“Burn It Up” is the 5th studio album in the 14-year career of New Zealand powerhouse Metal outfit Bulletbelt.
The album was recorded in April 2022 at the Massey Studio in Wellington by the group’s founding member and drummer Steve Francis, long-time bassist Tim Mekalick, guitarist Josh O’Brien and the new member Diego Attinger on vocals.
The eight songs — all live instruments, no triggers, patches or simulations — were co-produced by James Goldsmith (Beastwars, Mermaidens, etc) and the album’s killer artwork was illustrated by Christchurch artist Jake Clark a.k.a. Mr Wolf, accompanied by design and layout by Japanese designer Seiya Ogino of Ogino Design (MONO, Dark Funeral, Vomitory, Naglfar, etc) — and it is a five-piece that will present the album live with the group adding Isaac Johnston-Lundy on guitar to flesh out the live sound.
What hasn’t changed is the intention of this powerhouse act – “Burn It Up” is a soaring metal beast of an album. There is a renewed emphasis on hooks and choruses making it the band’s strongest album yet to date. The introduction of new vocalist Diego Attinger has given Bulletbelt the opportunity to take their songwriting to a different place, with Classic/Power Metal influences introduced and giving the band a much broader appeal.
Bulletbelt has toured Australia, Japan and New Zealand and played numerous support slots with visiting international acts including Sepultura, Carcass, Napalm Death, Midnight, Psycroptic, The Black Dahlia Murder, Impiety, Bölzer, Tragedy, Rotten Sound, Midnight, Municipal Waste, Ringworm, Paul Dianno, Arch Enemy, DragonForce, Sacred Riech and Vio-Lence. A debut European Tour is to come in October 2023, supporting Semblant from Brazil.
The band first announced themselves to New Zealand’s metal-loving audiences in 2009. With music featuring on the soundtrack to the cult-classic movie, “Deathgasm”, international touring and three previous records of brutal, beautiful sonic assault, it’s a solid foundation that “Warlords” sits atop. After a decade of brand-building, blood, sweat and… beers… tears and forever true and strong of heart, the sound of mind and body and committed to the riff, the chorus, the way of the anthem, Bulletbelt’s head is held high, their flag is in the sand.
Upcoming Tour:
Bulletbelt European Tour 2023 (supporting Semblant):
Oct 5 / DE Düsseldorf / Pitcher
Oct 6 / DE Weinheim / Café Central
Oct 7 / BE Bree / Ragnarok
Oct 8 / NL Den Haag / Musicon
Oct 10 / UK Manchester / Rebellion
Oct 11 / UK London / Underworld
Oct 12 / FR Paris / Petit Bain
Oct 14 / FR Toulouse / Connexion Live
Oct 15 / FR Montpellier / Secret Place
Oct 16 / FR Lyon / Rock and Eat
Oct 18 / FR Pratteln / Suisse Z7
Oct 20 / HU Budapest / Analog Music Hall
Tickets: www.bulletbelt-official.com/tour
Website: https://www.bulletbelt-official.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bulletbelt
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bulletbeltnz
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bulletbeltnz
Bandcamp: https://bulletbeltnz.bandcamp.com/