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Merciless

    
       
       
       
     
             
Body Count are a heavy metal band from the USA founded in 1990 by rapper Ice-T and guitarist Ernie C. out of their love for heavy metal music - the band releasing eight studio albums over a three plus decade career full of angst, anger and aggression! The bands latest album 'Merciless' (released in 2024) is a culmination of everything that's gone before, the band barking loud and biting hard across twelve songs and forty two ferocious minutes.    
             
With Ice-T on vocals and Ernie C. on guitar, the current line-up is completed by Sean E Sean (samples, keyboards), Juan "Juan of the Dead" Garcia (guitar), Vincent Price (bass), Will "Ill Will" Dorsey (drums), and Little Ice (backing vocals) - the band's brand of metal derived from the likes of Black Sabbath, Slayer and Suicidal Tendencies, making Body Count a band that defies pigeon-holing! The term "heavy metal" covers a myriad of metal styles, yet within Body Count's sonic array you'll find hardcore, crossover thrash, a little rap and even some punk too!    
             
Basically, the band don't care about musical barriers or genre limits, writing what they want when they want - Body Count giving life to 'Merciless' with the ground shuddering one and a half minute interrogation scenario 'Interrogation', the band sending shivers down the spine of every listener everywhere! And then with a shit tonne of heavy hitting groove metal, the title song 'Merciless' makes a bigger impact than the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs over sixty five million years ago!    
             
An absolutely devastating opening salvo to grab the attentions of a worldwide audience, Body Count launch ferocity laden RPG's (that's rocket-propelled grenades for anyone who doesn't know) at every twist and turn of 'Merciless' (the album) - the diehard thrashers of the world wetting themselves with the brutality fuelled 'Psychopath', the blunt 'Fuck What You Heard', the high velocity head banger 'Live Forever', and the planet destroying, speed of light groove metal monster, 'Drug Lords'. So take cover listeners, 'cause the RPG's are coming thick and fast as the band empty their vast arsenal upon the world!    
             
And for the long time Body Count fan, there's the bands root heavy metal, thrash, rap, hardcore crossover style in the shape of the savagely angry 'Do Or Die', the in your face pissed-off aggression laced 'Lying Motherfuka', the diverse, rabble rousing battle hardened 'World War', and the up tempo, lively angst of the stomper 'Mic Contract' - there really is something here for everyone, no matter where your metal allegiances lie.    
             
And does anyone remember this terrifying "Emergency Broadcast"...    
             
This is not a test    
This is your emergency broadcast system announcing the commencement of the Annual Purge sanctioned by the U.S Government    
Weapons of class 4 and lower have been authorised for use during the Purge. All other weapons are restricted    
Government officials of ranking 10, have been granted immunity from the Purge and shall not be harmed    
Commencing at the siren, any and all crime, including murder, will be legal for 12 continuous hours    
Police, fire and emergency medical services will not be available until tomorrow morning at 7am, when the Purge concludes    
Blessed by our New Founding Fathers and America, a nation reborn    
May God be with you all    
             
...it is of course, taken from the American action horror movie franchise "The Purge" an anthology of five films - "The Purge" (2013), "The Purge Anarchy" (2014), "The Purge: Election Year" (2016), "The First Purge" (2018), and "The Forever Purge" (2021). And in the shape of 'Purge', Body Count pay homage to the ultra-violent film series, the song featuring guest vocals from George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher (Cannibal Corpse). And believe me readers, 'Purge' is just as violent, vicious and terrifying as the movies - and yes, I've seen all five of 'em!    
             
There's also a cover of British rockers Pink Floyd's classic 'Comfortably Numb' (from the bands eleventh studio album 'The Wall' released in 1979) to enjoy, as Body Count take a departure from their more usual metal stance to enter rock territory. But rather than just cover the song verbatim, Ice-T wrote his own lyrics - lyrics that fit perfectly within the songs sombre stroll through seventies classic rock! Yes Body Count's unexpected take and re-worded version is heavier, but the core essence of the original's sound remains intact. And it also features Pink Floyd's David Gilmour as guest guitarist.    
             
Overall, a fierce, ferocious blend of heavy metal, hardcore and thrash that comes with a triple AAA advisory - Angst, Anger and Aggression inside!    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
Reviewed for Metal Gods TV    
             
             
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