The incomparable Thunderstick – as we all know from his NWOBHM-era stints with an early incarnation of Iron Maiden and subsequently Samson – is back with his band and a new album entitled Lockdown. And it’s a proper ripsnorter.
Six years have passed since Thunderstick’s previous studio album – Something Wicked This Way Comes – though we did have a live album – Something Wicked This Way Came – in 2020.
On Lockdown, the band line-up is tight and the energy unrelenting. Especially the remarkable vocals of Raven Blackwing. She has a voice of such power and effortless range without it sounding stretched or overblown. This is evident over the eighty minute running time.
Add to that heavy, chunky guitars, thudding bass and first class drumming stomping through fourteen cuts of varied heaviness and arrangements such that no two sound the same it all makes for a great listen.
A short instrumental leads in to Torn ‘N’ Twisted. Hard, fast, heavy, thumping riffs and straight away the power of Blackwing’s vocals is evident. As they are on Snakebite which follows suit with a bluesy edge to it.
I’m a Rockstar (In My Head) is a jaunty fun song with tongue-in-cheek lyrics. One for all you aspiring or frustrated musicians. Who the Devil Are You mixes up the style being something of a “power-pop” style affair with a catchy chorus.
Those Days boasts a fine chugging/slashing riff with the rhythm section driving it along nicely, a big chorus and Blackwing’s vocals again impressing with such force behind them.
Warlord is a stand-out for me. Comes in at nine minutes showing again how varied the song writing is here. A distinct two parts to it. The first being a melancholy, downbeat segment with the repeating military style snare drum and a sensitive vocal before bursting out in to the second part of brooding bombast and scorching guitars. Lyrically impressive too. Have a listen:
A reworked version of Thunder Thunder is just that – thunderous. Hold on Me goes in to hardish melodic rock territory. Valkyrie Warriors another winner. Hard, heavy, memorable. You’ll be shouting it out.
And to again show how varied Lockdown is it finishes with I Close My Eyes – an acoustic/piano type ballad with a nice solo built in.
We’ll file it under New Wave of Heavy Metal because it’s Thunderstick and the history. Lockdown is a very fine album indeed. In my opinion is the finest album he’s been involved with since the Samson classic Shock Tactics all those years ago.
Bag the CD version from the label:
https://rouletterecords.co.uk
Or if the downloading/streaming/MP3 stuff is your bag, found it on Amazon Music:
https://amzn.to/3T20ury
It’ll likely be on other streaming thingies if you look.