Dangerdog Music Reviews :: © 1999 - 2024 Craig S Hartranft :: All Rights Reserved
No part of this this website, including design and music reviews,
may be reproduced in any form or by any means without
the prior written permission of the publisher.
- New Music Reviews
- |
- Archives
- |
- News
- |
- Submissions
- |
- About
- |
- |
New Music Reviews, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Progressive Rock, Progressive Metal, AOR, Alternative Rock, Alternative Metal
Recent Reviews
November 2024
- Voodoo Circle: Hail To The King
- Lionville: Supernatural
- Starchaser: Into The Great Unkown
- Empires Of Eden: Guardians Of Time
- Lonerider: Down In The Dust
- Seventh Crystal: Entity
- Neal Morse & The Resonance: No Hill For A Climber
- Beardfish: Songs For Beating Hearts
- Impellitteri: War Machine
- Brothers Of Metal: Fimbulvinter
October 2024
- Casandra's Crossing: Garden Of Earthly Delights
- DGM: Endless
- Daytona: Garder la Flamme
- Fate: Reconnect 'N Ignite
- Frost*: Life In The Wires
- Aries Descendant: From The Ashes Of Deceit
- Fans Of The Dark: Video
- Radioactive: Reset
- House Of Lords: Full Tilt Overdrive
- Cleanbreak: We Are The Fire
September 2024
- Sinner's Blood: Dark Horizons
- Serious Black: Rise Of Akhenaton
- Eclipse: Megalomanium II
- SteelCity: Reverence
- Hydra: ReHydrated
- Heartwind: III
- Gabrielle De Val and the Dragonlords: Tiger
- Find Me: Nightbound
- The Nail: The Nail
- Timeless Fairytale: A Story To Tell
- Stryper: When We Were Kings
- Phil Mogg: Moggs Motel
- Pure Reason Revolution: Coming Up To Consciousness
- Jordan Rudess: Permission To Fly
August 2024
- Siege Perilous: Creation's Call EP
- Paralydium: Universe Calls
- Mike Tramp: Songs Of White Lion Vol. II
- Bite The Bullet: Looking For Paradise
- All For Metal: Gods Of Metal (Year Of The Dragon)
- Hammerfall: Avenge The Fallen
- Jim Peterik & World Stage: Roots & Shoots Vol. 2
Thunderstone: Apocalypse Again
Thunderstone: Apocalypse Again
(Melodic) Heavy/Power Metal
4.0/5.0
Website
Facebook
Twitter
AFM Records
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 06.04.2016
It's been sometime since we've heard from Finland's Thunderstone, better than six years. So where have they been? On somewhat of a hiatus after touring for 2009's Dirt Metal. But now they return with their sixth album, Apocalypse Again, reuniting them with original vocalist Pasi Rantanen.
Thunderstone: back in black.
As with many bands with an established history and discography, Thunderstone returns to their melodic heavy/power metal with Pantanen's signature raspy metal vocals. Some simple observations can be made of this album. First, there's the abundance of sharp heavy riffage, enough crushing chords, yet with twin guitar harmony to satisfy your heavy metal thunder. In this sense, Apocalypse Again is strongly guitar-oriented. Blistering solos abound. Yet, that's not enough. Second, you'll notice an adequate keyboard presence. You'll find it leading some songs like Walk Away Free, at least before being conquered by the riffage. You'll also find the synths doing some tag team soloing with the lead guitar as within Veterans Of The Apocalypse or Higher. Or is it, both solos could pass for guitar synths. My hearing in this case isn't that discerning.
Third, with little doubt you can escape the bullet train hauling freight cars piled with stone rumbling speed. Wounds is especially vicious in both riffs and tempo. Yet, amidst all this there's another interesting side to Thunderstone's latest. That's the very catchy rock groove, melody, and vocal harmonies found in several songs including the trio of The Path and Through The Pain, the catchy refrain of the latter is undeniable.
Concluding, Apocalypse Again is a fine return form and previous heavy metal glory for Thunderstone. If you like your power metal guitar-oriented, with sharper, heavier, riffs and solos, yet still tempered by melody, harmony, and appointed keyboards, you will like this album.
Thunderstone - Veterans of the Apocalypse
Share This Review with Your Friends
Tweet
Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.
In Short
Apocalypse Again is a fine return form and previous heavy metal glory for Thunderstone. If you like your power metal guitar-oriented, with sharper, heavier, riffs and solos, yet still tempered by melody, harmony, and appointed keyboards, you will like this album.
Find A Review
Alphabetical Index
New & Notable
eviewing my archives, I was pleased to find that I have had the privilege to review every Lionville since their self-titled debut in 2011. Formed by Stefano Lionetti, a songwriter, singer and guitarist based in ... [ Read More ]