Band:	Bulldozer
Album:	Neurodeliri
Style:	Thrash metal
Release date:	October 1988
Guest review by:	Cynic Metalhead

01. Overture/Neurodeliri
02. Minkions
03. We Are..... Italian
04. Art Of Deception
05. Ilona Had Been Elected
06. Impotence
07. Mors Tua Vita Mea
08. Willful Death/You'll Be Recalled
09. Dance Got Sick - Part One [digipack edition bonus]

How many Italian thrash metal bands have released albums in the 1980s?

Just one. Bulldozer's Neurodeliri.

Before 1988, Bulldozer's first three releases were purely copied from Venom's sheet. Now they were poised to step out of the shadow of being merely a Venom tribute band and establish themselves as a distinctive thrash metal megaforce. However, tragedy struck in the Bulldozer camp when a former bassist, Dario Carria, committed suicide. This devastating event profoundly affected AC Wild and Andy Panigada, as well as their fans. Nonetheless, the band channeled their grief and released an emotionally charged album titled Neurodeliri, which became their final album before their amicable split in 1990.

Neurodeliri carries a somber tone, reflecting the band's loss. The album cover features Carria, embodying a sense of coldness and desperation, with the title referring to the band he co-created and a term for a mental hospital ward in Italian. Musically, the inclusion of keyboards adds depth, from the melancholic "Overture" to the power-infused "Art of Deception".

The album opens with a terrifying shriek from AC Wild, setting a brutal tone that contrasts with the heartfelt lyrics dedicated to Carria. Rob "Klister" Cabrini delivers relentless drumming, and the scanty keyboard notes replace the guitar solo, enhancing the dark atmosphere. Despite the heavy themes, the album also includes lighter tracks like "Minkions" and "We Are... Italian", reminiscent of their early days and blending humor with their signature style.

The LP's structure, with two shorter songs flanked by longer ones on each side, highlights this contrast. Notable tracks include "Ilona Had Been Elected", which addresses Ilona Staller's political career with a serious tone and powerful chorus, and "Mors Tua - Vita Mea", highlighting almost black metal vocals. The closing track, "Willful Death / You'll Be Recalled", is a poignant tribute to Carria, symbolizing his final journey with a reprise of the album's intro.

What endures from Neurodeliri is a potent blend of anger, aggression, lust, fun, and melancholia—a truly unique vinyl that has stood the test of time. It's unfortunate that Neurodeliri marked the last pinnacle release from Bulldozer before their disbandment. After a 19-year hiatus, the band regrouped to release the techno turd Unexpected Fate in 2009, wasting the legacy of Neurodeliri and its predecessors.