THUNDER
The Magnificent Seventh
Frontiers Records 2005
www.thunderonline.com

What’s the 4-1-1?
Want to guess which album this is for Thunder?

Genre
Hard rock / blues rock / melodic / AOR

The Good
“I Love You More Than Rock and Roll” is awash with an infectious riff and Bowes’ consummate rock vocals. The track starts off slow but another element is added with each new verse. “The Gods of Love” uses some cosmic sound effects to get things going, but that’s followed by some crunchy guitar riffs. The catchy chorus and high-powered vocals are sure to draw you in. “I’m Dreaming Again” is an emotionally powerful acoustic ballad. The musical background is a combination of single note picking and chords. The solo is just as moving.

“Amy’s on the Run” will have you scratching you head. At first I thought it was about a woman running away to a new life, but after a few listens I realized…she’s running away from being a woman! Yep, she’s a guy now. It’s such an anthemic song for having such a weird theme. Bowes’ tuneful and heartfelt lyrics take center stage on the acoustic/electric power ballad “Together or Apart”.

Three, count ‘em three 80s rock clichés appear on this release. All three are titled after a known idiom. Despite it’s silly title, “Monkey See, Monkey Do” had an impact on me. Maybe it was the hypnotic riff or gritty and soulful vocals that did the trick. I’m actually singing it in my head right now. “You Can’t Keep a Good Man Down” has a bluesy lick similar to Great White’s “Once Bitten” with a little driving piano thrown in for good measure. “One Foot in the Grave” keeps the bluesy groove going with a beefy riffs and a power chord conclusion.

The Bad
You probably haven’t heard of them before.

The Verdict
Every song is a winner on The Magnificent Seventh. I would say that Thunder sounds like a bluesy-er version of 38 Special. It baffles me that I’ve never heard of them before.

Did You Know?
1990’s Backstreet Symphony was Thunder’s first release.

Rating: out of 5

--George Dionne