Thunder – Wonder Days

Thunder

Wonder Days

by YNGWIEVIKING at 11 February 2015, 3:29 PM

After a split, a reunion and then a split again, the English outfit seems to be back for good this time, reinforced by this new discographic contract, the Londonians are in a good mood, and for the Classic Rock audience, it looks like Christmas again in February!

For their Tenth album “Wonder Days” the focus is on party time, this disc is armed with a sharp sound and a bunch of great songs in their timeless tradition, like a natural child of FREE/BAD CO or ZEPPELIN playing their 70’s rooted Melodic Rock enriched by many influences that are coming from the warm Boogie Rock (“The Thing I Want” or “Black Water”) with an attractive pace then shift to some Blues infused songs (“Serpentine”) to some more acoustic Rythm & Blues stuff (“The Rain”), a mandatory ballad (the superb “Broken”) a few typical British Hard Rock tracks (“I Love The Weekend” or “Chasing Shadows” in the early WHITESNAKE style) but some more Heavy numbers such as the title track or “The Prophet” that sounds like Mid 90’s UFO and the last part of “When The Music Played” which is quite enjoyable and surprisingly strong!

“Resurrection Day” is another time a sublime and ambitious cut, another proof that Danny Bowes is a fantastic vocalist, indeed it's his voice with his soulful rendition and his faultless performance that uplift the whole album! The two disc special edition seems to pretty exciting with a full live concert and some outtakes from the “Wonder days” sessions. I want to take advantage of this review to express my deepest respect for their long career and also my best wishes of recovery for guitarist Ben Matthews who is struggling heroically against disease!

After the underrated album “Bang” it’s time for the British THUNDER, to reach again the higher skies, and is the moment for its roar, to be louder, rawer & as powerful as ever!