In 1990
Thunder released their debut album "Backstreet Symphony". 16 years later the band still makes high quality records - the latest effort titled "Robert Johnson's Tombstone"
After releasing "Giving the Game Away"
Thunder split up for 2 years, but re-united when they were offered the special guest spot at 2002's UK "Monsters of Rock" Tour. In March 2003 the band also released "Shooting at the Sun", the album ranks among the best records ever made within the last 5 years. "Robert Johnson's Tombstone" is the third album after the reunion and once again
Thunder fires off riffs, makes soaring melodies with a unique passion within the boundaries of their music founded on 70's English blues based bands. Danny Bowes has one of the best rock voices and always puts heart and soul in his singing. Luke Morley is once again responsible for most of the material and he re-invented himself again, since the new album also sees
Thunder trying a couple of new things.
Track by track review:
The title track is the first single - which is kinda odd, since the song doesn't have a chorus. The songs is composed of many bits of music and almost progressive. please intrepid the word "progressive" very light - c'mon it's
Thunder.
Dirty Dream is a straight ahead 3 chord song - a classic song in the vein of
Fire to Ice,
Dirty Love and
Shooting at the sun. The piece that leads to the solo is amazing. Luke Morley plays a classic Rock 'n' Roll riff and Danny once again proves to have one of the best voices in rock.
Just like building a house brick by brick -
A Million Faces slowly builds up and adds layers as the song progresses. It starts off acoustic, adds organ and finally electric guitar.
Thunder has always been among the best writers of power ballads.
Album
Don't Wanna Talk About Love is a in-your-face rock song with a cheerful up beat chorus. The song is album highlight and might end up as song of the year. Danny Bowes voice is soulful, the riffs from Ben Matthews and Luke Morley are massive and I have a weakness for the great backing vocals on the chorus. This is melodic Hard Rock when it is best.
The Devil Made Me Do It is an upbeat rocker - no beating around the bush just ROCK!
Last Man Standing is a return to the style on "Laughing on Judgement Day". It's a great track driven by a riff alike Led Zeppelin's
Kashmir. There are several guitars on the track and the song changes mode for the amazing chorus, which keeps dragging you back to this song. Superb.
Wow. Even though "Robert Johnson's Tombstone" is studio album no. 8
Thunder still got some new stuff up their sleeve.
My Hour of Darkness is a stripped down ballad only with an acoustic guitar and cello. Danny Bowes voice is so emotional and the lyrics are heartfelt - a simple but yet very effective song. Please pay attention to the lyrics - fantastic
Another incredible chorus makes
Andy Warhol Said another highlight of the album. The lyrics deals with all the reality TV shows and Andy Warhol was the guys who said we all get "15 minutes of fame"
What a Beautiful Day puts a smile on your face. Like the title indicates this is happy Hard Rock.
It's All About You is the third top ballad on the disc. It has a great arrangement with piano - once again the crunchy guitars make the chorus rocky. Luke Morley's selection of tones is superb and he plays an emotional solo that fits the song perfectly.
Several songs on the album deal with love and Luke Morley sure knows how to write heartfelt lyrics about regrets and love gone wrong. On
Stubborn Kinda Love he twists the topic into a joyful rock song.
All in all - this is a brilliant and cohesive album, so buy this CD before your neighbour. Highly recommended!
Written by
Michael Tuesday, November 7, 2006
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