Founded in Birmingham during September 1986, BOLT THROWER gained notoriety on the local Metal scene with a unique, war obsessed heaviness. At this early point the band featured vocalist Alan West, guitarist Barry Thomson, bassist Gavin Ward and drummer Andy Whale. The name BOLT THROWER is taken from a siege device in a fantasy role playing game. Famously, the initial idea for the band had been formulated in a pub toilet in Coventry by Ward and Thompson. First product would come in the form of an April 1987 demo session 'In Battle There Is No Law'. With Ward switching to the guitar role BOLT THROWER drafted Alex Tweedy to cover on bass. Following a September 1987 demo, 'Concessions In Pain', the fledgling band, still utilising Ward as temporary bassist as new man Tweedy had failed to commit, added bassist Jo-Anne Bench. The second demo resulted in a four song Radio One session on the John Peel show, recorded in January 1988. This airing led to an album deal with Vinyl Solution Records, but not before West's departure.The band brought in vocalist Karl Willetts, actually the official BOLT THROWER van driver up to that juncture, to record the debut 1988 album 'In Battle There Is No Law'.