{{Short description|Italian metal band}} {{about|the Italian metal band|the Slovenian progressive rock band|Buldožer}} {{confuse|Bulldoze (band)}} {{Refimprove section|date=March 2025}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Bulldozer | image = Bulldozer - Tuska 2011 - 06.jpg | caption = Bulldozer at Tuska Open Air 2011 | landscape = yes | alias = | origin = Milan, Italy | genre = {{flatlist| *Speed metal<ref name=MetalCracker /> *thrash metal<ref name=MusicMight /> *{{nowrap|black metal}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bulldozer Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/bulldozer-mn0000939661#biography |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=AllMusic}}</ref> }} | years_active = 1980–1990, 2008–present | label = | website = | current_members = A.C. Wild<br />Andy Panigada<br />Manu | past_members = Dario Carria<br />Erminio Galli<br />Rob K. Cabrini<br />Don Andras }}

'''Bulldozer''' is an Italian extreme metal band from Milan originally active from 1980 to 1990.<ref name=MusicMight /> They reunited in 2008.<ref name=MetalCracker />

== History == Bulldozer formed in 1980 by bassist Dario Carria and guitarist Andy Panigada.<ref name=MusicMight>[http://www.musicmight.com/artist/italy/lombardy/milan/bulldozer ''Bulldozer''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120813184459/http://www.musicmight.com/artist/italy/lombardy/milan/bulldozer# |date=13 August 2012 }}, MusicMight, accessed on 2 May 2013.</ref> They were joined by Erminio Galli on drums. They were forced to split up in 1981 due to national service commitments, but reformed in 1983 with Alberto Contini (A.C. Wild) taking over bass and vocal duties and Don Andras playing drums.<ref name=MusicMight /> This lineup recorded the ''Fallen Angel'' demo (later to be re-issued as a 7"), their debut, ''The Day of Wrath'', and their follow-up, ''The Final Separation''.<ref name=MusicMight />

''The Day of Wrath'' was produced by Algy Ward of Tank fame (another bass-driven power trio band) and the influence can clearly be heard.<ref name=MusicMight /> ''The Final Separation'' signaled the abrupt interruption of the deal with Roadrunner Records, which failed to promote the album effectively and moreover selected a different image from the one suggested by the band as its cover art. The photo was deemed cartoonish and ineffective by the band and the whole affair brought to the signing of a new contract with Italian label Metalmagic, a sub-division of Discomagic.

Rob Cabrini was brought in on drums for ''IX'' (1987).<ref name=MusicMight /> This lineup recorded ''Neurodeliri'' (1988) and was captured live in Poland in 1990 for ''Alive... in Poland''.<ref name=MusicMight /> Their final release was the posthumous ''Dance Got Sick!'' EP,<ref name=MusicMight /> which, although mainly put together by Contini as a "joke", enjoyed a huge success in Japan, prompting him to move to that country to work in music production.

In 2004, Bulldozer's song "Whiskey Time" was included in the Peaceville Records compilation ''Fenriz Presents... The Best of Old-School Black Metal'', assembled by Darkthrone's drummer Fenriz.<ref name=MusicMight /> In November 2006, Bulldozer's five albums were collected together by Polish label Metal Mind Productions on the box set ''Regenerated in the Grave''; the box set, hosting bonus tracks and a 32-page booklet, was limited to 2,000 copies.<ref name=MusicMight />

In 2007, Italian power metallers Labyrinth, while touring Japan, hosted Contini onstage for a rendition of Bulldozer's classics. The crowd's ecstatic appreciation of the songs sparked the first thoughts of reunion. As of 2008, according to statements from both Alberto Contini and Andy Panigada, Bulldozer had reunited.<ref name=MetalCracker>[https://web.archive.org/web/20081229132459/http://metalcracker.com/bulldozer-re-unite-and-i-am-the-happiest-man-on-earth.html ''Italian thrash giants BULLDOZER reunite''], MetalCracker, accessed on 2 May 2013.</ref> Contini announced that they would start to work on a new album in August 2008.<ref name=MetalCracker /> The album, titled ''Unexpected Fate'', was released on 11 June 2009 and features Death Mechanism drummer Manu as Bulldozer's third member.

The band is scheduled to perform at the Hell's Heroes music festival in Houston in March 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-03 |title=BATHORY Tribute, LOUDNESS, VOIVOD, ENSLAVED & More Booked For Hell's Heroes 2026 |url=https://metalinjection.net/tour-dates/bathory-tribute-loudness-voivod-enslaved-more-booked-for-hells-heroes-2026 |access-date=2026-02-25 |website=Metal Injection |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Musical style == Bulldozer plays thrash/speed metal in the style of Motörhead, Venom, and Tank,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.deafsparrow.com/Bulldozer_Feature.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071210064100/http://www.deafsparrow.com/Bulldozer_Feature.htm | archive-date=10 December 2007 | title=Bulldozer - the Story of the Italian Thrash Metal Heroes - Deaf Sparrow Zine }}</ref> initially combined with satanic and occult themes. However, A.C. Wild is not a Satanist, and has stated that his lyrics were merely based on personal experiences.<ref name=":0">{{cite web | url=http://www.voicesfromthedarkside.de/Interviews/BULLDOZER--6853.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130819013753/http://www.voicesfromthedarkside.de/Interviews/BULLDOZER--6853.html | archive-date=19 August 2013 | title=BULLDOZER - www.voicesfromthedarkside.de }}</ref><ref name=":1">''Bulldozer''. ''"They came into this world with hatred … and with hatred they will depart!"'' In: ''Tales of the Macabre, No. 5''.</ref> Starting with their second album, keyboards were introduced into Bulldozer's music, primarily to create a dark atmosphere. On the album ''IX'', the band's original themes were replaced with pornographic lyrics. At that time, the porn industry in Italy was at its peak, led by adult film actress Ilona Staller, whom Bulldozer wrote a song about.<ref name=":0" /> Later releases featured the typical party themes and social criticism of that era. On ''Neurodeliri'', the band experimented with samples, symphonic elements, and triggered drums after being dropped by Roadrunner Records and losing hope of achieving further success.<ref>Frank Albrecht: ''Ilona lässt es krachen''. In: ''Rock Hard'', No. 267, August 2009, p. 52 (in German).</ref> The commercial press ignored or mocked the band, with magazines like ''Kerrang!'' and ''Metal Hammer'' giving them zero-star reviews, something A.C. Wild has said he is proud of.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> The band's earnings only covered the production costs.<ref name=":1" />

''IX'' caused controversy due to its lyrics, but according to A.C. Wild, they were filled with irony that only a few understood.<ref name=":1" /> The band did not provoke just for fun but rather to make people think.<ref name=":0" /> In the underground scene, Bulldozer was praised for never softening their sound like other thrash metal bands and always maintaining a raw style with a morbid atmosphere.<ref name=":1" /> Their uncompromising approach later influenced the second wave of black metal; some elements of Graveland's music, for example, resemble the title track from ''Neurodeliri''.<ref name=":1" />

On the 1992 EP ''Dance Got Sick'', produced by a rapper, the band played a mix of metal, rap, and techno, which, according to A.C. Wild, influenced the Japanese techno scene for two years.<ref name=":1" />

In 2000, a Bulldozer tribute album titled ''The Bulldozer Armageddon – Volume 1'' featured covers by Sabbat (Japan) and Imperial (France), followed by a second volume in 2001 with Abigail (Japan) and Decayed (Portugal). Fenriz of Darkthrone included Bulldozer's song "Whiskey Time" on his 2004 compilation ''Fenriz Presents... The Best of Old-School Black Metal''.

== Band members ==

=== Current lineup === * Alberto "A.C. Wild" Contini – vocals (1983–1990, 2008–present), bass (1984–1990, studio 2008–2011) * Andy Panigada – guitars (1980–1981, 1983–1990, 2008–present) * Emanuele "Manu" Collato – drums (2008–present) * Ghiulz Borroni – guitars (2009–present) * Giovanni "G.C." Contini – keyboard (2009–present) * Alessandro Pozza – bass (2011–present)

=== Former members === * Don Andras – drums (1984–1987) * Dario Carria – vocals (1980–1981), bass (1980–1981, 1983–1984) (died 1988) * Erminio Galli – drums (1980–1981, 1983–1984) * Rob K. Cabrini – drums (1987–1990)

=== Timeline === {{#tag:timeline| ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:18 PlotArea = left:110 bottom:80 top:0 right:10 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1980 till:{{#time:m/d/Y}} TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy

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== Discography ==

=== Main albums === * ''The Day of Wrath'' (1985, Roadrunner Records) * ''The Final Separation'' (1986, Roadrunner) * ''IX'' (1987, Discomagic Records) * ''Neurodeliri'' (1988, Metal Master Records) * ''Alive... in Poland'' (live, 1990, Metal Master) * ''Unexpected Fate'' (2009, Scarlet Records) * ''The Neurospirit Lives...'' (2012, Scarlet) * ''The Exorcism'' (2014, Foad Records, re-recording of the 1984 original demo)

=== EPs === * ''Dance Got Sick!'' (EP, 1992, Build Records)

=== Compilations === * ''1983–1990: The Years of Wrath'' (1999, Sound Cave Records) * ''Regenerated in the Grave'' (box set, 2006, Metal Mind Productions)

== References == {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{Commons category-inline|Bulldozer (band)|Bulldozer}} *{{allmusic}}

{{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Bulldozer}} Category:Italian black metal musical groups Category:Italian thrash metal musical groups Category:Speed metal musical groups Category:Musical groups established in 1980 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1990 Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2008 Category:Italian musical trios Category:Musical groups from Milan Category:Metal Mind Productions artists Category:Roadrunner Records artists