THUNDERSTONE - Apocalypse Again
May 11, 2016, 8 years ago
(AFM)
A Finnish band with hotshot guitarist and plenty of keyboards, how unique! Actually, this is something of a second bite at the apple for Thunderstone, reuniting with original vocalist Pasi Rantanen , who most feel was always their best. Although inhabiting the clean vocal realm, leaning towards power metal (“Wounds”), they've somehow managed to avoid sounding like any of the big Suomi names: certainly not Nightwish, C.O.B. Amorphis, Stratovarius nor Hanoi Rocks. For that alone they deserve an Emma (equivalent of Grammy, back home)!
There's an almost vintage British hard rock sensibility to Thunderstone, especially mid-tempo numbers like “Through The Pain” and Hammond organ infused “Higher”, which features a multi-voice, dual sex choir. Said ensemble also sings the titular chorus on the “Veterans Of The Apocalypse” opener. Led by a burst of spiraling keys, “Walk Away Free” quickly retreats to a safer pace, while the proggy, piano laden 7:47 closer, “Barren Land” has a lengthy instrumental passage spoken voiceover mid-section. Welcome back guys.
