MAD MAX – Thunder, Storm And Passion [2 CD] (2015)

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Germans MAD MAX are into some kind of celebration with their new release “Thunder, Storm And Passion”, a double CD to be out tomorrow. This is essentially a re-recorded collection which documents ‘classics’ from their 1984-87 album releases Rollin’ Thunder, Stormchild and Night of Passion – you see what they did with the title. Plus, you have a bonus disc with recording at Bang Your Head Festival last year.

Mad Max have been around the metal block for better than three decades. But their first best success came at the start, in the heyday when the New Wave of British Heavy Metal was inspiring and spawning new bands all around the world. Here Mad Max looks back to those glory days to release a ‘best of’ re-recorded with modern technology and showing how the quartet sound today.
So, technically this is not a ‘new’ album and some may say ‘why didn’t they cut some new material?’. Well, the albums from where these songs are taken are out of print or on hard to find reissues.
And obviously, Michael Voss & Co. wanted fresh versions.

What Mad Max has done is re-recorded 12 songs, call them band & fan favorites, and they did this with the original line up. There is some pedigree here in terms of the more-or-less peripheral associations of Mad Max members Michael Voss (lead guitar and vocals), Axel Kruse (drummer) and guitarist Jurgen Breforth (bass player Roland Bergmann left the band in early 2015).
Read ‘em; Michael Schenker’s Temple of Rock, Axel Rudi Pell, Casanova, Jaded Heart, Doro, King Kobra, Gary Barden… Admittedly, most of these relate to Voss’ various roles as guest guitarist, engineer, mixer, producer, vocalist, etc.

Nevertheless, “Thunder Storm & Passion” is a snapshot of not only classic Mad Max, but the music of that great era. This is what we were listening to back in the day and, dammit, it never gets old.
It’s melodic hard rock with a metal edge (or hard ‘n heavy) with twin guitar harmony, soaring leads, a driving steady rhythm section, clean harmonious vocals, and tons of catchy phrasing in arrangements and lyrics.
That basically defines classic rock and heavy metal. And Mad Max was proficient at it, still are.
Those heavy melodic rockers come with ‘Rollin’ Thunder’, ‘Burning The Stage’, and the rushing ‘Wait For The Night’.

Anthems arrive with ‘Heroes Die Lonely’ and its generous bass line, ‘Lonely Is The Hunter’, and the AOR friendly ‘Hearts On Fire’. Then there’s metal ballad, ‘Thoughts Of A Dying Man’ to complete the package.
You can hear Voss’ and the guys experience in this game all over the songs. The on stage recording content in “Live at Bang Your Head Festival 2014” as second bonus disc is a strong evidence of this statement. Another proof is the excellent cover of ‘Fox On The Run’ (The Sweet classic) played live with a lot of fire.

“Thunder, Storm And Passion” is classic ’80s stuff updated to 2015, classic melodic hard rock and traditional metal skillfully performed. If you haven’t heard Mad Max’s early material you need to check this, especially fans of Bonfire, Jaded Heart, Pink Cream 69, Frontline, etc.
And if you liked the band’s recent material you won’t be disappointed.
Strongly Recommended.

CD1 (Re-Recorded Classics 2015)
01 – Fly Fly Away
02 – Losing You
03 – Rollin’ Thunder
04 – Thoughts Of A Dying Man
05 – Never Say Never
06 – Lonely Is The Hunter
07 – Stormchild
08 – Heroes Die Lonely
09 – Burning The Stage
10 – Wait For The Night
11 – Night Of Passion
12 – Hearts On Fire

CD2 (Live at Bang Your Head Festival 2014)
01 – Burning The Stage
02 – Night Of Passion
03 – Rolling Thunder
04 – Wait For The Night
05 – Lonely Is The Hunter
06 – Never Say Never
07 – Thoughts Of A Dying Man
08 – Fox On The Run

Michael Voss – Vocals, Guitars
Jürgen Breforth (ex-Tanner) – Guitars
Axel Kruse (ex-Jaded Heart) – Drums
Roland Bergmann (ex- Mad Max) – Bass
Thomas Bauer (Evidence One, ex-Frontline) – Bass

PRE ORDER;
www.amazon.de/Thunder-Storm-Passion-2cd-Mad/dp/B0106W5ZQA
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