Body Count Bloodlust Review - A Metal Masterpiece

Body Count is a heavy metal band formed by the rapper Ice-T and his school friends. He states in the song "Raining in Blood/Postmortem" that he formed the band so his friend Ernie C can play guitar. 

Released on March 31, 2017, Bloodlust is Body Count's sixth studio recording. It debut at number 3 on the UK rock and metal charts. The track, "Black Hoodie", was nominated for best metal performance at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards. 

The record kicks off with the prophetic "Civil War", featuring Dave Mustaine on lead guitar and narrating the opening dialog. Mustaine declares America is now under martial law, then Ice-T comes right in:

"It's already started, maybe too late to stop

It's already on, they shooting the cops

They pushing the line, racism is high

The country's divided, you know the fuck why"

Mustaine rounds out the song with an excellent guitar solo to add to his pantheon. 

This is why we ride breaks down the reasons for the senseless violence in the hood. I am going to let Ice-T break it down for us.

Oh man, coming up and surviving in the ghetto

The smallest argument goes from little drama to big drama

Next thing you know, somebody's dead

I don't think you can understand if you've never been in your streets

And held your best friend in your arms

Your child in your arms and watch them breathe their last breath

'Cause somebody shot them dead in the streets

You ain't thinking of calling the police

You want revenge and you want it now

I gotta be honest with you

If somebody were to kill me, shoot me right now,

My last words wouldn't be peace

It would be get those motherfuckers

This song is dedicated to all of you who has lost somebody to street violence

And this is why we ride

And this is how we die

Music captures the pain and despair of what it is like living in the ghetto. Chorus kicks in with a flurry of gun blast beats. You can really feel the bullets hit you. 

No Lives Matter brutally captures "the dirty ass truth" about poor people and how "they" do not give a fuck. Plus, check out the three string bass. It is pretty bad ass:

We say that "Black Lives Matter"

Well truthfully they really never have

No one ever really gave a fuck

Just read your bullshit history books

But honestly it ain't just black

It's yellow, it's brown, it's red

It's anyone who ain't got cash

Poor whites that they call trash

They can't, fuck with us

Once they realize we're all on the same side

They can't, split us up

And let them prosper off the divide

Black Hoodie goes over how the police are profiling and shooting people based on how what they are wearing:

Got on a black hoodie, its hood up on my head

I didn't have a gun so why am I dead?

You didn't have to shoot me and that's a known fact

And now I'm laying face down with bullets in my back

The Ski Mask is a song about home invasion and someone stalking you. It has a punkish feel to it. All Love is Lost is a brutal song about betrayal. An excellent cover of Slayers "Raining Blood" called Raining in Blood/Postmortem. They did a little switcheroo by having Postmortem come afterwards. On the Slayer record, it comes before.  Bassist Vincent Price sings lead vocals on "Postmortem". Also, the song title changed to "Raining In Blood" as opposed to the original title "Raining Blood" for publishing reasons. Before the song Ice-T talks about his love of metal and bands like Black Sabbath, Suicidal Tendencies and Slayer influenced them. Also, how the kids at hip hop shows in Europe would mosh to the songs. 

God Please Believe Me and Here I Go Again continue the onslaught of brutality. Walk with Me is a very Slayer like song. 

The title track, "Bloodlust," talks about the evils of humanity and how we kill each other. We are even killing our planet. 

"Bloodlust" is a very heavy and thematic album. It hones in on the darkside of human beings. That we deny we are animals and that we are bloodthirsty creatures, "The ability to kill is as innate as our ability to love." It focuses on the brutal and visceral nature of humanity." 

Overall, "Bloodlust" is a heavy metal masterpiece. We should put it alongside the ranks of metals classic records like "The Number of the Beast", "Reign in Blood", "Master of Puppets", etc. 

Take a listen. This one should not be missed. 

Please leave a comment and let me know what you think. 

Musicians 

• Ice-T–lead vocals
• Ernie C–lead guitar
• Juan of the Dead–rhythm guitar
• Vincent Price–bass, lead vocals on "Postmortem"
• Ill Will – drums
• Sean E Sean–sampler, backing vocals
• Little Ice–hype man, backing vocals
• Guest musicians
• Dave Mustaine–spoken word and lead guitar on "Civil War"
• Jason C. Miller–additional backing vocals on "The Ski Mask Way" and "No Lives Matter"
• Max Cavalera–guest vocals on "All Love Is Lost"
• Randy Blythe–guest vocals on "Walk with Me…"
• Jackie Kajzer–additional backing vocals on "No Lives Matter"

Produced by Will Putney