Hidden Gems & Guilty Pleasures: Bunker 66 (Italy)
Bunker 66 (Blackened Speed/Thrash Metal // Italy)
The Italian three-piece Bunker 66 is known as a prolific work horse, clocking in at currently 4 full-length albums. It is however their many split releases with infamous underground hordes that showcase their addiction and dedication to the underground.
Since 2007, Bunker 66 have been proudly (and prolifically) flying the flag of ‘80s metalpunk, all in the beloved power-trio format. Of course, the joint influence of Motörhead and Venom looms large, but equally so do homeland heroes Bulldozer, the UK’s Warfare, early Running Wild, early Bathory and Slayer, later Anti-Cimex, metal-era Gang Green, and any ‘80s recordings from Discharge and Exciter. With this robust and rust-covered foundation firmly in place, Bunker 66 recorded a trio of cult albums for High Roller Records as well as a grip of splits with the likes of Italy’s Barbarian and Morbo, Brazil’s Whipstriker, and most recently Scotland’s Vuil. Simply put, they’re a cult band for cult fanatics – and we wouldn’t have it any other way!
In 2021, a couple years on from that last-mentioned split with Vuil comes Bunker 66’s long-awaited fourth album, »Beyond The Help Of Prayers« on Dying Victims Productions. The band’s first full-length in four years and second with the lineup of co-founders vocalist/bassist Damien Thorne and drummer Dee Dee Altar alongside ex-Schizo guitarist J.J. Priestkiller, »Beyond The Help Of Prayers« is a refreshing blast of old air!
Right from the opening, this is 666% Bunker 66 through and through – all those above influences, all sliced and diced with the deft touch of devotees, but always brimming with a charisma that’s undeniable – and thereafter do the hits keep on coming. But, while one could say that »Beyond The Help Of Prayers« is business as usual for the band (and we’d still love it), the album sees Bunker 66 taking on subtly more epic touches, ones that feel almost swords & sorcery without being obvious about it, or perhaps the post-apocalyptic wasteland vibes of Dee Dee Altar’s time in Children Of Technology played a significant role?
Naturally, the trio keep their noses deep within their realms of the black here, and while they’re undoubtedly dirtier and more blasphemous than ever, Bunker 66 arguably receive their best-sounding production on »Beyond The Help Of Prayers«, which thankfully only maximizes their power that much more. You can’t teach old dogs new tricks, and the same be said – stunningly – for Bunker 66, for they’re »Beyond The Help Of Prayers«!
In 2023, Dying Victims Productions released »Portraits Of Dismay«, a special singles compilation on CD format. Graced with an incredible artwork by Claudio Scialabba, Bunker 66’s direction is made clear from the get go. Evil and raw blackened speed/thrash is what listeners can expect from them. Since most of these 7” and 12” splits have been available on vinyl only until now, this 18 songs and 12 years spanning CD compilation has been inevitable.
Courtesy of Dying Victims Productions
Discography:
• »Out Of The Bunker« EP (2009)
• »Alive & Melting EP« (Cargo Records Germany, 2011)
• »Bunker 66 / Barbarian« Split (Doomentia Records, 2012)
• »Infernö Interceptörs« (High Roller Records, 2012)
• »Screaming Rock Believers« (High Roller Records, 2014)
• »Into The Morbid Bunker« Split w/ Morbo (Doomentia Records, 2016)
• »Chained Down In Dirt« (High Roller Records, 2017)
• »Four Deadly Bites« Split w/ Whipstriker (Ripping Storm Records, 2019)
• »Metal Sacrifice« Split w/ Vuil (Ripping Storm Records, 2019)
• »Beyond The Help Of Prayers« (Dying Victims Productions, 2021)
• »Nuclear Chasm« Split w/ Salute (2021)
• »Hell & Sulphur« Split w/ Hellcrash (Dying Victims Productions, 2022)
• »Of Night And Lust« Split w/ Lucifuge (Dying Victims Productions, 2022)
• »Portraits Of Dismay« Compilation (Dying Victims Productions, 2023)
Band members:
Damien Thorne – Bass, Vocals
J.J. Priestkiller – Guitars
Dee Dee Altar – Drums
For fans of Venom, Bathory, Hellhammer, early Destruction, Bulldozer, Darkthrone, Celtic Frost, Motörhead, Midnight, Discharge
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well