THUNDERMOTHER
"Black & Gold" (AFM Records; 2022)
Reviewed by Snidermann
Once again I am blown away by two things: female metal rock bands and bands from Sweden. Well, Thundermother checks both boxes. This all-female rock band delivers a metal performance that hit me like a ton of bricks. Thundermother cut their first recording in 2014 and you know I will be reviewing the earlier stuff as soon as I can.
The music on "Black & Gold" shows the range of the band, from light rock ballad to heavy and hard metal music and everything in between. I have listened to this recording three times now and I have yet to figure out what the hell is going on and, frankly, I like that feeling! It puts the guesswork back into my job and I wish there was more like this. Music should be a bit scary, a little unpredictable. And when you listen to the recording additional times, the more you get out of it. Well, my friends, that is what Thundermother is like. Strange, more than a little arbitrary and quite different. But still a kick in the pants!
That is what I would call Thundermother: Different and unpredictable. And that's just where I like my metal music.
For more information, check out https://www.thundermother.com/.
"Heat Wave" (AFM Records; 2020)
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
I had no idea what to expect when I started playing Thundermother's "Heat Wave" album. But I can sure tell you what I got: 12 tracks of vibrant rock'n'roll that's one of the most dynamic releases I've heard this year.
From "Loud and Alive," the very first track, "Heat Wave" sounds alive, like a rock'n'roll record should. It's loud. It's got monstrous guitars. It's got a vocalist who sings not only with talent and style but with a vivid personality that bursts its way through your speakers (or ear buds, or headphones, or whatever).
From that track on, the band plugs through a collection of rolling thunder that brings to mind AC/DC (both old and new) with their crushing guitars, spiraling riffs and booming rhythms. Of course, there are times when the band slows down, as on the ballad-y "Sleep," which kind of plays like a modern country-western track. "Purple Sky," more of a rocker, slows the pace for a moment as well but crescendos into something a little more heavy.
For the most part, "Heat Wave" keeps it lively and loud. My favorite tracks are the fiery "Free Ourselves," the rebellious "Into the Mud" and the title track, which features an infectious melody that grips you from the onset.
The bottom line is this: "Heat Wave" does what a great album should: Kick your ass and make you hungry for more. A quick Google search tells me there's at least three other Thundermother albums out there. Because I like "Heat Wave" so much, I'm going to hunt those down now! (Although I see that the line-up was recently totally re-vamped so ... well, we'll see).
Thundermother: Filippa Nässil - guitars; Guernica Mancini - vocals; Emlee Johansson - drums; Majsan Lindberg - bass.
For more information, check out https://www.thundermother.com/.
Rating Guide:
A classic. This record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.
Copyright © 2022 by R. Scott Bolton. All rights reserved.
