Broken Bones sounds like the exact moment punk rock stopped being about fashion and started being about velocity. It is a wall of sound built on the 'D-beat' foundation, characterized by a relentless, galloping drum pace and guitars that bridge the gap between the messy energy of the Sex Pistols and the surgical aggression of early Slayer. The production is unapologetically raw, capturing the grit of the 1980s UK underground scene.
What truly distinguishes them is the 'Bones' guitar style: a mix of heavy palm-muting and chaotic, feedback-laced solos that would eventually define the crossover thrash genre. While their peers in the UK82 scene stayed strictly punk, Broken Bones leaned into the technicality of metal without losing their street-level urgency. It is music that feels like it’s constantly on the verge of spinning out of control while remaining tightly locked into a punishing groove.
To understand their impact, start with 'Dem Bones' or the 'Decapitated' single. These tracks showcase the band at their most primal, offering a blueprint for the aggressive sound that would eventually influence everyone from Metallica to the modern hardcore scene. It is essential listening for anyone who wants to hear the missing link between Discharge and the birth of thrash.
Broken Bones are an English hardcore punk band, formed in 1983 by Anthony "Bones" Roberts. He soon recruited his brother Terence "Tezz" Roberts. Bones and Tezz had previously played in the band Discharge. They took their influences from their time in Discharge as a basis for Broken Bones, but infused a faster and more "mature " influenced sound, helping evolve the genre known as crossover thrash. They have released eight albums, three EPs and a number of singles. The band has had a number of line-up changes over time and have toured internationally.
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