Neurodeliri - Red LP

These slightly crazy Italians knew no reservations! For fans of well-played, original Thrash Metal 1988’s “Neurodeliri” is a must.

1988 seemed the right time for the world to finally see Bulldozer like they deserved to be, no more a Venom tribute band, but rather a truly peculiar band with its very own brand of music. In the light of these reflections, “IX” marked definitely a 180-degrees turn from the past, more than it did music-wise. It was finally the moment for the Milanese crew to ride their wave of popularity, maybe the band members expected it to be the best year for the band’s career so far. But then, in April, co-founder and former bassist Dario Carria committed suicide and complicated everything. AC Wild and mainly Andy Panigada were bewildered by the news, as fans were, and profoundly struck. Still, they managed to channel all the emotions of that tragedy in the songwriting for the follow-up to their breakthrough album “IX”, which incidentally would be their last full-length after their dissolution on good terms in 1990.

As a result, “Neurodeliri” possesses a drearier atmosphere which pops up every now and then. Carria also replaces AC Wild on the captivating album cover, which gives the right idea of coldness and desperation, especially if coupled with the title, referring the name of the band he created, but also being a synonym for a certain department of mental hospitals in Italian language. Regarding the music, the addition of keyboards, be it for atmospheric purposes like “Overture”’s somber, beautiful melody or the support at the riffs of the subsequent title-track, or again as a nice something extra like the amazing, power-infused duel with the guitar in the second half of “Art of Deception”, is mostly responsible for it.

“Neurodeliri” was Bulldozers last studio-album until they reformed in 2008, and given the undoubted high quality of it and of all their previous albums, one might ask himself why they never really achieved more than just a certain cult status. The reason is probably that Bulldozer were never keen on success and popularity, as they never compromised about their sound when most other Thrash Metal bands wimped out or changed their style at the end of the 80s when Thrash Metal became less popular. Whatever, for fans of really well-played, original Thrash Metal, “Neurodeliri” (as well as the other Bulldozer albums) is a must.