One anno later, the hellish minions regrouped and recalculated their assault upon the pearly gates of taste and heaven. Over a feast of charbroiled and barbecued angel wings and cherubim fat, the plan was to recruit two new bastard motherfuckers for the guitar and bass, as Corpsemolester and K.K. Warslut were finally, completely consumed by the fiery flames (well, the latter faked it and went on with his other affront against God, Deströyer 666). Enter Battleslaughter, master of sharpened axes, and Fiend of the Deep, his bludgeoning counterpart. Infernal communion was taken, a pact of virgins blood and ill intentions, and then the band churned out the superior and cult worthy sophomore effort Blood & Valor.The style here was not largely different than Vengeance War Till Death. Still a mix of black and death metal extremity, leaning towards the former, but what stands out here is the great production. Where the previous work was simply the back alley metal band of downtown Hades, this new Bestial Warlust were equipped to rock the finest underground clubs and tear the ears from their listeners, leaving them wanting even more. Damon Bloodstorm's vocals here took on more of a direct, malevolent hostility, though maintaining the previous tones. On a scale of all things evil and punishing in Australia, Blood & Valor ranks up there with Hobbs' Angel of Death, Ivan Milat and Sadistik Exekution.
The title track is de-Christened in noisy feedback before the thriving black/death rhythms erupt. A lot less start and stop of the drums here, Hellcunt has his shit together and just steamrolls you for pretty much the entire album. "Death Rides Out" follows, an entirely sinister piece which is probably one of my favorite tracks from the band. Driving, uncompromising, with vocal slather which feels as if the devil were a cannibalistic inmate at some backwater prison, just escaped and is taunting and devouring every person he encounters. Stopping for a cigarette (before lifting the grate and throwing the lit butt down into the reservoir), we hear the acoustic holocaust winds that introduce "Prelude: Descention Hells Blood", another pretty damn good song with some acidic guitar work and sheer hostile intent. "Barbaric Horde" features some solid grinding black ethics, but I didn't get much out of it aside from the expected feeling of having been bulldozed. "...'till the End" has some chaotic vitriol in the chorus, and the bridge rhythm is quite lovingly disgusting with the way the vocals interact over the chords. And then, at about 1:20, the song unveils its hidden evil with an excellent riff.
Striving through the distant land
Through storms of fire
In search of a battle unforgotten
The one we desire
Lost is the force of will
Our pride still defies
We shall forge on relentless
Even till the end of time
The lyrics here almost feel subdued compared to some of the previous album, yet another field in which Bestial Warlust have improved. "Within the Storm" is a 5:30 instrumental track, and while pretty good, it might not have suffered for vocals. It does have some moments of careening leads, and morose melodies; perhaps the choice was made to forego lyrics and slowly build and highlight these specific parts. "Legion of Wrath" opens with a volley of fists and a brief, bloody shredding over the surge of guitars. This is pure fucking warfare, and another of the Australian band's most excellent songs. Simple, violent and effective, much like the following "Orgy of Souls (Hallowed Night)", though it blasts a little harder, flesh eroding flesh like a witch who has been knocking leather boots with the devil for too long. "I the Warrior" is a grim march into oblivion for both the album and the band, though it strikes hard and fast with some chaotic riffing and unforgiving drum work.
They would release one further demo (and a song on the Headbangers Against Disco Vol. 1 split with Sabbat, Infernö, and Gehennah), but a few years after Blood & Valor, it was all the end for Bestial Warlust. But the band ended their career on a high note, as Blood & Valor completely crushes their debut album. Sure, it's a little less hilarious, and it has a few tracks which lag behind the rest, but this is a bonafide classic of early Australian extreme metal, and should do well by any fan of the band's constituents (Abominator, Cemetary Urn, Gospel of the Horns, Deströyer 666, and so forth).
Highlights: Prelude: Descention Hells Blood, ...'Till the End, Within the Storm, Legion of Wrath
Verdict: Win [8/10] (avenging, killing, destroying, charging)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bestial_warlust
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