Category: THUNDER RISING

With THUNDER RISING releasing their second full length 2022 after almost a decade from their self-titled debut, it’s a proper occasion to revisit this very good traditional (melodic) hard rock record enlisting the lead vocals of talented Mark Boals.
THUNDER RISING was assembled by Italian guitarist Frank Caruso and perhaps his name does not ring any bell for you, but Frank and his crew aren’t newcomers to the Melodic Hard Rock field at all. During the Eighties, Frank was part of the underrated (and quite unknown) Italian band Firehouse, and more recently Arachnes and 24 Strings, recording ten albums between these two acts.
Drummer Corrado ‘Nail’ Ciceri (also ex- Firehouse) played in Wine Spirit and for Glenn Hughes & Alvin Lee live bands, on second guitar we have Andy Ringoli from the quite good AOR band Homerun, and together with bass player Gabriele Baroni (Arachnes, Strings 24), complete the very solid, sharp Melodic Hard Rock sound of Thunder Rising.
Add the awesome vocals of Mark Boals, and this turned into a compelling product…

Formed in 2010 by guitarist Frank Caruso (Firehouse AOR, Arachness) and drummer Corrado Ciceri (Firehouse AOR), Italy’s THUNDER RISING were featured at 0dayrox when they released their eponymous debut in 2012, a quite stunning old-school hard rock featuring the golden voice of Mark Boals (Malmsteen, Ring Of Fire). If you do not already have it then check it out as it is a perfect example of how traditional hard rock should be delivered.
The band has since released a couple of EPs but we now come to what the fans have waited a long time for with their second album ”Back To The Time Of Rock”. The title is very apt as well the artwork: on this release THUNDER RISING continues with their ’80s and ’90s Americanized hard rock style but also the glorious ’70s primal hard rock roots with explicit historic-riff mentions.
The songs are melodic and crisp, there’s terrific vocals…

Long time friends Frank Caruso (Firehouse, Arachnes, Strings 24) and Corrado Ciceri (Firehouse, Wine Spirit) founded THUNDER RISING in 2012, and they sought out Mark Boals (Yngwie Malmsteen) as vocalist releasing a very interesting self-titled album already featured here on the blog.
However, with Boals busy touring schedule and commitments to other bands, Alessio Spini was recruited for touring.
Fast forward a little to 2015 and Thunder Rising are releasing today “Sole Freedom”, with Spini on vocals though Boals still appears on one song…

THUNDER RISING is a new band assembled by Italian guitarist Frank Caruso, and their self-titled debut CD piqued my interest because monster singer Mark Boals (one of my favorites) is at charge of the lead vocals.
Perhaps Caruso’s name does not ring any bell for you, but Frank and his crew aren’t newcomers to the Melodic Hard Rock field at all. During the eighties, Frank was part of the underrated (and quite unknown) Italian band Firehouse, and more recently Arachnes and 24 Strings, recording ten albums between these two acts.
Drummer Corrado ‘Nail’ Ciceri (also ex- Firehouse) played in Wine Spirit and for Glenn Hughes & Alvin Lee live bands, on second guitar we have Andy Ringoli from the quite good band Homerun, and together with bass player Gabriele Baroni (Arachnes, Strings 24), complete the very solid, sharp Melodic Hard Rock sound of Thunder Rising.
Add the awesome vocals of Mark Boals, and this turned into a compelling product…