Thunder are a band that that have been around since ’89. Born out of the ashes of Terraplane, they are a band I haven’t totally got to grips with. They can write some of the best rock tunes out there, but they’ve never released a killer record from beginning to end. I am amazed they never cracked America, their music is tailor-made for that market. Anyhoo, let’s dive in to their thirteenth album.

Just to prove my point, they lead off with Last One Out Turns Out The Lights, a monumental monster of a tune. Superb hook and chorus that will have you singing it for days. Absolute killer track and I’m loving the horns. They follow that with Destruction, a very heavy blues, really slow, and dirty. Great vocal from Danny and the ladies singing bv’s are superb. Sticking to that blues vibe with the acoustic driven Smoking Gun. This is all about Danny’s vocals, which are just superb. Not a bad side of tunes that’s for sure.

Going To Sin City has a huge AC/DC vibe to it, mainly due to the riff and the guitars. Whether that’s intentional or not, you’ll have to make up your own mind. A pounding bass and kick drum announce the arrival of Don’t Forget To Live Before You Die, it has a big Zeppelin vibe in places for sure, especially the big guitar riffs. I’ll Be The One feels a bit like a Bond movie theme tune. Again, a killer vocal from Danny and a superb solo from Mr. Morley. I love the main opening riff to Young Man, a big southern rock feel to this one with a just hint of T.Rex.

Here it is folks, the Faces-style tune that they put on every album. I guess they have a love of that barroom rock n’ roll. It seems that this album is quite nostalgic and patriotic, and sees them harking back to better times. St. George’s Day is all about that, with the undertone of Britain falling apart. Who says hard rock bands don’t have a social conscience? Force Of Nature starts with an acoustic riff that is very familiar indeed. It really comes alive when the power is turned on. Great tune! The album closes out with Millionairess, a tune that feels as though it was born in Muscle Shoals. A very cool Deep South groove.

I think this is one of Thunder’s best efforts, but doesn’t quite make the 10.

9/10 from The Grooveman.