by Joe Mis
– Senior Columnist —
Veteran British hard-rockers Thunder have released their 10th studio album after a six year hiatus – and Wonder Days is indeed a wonder, proving that this decades old band hasn’t lost a step. A gritty yet reflective album, Wonder Days is a trip down memory lane for both fans of classic rock and those who grew up in the 70s. Reminiscing about the past and their inspirations, Thunder’s latest release is both lyrically and musically mature – blending Hard Rock elements with Blues and a touch of Soul, while recorded with a modern touch.
Thunder fans will immediately feel at home since the band’s lineup is for the most part intact. Danny Bowes fronts the band, and still carries all the grit and fire that was his trademark. Guitarist Luke Morley demonstrates his versatility through big hooks, complex melodies, and intricate solos. Morley stretches a bit as he also deftly handles the rhythm guitars and keyboards normally provided by Ben Matthews (who is recovering from an extended illness). The irrepressible Harry James returns on drums and Chris Childs is back on bass, dealing out the kick-ass rhythms that are the heartbeat of Thunder’s music. Morley also produced the album working with veterans Nick Brine, and Mike Fraser.
“Wonder Days” kicks off the album on a Bad Company/Led Zeppelin note – a heavy-ish yet upbeat Blues rocker with great lyrics and solid riffs. “The Thing I Want” is filled with incurably upbeat riffs and solid backing vocals. James and Morley really gets to shine on this track. “The Rain” is a cool, bluesy slow rocker with expressive acoustic guitars and superb vocals. The lyrics are very well done – painting a vivid picture. Guitars, drums, and bass are all played to perfections on the darker “Black Water” – its tough to pick the driving force here as everything just clicks. Hard and heavy is back for “The Prophet,” a creepy, almost Stephen King-inspired track with obvious ’70s guitar rock influences and an amazing lead break.
“Resurrection Day” has a strong Def Leppard vibe, and “hit single” is written all over it. Bowes’ vocals are at their best here, and the smooth, lively guitars and bass makes this tune a fine example of Thunder at their best. The band appears to channel old UFO throughout “Chasing Shadows” – just the right amount of strut without going over the top. “Broken” is the obligatory keyboard-centric ballad, but the blues-influenced sound makes it a pleasure rather than a stereotype. A smokey grove backed up by superb drumming and hot guitar fills make “When The Music Played” a true tribute to all the rockers that have come before… “Serpentine” is a steamy Southern rocker dripping with wet Bayou moss and Blues-dripping strings. The album wraps with some high energy party rock – “I Love The Weekend.”
Wonder Days is a truly fine effort by a veteran act. Thunder has managed to avoid the rut that many older bands fall into by creating new music rather than releasing tired “Best Of…’s” or live recordings. Despite releasing new material they haven’t changed their basic style – so they’ll keep their fan base happy, while at the same time there are enough modern touches to bring in new fans.
With strong engineering resulting is a warm and homey sound, the songs of Wonder Days are sure to please even the most jaded hard rock fan. Thunder has earned a spot in pantheon of great British rock bands, and Wonder Days can be nothing but highly recommended!
Genre: Hard Rock
Band:
Danny Bowes (vocals)
Luke Morley (guitars, keyboards)
Harry James (drums)
Chris Childs (bass)
Track Listing:
1. Wonder Days
2. The Thing I Want
3. The Rain
4. Black Water
5. The Prophet
6. Resurrection Day
7. Chasing Shadows
8. Broken
9. When The Music Played
10. Serpentine
11. I Love The Weekend
Label: earMUSIC
Website: http://www.thunderonline.com/www/
Hardrock Haven rating: 9 / 10
