THUNDERMOTHER – Black and Gold (2022)

All-female hard rock act THUNDERMOTHER is one of the most successful acts of their genre in recent years, whose 2020 album ‘Heat Wave’ has achieved numerous impressive chart entries all over Europe. Not even the Corona pandemic could completely slow the band down, so they played concerts from the roof of a fire truck and used any other opportunity to perform live. Thundermother were born for the stage.
But the band has also achieved the ability to take that energy into the studio. Their upcoming new album, “Black And Gold“, sees the band around charismatic front-woman Guernica Mancini light up a true fireworks of hits. Power, attitude and a fine hand for great melodies made them climb the ladder towards Rock Olympus step by step.
With refined musicianship, a songwriting focused in catchiness and a huge production, “Black And Gold” delivers hit after hit.

The opening riff of “The light in the Sky” sounds reminiscent of early Def Leppard, this song really starts things off strong with great rhythms and powerful vocals from Guernica. The title track keeps the momentum going with an even stronger songcraft with an earworm of a refrain. Clearly a song that was written with live performances in mind. The use of the talkbox by bandleader and guitarist Filippa Nässil is a new accent and the slide solo part is wonderful.

“Raise your hands” slows things down a bit but still hits like a train, this song gives me slight ‘Make some Noise’ era Dead Daisies vibes, the guitar solo on this song is excellent – and man, Majsan Lindberg is a fierce bass player who really adds to the power of this album.
“Hot Mess” is a good mid tempo, power ballad that really lets the soulfulness in Guernica’s vocals shine while having the necessary rock swagger, it’s on songs like this that I think the band really come into their own sound that shows less of their influences and more of their own style.

“Wasted” is vintage Thundermother, hard hitting electrified rock n roll with that AC/DC backbone that they made their name on. Filippa Nässil is easily one of the best rhythm players in the modern movement, her songs hit and groove with power and style.
“Watch out” is a fast paced and hard hitting rocker in the vein of “into the mud” from their last album, but with a slight aggressive progression in the chorus and a KILLER guitar solo.

“I don’t know you” treads AC/DC territory so well musically that if you put Brian Johnson on vocals in the verses you wouldn’t know Angus Young didn’t write it, it’s the chorus that really stands apart and yet flows well with the verses. This is just a great energetic song.
“Looks no hooks” I can’t help but wonder if was slightly inspired by a Crazy Lixx song of a similar name, it doesn’t sound like that band at all though. I detect a very slight southern rock influence on this song. “Loud and free” a great track that seems like a band mission statement, it’s one of the best ass kicking rockers on this album.

“Try with love” keeps the energy up with some great riffs and powerful drumming courtesy of Emlee, the powerful playing in this song shows the incredible chemistry of this line up of the band. “Stratosphere” is another of many great hard hitting songs on this album.
“Borrowed time” is an incredible song that is both powerful and winds the album down, this is a GREAT power ballad. This is yet again another song I point to as Thundermother really showing the diversity they’re capable of achieving, songs like this end albums really well. It hooks you into another listen.

2022 has been a remarkably good year for rock music, there’s been so many top level albums and ”Black and Gold” is one of them. This band isn’t losing any momentum and just keeps getting better and better.
If you haven’t listened to Thundermother then you are missing one of the best bands around. Grab ”Black and Gold” – it’s kick ass
Highly Recommended

01 – The Light in the Sky
02 – Black and Gold
03 – Raise Your Hands
04 – Hot Mess
05 – Wasted
06 – Watch Out
07 – I Don’t Know You
08 – All Looks No Hooks
09 – Loud and Free
10 – Try with Love
11 – Stratosphere
12 – Borrowed Time

Guernica Mancini – Vocals
Filippa Nässil – Guitar
Emlee Johansson – Drums, Percussion
Majsan Lindberg – Bass

Pre Order
www.amazon.com/Black-Gold-Thundermother/dp/B0B1BC78VS