Album Review: Bone Church – Deliverance

Faith in volume, distortion and devotion.

Heavy rock and rollers Bone Church return with their second record, Deliverance — described as their “boldest step yet into the heart of classic and hard rock.” The Connecticut band, formed in 2016, channels the unholy trinity of heavy blues, doom and psychedelia (via Spotify) to forge a sound that feels both vintage and vicious. They call the album “anthemic” and “radio-ready,” built around “big hooks” that could rule FM rock in 1977 — and they’re not wrong.

“Bone Boys Ride Out” is the lead single, a swaggering statement of intent. The track carries the no-nonsense punch of early AC/DC —thick, blues-based riffs, locked-in grooves and a rhythm section that feels like a live wire about to snap. The guitar has that raw, overdriven crunch reminiscent of High Voltage-era rock, while the vocals soar in a sharp, high-pitched wail that nods to both Bon Scott and the early metal frontmen who followed. It’s polished enough for radio, but never loses the grit that much of late-‘70s hard rock’s commercial peak.

Then comes “Electric Execution,” which kicks off with a scream-laden intro and cascading guitar layers that feel ritualistic. Passionate and unrelenting, it channels the bombastic spunk of the era’s arena rock (think Led Zeppelin’s grandiosity meets Blue Öyster Cult’s occult groove).

“Lucifer Rising” rides in on a fuzz-soaked riff that loops like a mantra, evoking the psychedelic heaviness of early Pentagram. Its steady, trance-like rhythm mirrors proto-metal’s hypnotic repetition where riff cycles are revelation. The next track, “The Sin of 1000 Heathens,” leans into the gestalt of a late-‘70s rock anthem. The riff is bold and circular, the drums are punchy and articulate, while the lyric “Work you whole life to dig your own grave” nods to Sabbath’s theatrics while embracing a more radio-ready swagger.

“Goin’ to Texas” shifts gears into a sunburnt, southern-tinged groove. “I never went to church on Sunday, I was always foolin’ around,” the singer confesses as the band barrels forward like a train on a two-lane highway. They’ve said they wanted songs “meant to be sung along to” (via The Obelisk), and this one hit that mark: it’s a fist-raiser and a joyride.

“Muchachos Muchachin” brings in looseness and swagger. Its Spanish-inflected title hints at the barroom camaraderie beneath the distortion, with crisps, up-tempo riffs and playful vocal lift. It’s a refreshing detour amid heavier moments, proving the band’s intent that this record is not “all doom and gloom” (via Doomed Nation).

Finally, the title track, “Deliverance,” closes the album with resolve. Gathering the album’s thread — blues-soaked guitars, soulful solos and the recurring theme of escape — it stands as a defiant declaration.

In sum, Deliverance is Bone Church’s most confident and accessible work yet: a resurrection of classic hard-rock spirit with a modern edge. The riffs hit, the hooks stick and the conviction feels earned. For fans of heavy blues and 1970s swagger, Deliverance delivers precisely what it promises.