Bolt Thrower - Mercenary (1998) Reissue [2014]

Plans for a follow-up to Those Once Loyal were scrapped in June 2008 after the band were dissatisfied with the material they had written. In a statement, they said that they would not release any album unless they were convinced it was at least on par with its predecessor, and as result any plans to record were "postponed indefinitely."

Despite this, they continued to play selected tours and one-off shows until the unexpected death of drummer Martin Kearns in 2015, after which the band was put on hiatus. On September 14th, 2016, the first anniversary of Kearns' death, the surviving members of Bolt Thrower announced on their official website that the band is no more.

The band took its name from a weapon in the popular tabletop strategy game Warhammer Fantasy Battles. The lyrics and artwork of their second and third albums were based on Warhammer Fantasy Battles, as well as its futuristic companion Warhammer 40,000 with much of the art actually being provided by the game's publisher, Games Workshop.

Jo Bench is generally considered to be among the earliest female members of an extreme metal band.

Mercenary is the sixth album by the British death metal band Bolt Thrower. It was recorded at Chapel Studios, Lincoln, England, December 1997 to January 1998. The album was produced by Bolt Thrower and Ewan Davis. It was released on Metal Blade Records in 1998.

The cover painting is titled "Contact - Wait Out", which is also the first track on the next album, Honour - Valour - Pride.

"Powder Burns" is a continuation of the song "Embers" from The IVth Crusade, and leads into "The Killchain" on Those Once Loyal.

 

-Tracklist:

Side A
1. Zeroed     05:45
2. Laid to Waste     04:40
3. Return from Chaos     05:04
4. Mercenary     05:53

Side B
5. To the Last...     05:25
6. Powder Burns     04:45
7. Behind Enemy Lines     05:18
8. No Guts, No Glory     04:07
9. Sixth Chapter     05:42

46:39

-Line up:

• Jo Bench : Bass
• Karl Willetts : Vocals
• Baz Thomson : Guitars (lead, rhythm)
• Alex Thomas : Drums
• Gavin Ward : Guitars (rhythm).

Recorded and mixed at Chapel Studios (Lincoln, England), December. 1997 - January 1998.
Produced by Bolt Thrower.

Limited to 500 copies worldwide on black vinyl - it comes with a poster (reproducing the album's cover) *[this poster is wrong] and a sticker reporting:
"COLLECTOR'S EDITION
180 gram
black vinyl
+ giant poster
Vinyl Re-issue"

Printed lyrics on the inner sleeve.