account-of-bolt-thrower-s-italian-cancellation/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230704132446/https://blabbermouth.net/news/necrophagist-frontman-disputes-promoter-s-account-of-bolt-thrower-s-italian-cancellation |archive-date=4 July 2023 |access-date=2023-07-01 |website=[[Blabbermouth.net]] |language=en}}</ref> Bench said that the band were disappointed by negative reactions to the show cancellation online: "We don't cancel shows without a good reason and we've only pulled a handful of shows over 20 years [...] I thought [our fans] knew us better than that."<ref name="FourteenNG" />▼

*[[Karl Willetts]] – vocals▼