So onto Thunderstone... the only thing that gets to me is that they couldn't actually come up with a name for their album. It's just self titled. Oh and the other thing is that it is rather short - I think... either 42 or 48 minutes - no longer than that. Another big note for Stratovarius hints in Thunderstone is that Timo Tolkki from Stratovarius lets loose in the song "Like Father, Like Son", that I'm listening to now. It is the fastest song on the album and I can compare it to... oh I don't know... ... Find Your Own Voice on Elements Part I? Certainly not as heavy as Father Time on Episode.

So about the songs individually. Fortunately, I have been listening to this CD a lot since I got it for my birthday, so I'm fresh with it's sound. The opener is only 4 minutes, but will give you a perfect of a preview of what you're about to hear - not like a one-hit-wonder, or even a song that just doesn't sound like the rest of the album. Eagleheart by Stratovarius on Elements Part I and Everdream by Nightwish found on Century Child are good examples of songs that stand out on the album. (Okay, here's Timo's riff.) You can tell that a more experienced guitarrist joins in for a brief second there. Also, if you've listened to Infinite, then sure, you'll recognize his style. Let's see, where was I? Oh yeah, track 2. Most second songs immediately draw you away with their inferiorority to the first song, which "Will the Sun Rise" on Episode get sucked into easily, but not Thunderstone's. Also, after the 2nd chorus, it gets really cool - you just have to hear it. Then comes the third song, another mid tempo one. Track 4 is faster and a great transition into the first of 2 perfect songs on the album. And when I say perfect, I mean if Stratovarius or Sonata Arctica was playing them, it wouldn't sound ANY better. "Will to Power" is by far the longest song on the album clocking in at about 8:30. It reminds me of Ivory Tower's "Treehouse", for some reason. You can almost go as far to... oh yes! This is a great comparison... "Fantasia", on Elements Part I. A pattern of choruses only twice with a long intro. It's a great slower song. Then is track 6, a shorter one, and then 7 will get stuck in your head between your 3rd and 4th listens. The chorus is repeated a fourth time right after the third with a different tone and God does it sound perfect. I'm telling you, this is just as good as Stratovarius. Like Father, Like Son I've already raved about, and then track 9 I don't remember that well, but track 10, if I remember correctly, is a great slower, ending, non-epic song. It's very enjoyable.

This, along with Mirror of Madness, a CD I reviewed earlier today, is one of VERY FEW CDs that deserve about 6,000 stars. You just can't be disappointed. I can't recommend other bands you might like if you like Thunderstone. There are too few bands with this quality of production that I can't recommend Skylark and such - you might not appreciate them, even though they are played to perfection, because of the production.


Great POWER metal   July 1, 2003
Andrew grenz (Toms River , NJ)
2 out of 4 found this review helpful

This isnt a bad cd at all. Great guitars and druming as well as the nice high pitched voice. Songs that got my attenion were "Let the Demons Free", "Virus", and "Eyes of a stranger". This was a great debut cd and I see a bright furture for them.