Thunderstone – Apocalypse Again

[schema type=”review” name=”Thunderstone – Apocalypse Again” description=”Label: AFM Records” author=”Juho Karila” pubdate=”2016-04-01″ ]

Thunderstone is a power metal band from Helsinki, Finland. The band was formed in 2000 by guitarist Nino Laurenne, and the line-up became full the following year. This is their brand new album “Apocalypse Again”

Like many would expect to hear when a band like Thunderstone announces of a new album with an iconic singer like Pasi Rantanen returning, the opening track “Veterans of Apocalypse” confirms that this was worth the wait. The track doesn’t really have anything new to offer with a unison guitar-synth intro, double bass hammering verse and precise guitar shredding it really sums up everything Thunderstone, and power metal are all about without even trying to be groundbreaking; yet it sounds fresh.

The second one, “The Path” takes a step back in terms of tempo and mood, making the song quite catchy and pop-ish yet distinguishly Thunderstone with intresting arrangements and nyances to show off the band’s expertise in serving more frail side of the band. Feeling like a mid-tempo, radio-friendly hit, it keeps up the interest to last more plays, from the beginning to the end.

Offering more versatility in style, and proving that the power metallers from Helsinki are capable of perfecting in everything they do, “Fire and Ice” sounds more modern than the previous ones, by kicking off with a fast synth-led intro before descending to a calm verse before the chorus makes your head bang like a lightning out of clear blue skies.

The same pattern seems to be revolving throughout the album, subtle nods to the 90’s, synth-driven melodies and frail choruses makes “Apocalypse Again” sound more mature than their peers such as Stratovarius or Sonata Arctica by leaving an impression that this is an album the whole family could enjoy on a car ride to summer cottage.

Even if the songs like “Walk Away Free” crushes the listener with razor sharp guitar- and drumwork, the verse is slowed down to give time catching a breather before thunder rolls in again and makes you feel overwhelemd by the sudden change to a heavy guitar riffs and double bass rolling; all of this without sounding nothing but Thunderstone.

“Higher” is the sixth track on the album and probably the most progressive and weakest one. It borrows from rock giants like Deep Purple or Uriah Heep by using rock organ sound and consisting of many layers, all of which creates an individual feeling by using rapidly picked guitars under really stretched out vocals that reveals that this is the first slow song; without being a ballad. Unfortunately, this combination doesn’t work too well. The song sure has it’s moments but it feels too unnatural in comparasion to what Thunderstone does best.

Before the journey is through, “Days of Our Lives” shows us another pleasant surprise by being that heavier and slower epic song of the album that immerses you in a feeling that you’re going to get crushed under the gravity of the arrangements, yet you don’t want it to let you go because the piano and Pasi’s emotional singing balances the song perfectly.

Overall “Apocalypse Again” is a rock-solid, good comeback album, offering you everything you can expect from a power metal album. Yet it doesn’t really feel like a Thunderstone album, even if it sounds like them; at least musically.
The sound turns out to be the weakest point, overly-refined, plastic and thin, forcing the listener to take a while getting used to the lighter feel and getting a grip on what is going on beneath each layer of instruments.

Line up:
Pasi Rantanen – Vocals
Nino Laurenne – Guitar
Titus Hjelm – Bass
Jukka Karinen – Keyboards
Atte Palokangas – Drums

Tracklist: 01. Veterans Of The Apocalypse 02. The Path 03. Fire And Ice 04. Through The Pain 05. Walk Away Free 06. Higher 07. Wounds 08. Days Of Our Lives 09. Barren Land

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