REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: tnt (Page 1 of 2)

TNT – Realized Fantasies

This is somewhat a forgotten album in TNT’s catalogue. It came out three years after Intuition, which they had great success with in the US. However, in those three years between ’89-92 the great grunge unpleasantness had exploded and taken over the rock scene, making classy rock bands like TNT surplus to requirements.

I’m a huge fan of Ronnie Le Tekro on the guitar and Tony Harnell possesses one of the best voices in rock, so these guys tick all the boxes for me when they all click together. I actually prefer this record to Intuition as they reeled in the more AOR elements and added more crunch to the melody.

Downhill Racer opens up the album and it’s a an absolute belter of a tune. Killer riff and groove, and Harnell gives it the beans. Hard To Say Goodbye follows and again, the quality is high. Melodic rock heaven for sure. Mother Warned Me is a straight up and down four to the floor groover with a hook and chorus that sticks in your brain. Lionheart is a trip to ballad town and you may know if you have read a few of these reviews that the ballad is not my favourite type of tune, although the solo in this is quite cool. Rain closes out Side 1 and this song could have been on Intuition as the vibe and sound are so similar.

My favourite tune on the album is Purple Mountains Majesty. Harnell sings this one on full power. Mix that with a great riff, ripping guitar, and driving groove; it’s a total beast of a song. Rock ‘N Roll Away is what I call a typical TNT song. It has all their signature elements: Ronni’s trademark tone and riffing, and Harnell doing only what he can do. Easy Street is the band taking a left turn slightly to doing an almost vaudeville song. All You Need sees the band going full groove with the funky riff and beat. We close out the album with Indian Summer, a killer uptempo groover.

This has just been reissued by Music On Vinyl and sounds great, so if you see one around, pick one up.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

TNT – X111

I find TNT the most strange band. They had huge success with the Tony Harnell line up, the melodic rock vibe, and the darker metal overtones. Then, there was the Tony Mills period, which I really loved because Tony was a perfect match, but sadly Tony passed on. Then, there is the line up that recorded this album ,which was released in 2018 and is the only album to have Baol Bulsara on vocals, because we all know now that Harnell has returned again for the 4,000,000th time (slight exaggeration).

I have to say this feels more like a Ronni Le Tekro solo project, much akin to a Vagabond release than a TNT album as the music does tender to wander. Now, that’s not a bad thing as I find this to be a very interesting and cool record with some great arrangements and melodies. A perfect example of this is Its Electric. A brilliant song with a quirky riff and groove, but with a hook and chorus to die for. I’m sure Ronnie is a big Brian May fan as the main sound of the intro to Where You Belong is pure Queen, and that’s not the first album he has done that.

My favourite track is the hectic People Come Together with its monster intro riff and groove that really swings along. 17th Of May is just awesome, that killer dirty riff and vocal line is sooo cool and you could pick this also as a favourite tune. It’s tunes like this with that quirky vibe that no else does that makes me love this band so much. Of course, if it’s meat and potatoes melodic sing alongs like on Intuition, then Tears In My Eyes should make you more than happy.

Ronni is a rare talent and there are not many of his kind around. Long may TNT make records.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

TNT – Tell No Tales

There were three years between the release of the amazing Knights Of The New Thunder and Tell No Tales and in the 80’s, unless you were Def Leppard, that was suicide. Those three years enabled the band to take stock and change their sound slightly to a more melodic rock sound, which suited Tony Harnell’s more.

The riffs are still there though, as opener Everyone’s A Star is carried by an epic riff and groove, with Harnell adding that killer voice. 10,000 Lovers is next up and was released as a single. This song is all about the melody and harmonies but Ronnie Le Tekro still has time to put in a ripping solo. As Far As The Eye Can See carries on with the quality; another epic hook and chorus, and those trouser tightening high notes. Ronnie is such an original player, his tone and feel is incredible. Sapphire is an instrumental piece which starts with a very classical keyboard before some serious over the top fast guitar licks ensue. It’s hands and lighters in the air time with the ballad Child’s Play next. Side 1 closes out with another instrumental piece in Smooth Syncopation, and it’s Ronnie noodling on an acoustic.

Listen To Your Heart kicks things off in Side 2, and it sounds like a beefed up Styx song, especially in the hook and chorus. Desperate Night is straight up riff heavy 4-4 rocker. Northern Lights is another ballad highlighting Harnel’s voice, and is lifted somewhat by a great solo. Another weird instrumental piece in Incipits follows before the album close out with my favorite and title track, Tell No Tales. This is a throwback to the Knights album as this is full of fast speedy metallic goodness. A ripping riff and solo from Ronnie and what a killer vocal from Tony. A monster of an album.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

TNT – Knights Of The Thunder

I remember buying this when it was released and being absolutely blown away. The guitar playing of Ronnie Le Tekro alone was killer, but couple that with the incredible vocal range of Tony Harnell and TNT were a gift from the gods. This was actually the second release by the band – the first being a Norway only release. This album is way more metal than what they became famous for, with the slick sounding albums Tell No Tales and Intuition.

Right from the needle drop this album smokes. The Opening track, Seven Seas, has a killer riff and superb vocal harmonies. Ready To Leave is even better with a monster riff, driving groove, and killer guitar, and Harnell is singing as though is life is on the line. A classical acoustic interlude follows, before the epic Last Summer’s Evil dives in with a great choppy riff. Harnell’s vocal range is really taking off – reaching notes that you can only dream of. A sign to the future is up next with Without Your Love – a very slick sounding ballad.

Over to Side 2 we go with Break The Ice, which is a straight up stomper to shake the cobwebs off. The next two tracks were on the first album but have been re-done. Eddie is another slow ballad-esque tune until the big chorus and the killer solo. Then USA with Harnell rewriting the lyrics in English, and its another straight up rocker. The last two tracks, Deadly Meta, and Knights Of The Thunder are worthy of you dipping your hand in your pocket to purchase this album alone.

This is superb early eighties metal with awesome riffs, monster guitar playing, and unreal vocals. I like this version of TNT the best. Of course, the band are still going today and if you can grab a copy of the My Religion album on CD then do so – it’s a monster!

9/10 from The Grooveman.

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