By: Anders

Posted: Jul 7, 2006

I was among the many that got blown away by this Norwegian band's debut album "Demons And Diamonds" which was released back in 2002. A powerful record showing all the best features of heavy and power metal, musicians who knew how to use their instruments and a powerful vocalist. The wait since then has been long, but the follow up is finally here, to take up the more than difficult task and offer an album as good or better than the debut.

"Demons And Diamonds" was the kind of record that just hits it off the first time one is listening to it, it is quite different with this new album from Thunderbolt. It requests quite some more time, before it allows the listener to kick back and enjoy the music. The sheer and aggressive and straight forward power that made the debut very approachable is gone from this album, as it's hidden in more intriguing and complex compositions. As the power still is in the songs, it is just not unleashed on first sight.

The band has become more technical, if that is for the worse or better, I can't really decide, as I love the straight ahead no-nonsense heavy and power metal, though the way Thunderbolt delivers their music on, on this disc is quite charming as well. The main riffs are good, and are delivered quite technical and are varied a lot, the many leads are wicked and supports the main riffs well. The bass is always rumbling in the background, either clean cut or processed into a bit of a spacey sound, one I don't like that much. The drumming is quite well played as well, again good and varied with some good breaks and fills. And then the style is changed a lot too, from straight ahead power drumming, to almost jazzy parts to more percussion-like moments.

Singer Tony Johansson has been working a lot on his singing abilities and he has for sure learned to control and use his voice better. Even though his raw vocals on the debut were very charming, his way on this new album is quite good too. He goes from soft to strong very easily, even though he uses his soft and melodic vocals more now, which is kind of a shame, as his powerful scream is very good and ripping.

The production of the album is top notch, it seems like the band has used a lot of time in the studio. All the instruments are getting really clear through the wall of sound and they all have a lot of space to play in. And they are all placed very well compared to each other in the overall mix, and the bass is even getting a bit too loud in the more Iron Maiden inspired tracks, just as Steve Harris' does, very complete.

I don't really know if I like this album, better than Thunderbolt's first, though I can't say it's worse. The band has become more technical and more complex song writers and they have incorporated more epic and grandiose moments, together with not as energetic and straight forward songs, even though there are a few of them on the album as well. Classic heavy metal with more elements from NWOBHM than sheer power nowadays, but still a strong and very lasting album, with better than good efforts from the musicians and the singer. Though have in mind that the album demands a good amount of spins, before it really shows what it has to offer.

Rating: 8/10

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