THUNDER-"All the right noises"

British rockers THUNDER are proving once more that they are aging like good wine. The more mature, the closer to perfection. From the opener "Last one to turn off the lights' a stormy rocker, to the more bluesy "Destruction",to the countrified  "The smoking gun '' their trademark melodies are all over the place. Great guitars  (Morley/Matthews-trustworthy twins, whiskey soaked vocals with the fine voice of ageless Danny Bowes and the album goes on like this. From BAD COMPANY to THUNDER,that's the real blood line, as THUNDER are now among the pillars of the British Hard rock with blues roots and they re stretching the genre adding melody, courting AOR on their own unique way. 

 

Their homage to AC DC comes in the form of "Going to the Sin city", although horns add an extra mile to their effort. But THUNDER are musicians of their age and listen to the beat of the world as they write songs like "Dont forget to live before you die" where AC DC meets Brit rock. Melodic, blues infused hard rock, is the name of the game and THUNDER are the masters of it. Even if they sometimes slow down a bit to relax and enjoy. Bit more Stones at "You re gonna be my girl" and the rock n roll feeling is alive and burning. burning the end of the album, THUNDER make some genuine rock n roll noise and 'Shes a Millionairess" closes in the best way a hard rocking album that knows when to let the tempo slow down and a band that enjoys rock n roll a lot more in their mature days, aiming more for the heart and less for the brains.

8

VOLBEAT- "Servant of mind"

 

When METALLICA met rockabilly, VOLBEAT were born and they haven't stopped to surprise us and aim for world domination. Their new album is another compilation of rock a billy y metal dance songs like "Wait a minute my girl", songs to let you get your worries behind you. But on the other hand their metal origins are far more than obvious, they cry out their heritage in songs like "The sacred stones" a BLACK SABBATH infused song "Tony Martin " era with a touch of Eastern influences as we learned to approve them in our music by RAINBOW. "Shotgun blues" is a reminder to METALLICA, that losing your cell phone with the backup riffs is a bad idea, cause someone else, VOLBEAT in our case may find it and use it properly. Razor sharp riffs over a tight rhythm section at a song that will be a ive favorite, when we will return to the real concerts."The devil rages on" comes close to the best of the dark Elvis, but it is VOLBEAT till the last rock n roll growl."

 

 

Say no more" is another example of how heavy metal maybe trivial and yet pleasurable, reminiscent of the glory days of 'Ride the lightning" with the usual rock n roll cover attributes. "Dagen For" is a great chance to promote Denmark's own new artists and have Stine Bramsen sing a great pop oriented song that has a THIN LIZZY vibe and some ear catching melodies. But metal is their business and VOLBEAT are good at their work as "The passenger" proves, metal without losing its originality and its FM approach. Dark metal psychobilly  with country shades at "Step into light". "Becoming" is a return to the metal normality with the VOLBEAT melodic chorus adding the extra strength and some oriental melodic lines on guitars making the song a bit more exotic."Mindlock"  goes on the same  pace, melodic VOLBEAT metal with riffs that could demolish a ten store building in seconds. "Lasse's Birgitta" just adds more pain to their slow growing riff o rama, entering the thrash metal zone , heading for the mosh pit with no hesitation,eager for fist fight and spit."

 

 

If you re a fan of the band get yourself the deluxe edition. Listening to their cover of  Domino"(CRAMPS/Roy Orbinson)  ends the album in a true rockabilly metal way, like a real honky tonk joint having METALLICA clones as their house band, covering CRAMPS . Whatever is your choice, VOLBEAT again released the metal rockabilly album of the year.

 

8

 

WOLFMOTHER- "Rock out"

 

 

Aussies are having fun. Andrew Stockdale and co  (?) return with a new album and are high on music. From the opener "Fallin out" with Jack Whites/WHITE STRIPE ghost all over the song, especially the manic , distorted riff and the vibe, to the im a cover but won't admit it "Rock out" that could be easily "Detroit rock city" by KISS, disguised as the main riff is accidental the same, WOLFMOTHER are diving deep in the blues/alternative songbook of the 90s and return with some shining diamonds. , "Upload' is a modern rock anthem with some 80s LA dirt all over it.''Humble" is his BLACK SABBATH/LED ZEPPELIN tribute and it suitsf ine the retro rock sound of the album with its groove and its guitars making the difference in every bridge, making Tony Iommi proud for his legacy. "Only way" is the "modern" approach with its electro intro, kinda like MUSE decided to leave the glamorous roles and get down to basics.

 

 

 

On "Metal and fire' he pays a successful homage to his heavy metal roots, at least those he still remembers could be BOC, could be JUDAS PRIEST or even PRAYING MANTIS and early BLACK SABBATH but with the NOWBHM feeling all over the riffage of the song."Outside" could be on any DUBROVNIKS album and is the best song Iggy Pop still haven't composed. "Mantle" is heavy metal, 80s infused and really stripped to the basics with the Ozzy impersonation, dominating his voice in the best possible way."Ego" goes also  the BLACK SABBATH territory with some excellent 70s soloing, a treat for the ears, with some HAWKWIND shades all over the song."Walking" comes as the suiting closer, a groovy , guitar driven anthem from the glorious alternative 90s. 

 

In conclusion, Andrew Stockdale of WOLFMOTHER as he likes to call himself these days, is exactly what he says, an old school dreamer, who knows to bring the best of the 70sand 90s to present without using any kind of time capsule, just his guitar and his voice.

 

8,5

 

 The Lucid Furs- "Damn!That was easy"

 

Groovy, retro rock where female and male lead vocals combine and change lines at the funky opener "Right on my level" gives you the idea what to expect. Here we dont have another Zep clone. On the contrary Santana, MOUNTAIN, FUNCADELIC, JEFFERSON AIRPLANE,HEART are all here jamming over a loose groove with persistence, patience and the will to tear the joint apart with the sheer power of their music.  "Five finger Disco" is the second in line barnstormer, where rockers meet the groove in some 70s underground NY Disco club, embracing themselves in a rhythm dance that lasts for ever until the guitar make the rock origins visible and audible. Detroit's Lucid Furs come third time and the charm is here. Chicago blues at "Lying again" and the voice of lead singer Karen O Connor lays her heart over a jazzy guitar riff. A bit soul, a bit blues but most and above all soulful defines the bands style as retro but not retro rock in the narrow way,revivalists did the last 15 years. 

 

 

Far more open to influences, they incorporate everything from Amy Winehouse to PORTISHEAD to Chess records artists and the result vindicates them."Pull the string" finds them going for a more big fat sound, Led Zep along Deep Purple let their spirit interfere with the song.The groove is back at "Conscience" reminding of the great BIG CHIEF,with bass rolling all over the song.  Hard hitting, guitar driven and rock at "Another page" with Blackmore's soloing meets Led Zep groove over some great female vocals, with a touch of early HEART."Straight to my head" follows the road, with Zep becoming more obvious along some Eastern influences and  rhythm section partying. "Follow me" keeps the 70s,psychedelia trip going on with speed increasing.  Closer "One time investment" with its acoustic overtones and O Connor in a trippy performance comes straight outta JEFFERSON AIRPLANE songbook spiced up with LSD, or whatever acid you might like and its a proper closer, for an album as retro,as contemporary.

 

7,5         

Song of the week Wham! - Last Christmas (ROCK COVER by Sershen&Zaritskaya)

Song of the week

Wham! - Last Christmas (ROCK COVER by Sershen&Zaritskaya)

 

Kent Hill-'The rumble"

Good melodic, hard rock is a joy for the ears and when such a magnificent voice such as Kent Hill (PERFECT PLAN,GIANT) decides to make a solo album, (his first one) it is a double pleasure to listen more from him. You won't find anything more or less, than a singer who moves between Steve Perry and David Coverdale with a deep, melodic ,high pitching when needed voice in some more than adequate melodic rock songs. 

 

Although Frontiers has major issues with the plastic sound of the last decade, as a result of using the same people to compose, record,produce, in cases like Hill, his voice takes the reins and leads the songs most of the time above the average. An album of melodic rock in the vein of WHITESNAKE, HOUSE OF LORDS, SHOUT, TREAT, EUROPE that you won't regret listening to. An album perfect to drive, dance, laugh and enjoy music listening to.

 

8

 PEARLz-"Feel fine"

Female fronted German quartet with a modern hard rock sound that owns a lot to the LA scene and also to bands like GUANO APES with their new metal riff o rama. Straight in your face, dirty, down to earth, no bullshit heavy rock anthems with screaming guitars and great vocal delivery from Sandy. The songs are tight, aggressive with enough melody to keep them at the hard rock territory but with enough swagger and edge to make them contemporary. The more commercial side is equally attractive as you can find out on your own at the popish ,melodic "Empty cask" with the CRANBERRIES influences all over the song, but only influences.

 

 

Stand out tracks "Crystalline soul", "While we 're dynamite" where the band exceeds the expectations and combine catchy choruses with heavy riffs. I have also to mention , a stripped down metallic version of "Layla" that is anxious and full of aggressiveness making the original sounding like a nursery school lullaby. A debut that promises a lot.

6,5