REVIEW: ARTILLERY — My Blood

 

ARTILLERY — My Blood (2011)

Metal Mind Productions

Artillery have sold their soul to the devil—and on My Blood, they sound like a band that made the deal willingly, then spent the next decade collecting on it. From the opening bars of the seven-and-a-half-minute epic “Mi Sangre (The Blood Song)”, the Danish veterans announce a second youth with the kind of confidence only earned by decades in the thrash trenches. What follows is not nostalgia, but a renewed, expansive vision of what thrash can be in the hands of seasoned songwriters who refuse to play it safe.

“Mi Sangre (The Blood Song)” is more than an appetizer; it’s a mission statement. Clocking in at 7:33, the track builds like a mini-symphony of aggression, weaving melodic interludes, mid-tempo marches, and blistering runs into a cohesive whole that recalls the structural ambition of Metallica’s Master of Puppets era without ever feeling derivative. The song’s dynamic arcs—quiet tension giving way to explosive release—set the tone for an album that treats thrash as a language, not a template.

Where many modern thrash releases lean on speed alone, My Blood thrives on variety. Artillery introduce an oriental touch throughout the record, most notably in the Middle Eastern–flavored riffing that adds color and unpredictability to the core thrash attack. This isn’t gimmickry; it’s textural enrichment that keeps the ear engaged across an 11-track, 53-minute runtime. Tracks like “Death Is an Illusion” and “Warrior Blood” balance traditional metal grandeur with power-metal lift, while “Thrasher” and “Concealed in the Dark” deliver the kind of razor-edged, head-down momentum that defined the band’s early classics.

Technically, Artillery are in formidable shape. The guitar work is precise yet passionate, the rhythm section locks in with punishing clarity, and Søren Nico Adamsen’s vocals bring a focused, modern edge to the band’s long-established identity. The production—handled for Metal Mind with an ear for both heft and detail—gives every instrument room to breathe without softening the impact; it’s a mix built to test speakers and reward repeated listens. In a genre often criticized for homogeneity, My Blood stands out for its songwriting depth and sonic confidence.

Released on April 1, 2011 via Metal Mind Productions, My Blood is Artillery’s sixth studio album and the third in their late-career resurgence that began with the 2007 reunion. Formed in 1982 in Taastrup, Denmark, Artillery were among Europe’s earliest thrash exponents, issuing the cult classics Fear of Tomorrow (1985) and By Inheritance (1989) before a series of breaks and reunions. Many fans and critics regard My Blood as the peak of their modern era—a record that honors their roots while pushing the boundaries of their sound. The album’s bonus re-recordings (“Show Your Hate 2011,” “Eternal War 2011”) further underscore the band’s willingness to revisit and refine their catalog for a new chapter.

My Blood is a thrash metal release that expands the boundaries of the thrash sound without losing its bite. If you’ve been waiting for a record that marries old-school ferocity with fresh ideas, dynamic song structures, and top-tier execution, this is it. Buy it—and prepare for the kind of album that makes you rethink what a veteran thrash band can still achieve.

Nick Parastatidis