Thunderstone "Tools of Destruction" (Nuclear Blast)
By Taylor Green
Monday. Aug 01, 12:43 AM
The closest thing to perfection that power metal has seen all year.

Thunderstone is a name fit for power metal: a scorching combination of the most fundamental elements of the genre. And their third album, Tools of Destruction, has the band living up to their name. As with any power metal release, there will be the naysayers and the general cheese factor involved, but at the heart of the musicianship is some amazing guitar work and a sound somewhere between their native brethren Nightwish and Children Of Bodom. Thunderstone share much in common with their peers, but it's their ability to fuse all the elements seamlessly that makes their sound work so well. Just like the name, the music on Tools of Destruction fits power metal like a glove.

The album starts out with a great bass line, erupting into a solid guitar line, and from there on out the mood of the album is set. The song progresses, and the mood grows and grows until the chorus blares, begging to be sung along in your best (or worst) impression of vocalist Pasi Rantanen. The song's called "Tool of the Devil." What else were you expecting!?

But it's the latter half of the album that shows off what Thunderstone are capable of. Track six, interestingly titled "The Last Song," burns with that classic Children Of Bodom, synthed-up energy, and plows forth into one of the heavier songs on the album, only to be followed by one of the slowest, "Another Time." Again, it's the build up as the song progresses – the solid start unveiling the epic finish – that makes the song great. The next two tracks are speed songs with explosive solos (especially the ones in "Weight of the World"), and are a great lead in to the album's finish. The haunting keyboard intro of "Land of Innocence" is remarkable, a real mood setter for Tools of Destruction's close. The band hit the nail on the head with the closer, and send the album home as strong as a power metal album can.

Again, it's power metal. I cannot stress enough that, with the exception of 3 Inches Of Blood, power metal bands haven't gotten much respect as of late. It's not for everyone, but if Symphony X, Nightwish, and/or Sonata Arctica are your thing, this album will be on repeat for months to come. Thunderstone have the closest thing to perfection that power metal has seen all year.

Highlights: "Touch of the Devil," "Weight of the World," and "Land of Innocence."
www.thunderstone.org
www.nuclearblastusa.com

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Taylor Green

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