Rockezine.com - CD review for Thundra

THUNDRA
Worshipped By Chaos 9 tracks - playing time: 57:57 min. Black Lotus Records Rating: 5/10		The powerful and fearless warrior Fafnir walked rapidly through the white pine forest towards his father Hreidmars house. The surroundings were covered in icy snow and a cold wind made him shiver. Fafnir was loved by his father and respected by his brothers because of his mighty strength and fearlessness. They had a good, rich life caused by the pile of gold his father obtained for the accidental death of one of Fafnirs younger brothers. Soon it would all be theirs he thought. Mine! When he reached the house he met his brother Regin outside chopping lumber. With a silent nod Regin joined his brother and together they walked rapidly to the door. Fafnir unsheathed his sword and Regin gripped his woodaxe tightly. This would be the moment of truth! They burst through the heavy oaken door and ran inside. Their father Hreidmar had dozed off by the small fire and looked peacefully happy. Shocked was his look when Fafnirs sword ran through his left lung. Regins blunt axe swung and chopped of his left hand. In seconds, there was nothing left of Hreidmar but a bloody pile of flesh and organs. Without a second thought Fafnir then beheaded his brother Regin in one swift movement. He cried of joy. The gold was all his! Corrupted Fafnir was alone with his precious gold. He spent his days without leaving his treasure, counting it and polishing it.		Slowly his teeth sharpened, his skin turned scaly and his eyes sunk and became blazing red. His greed had changed his features. He had become a dragon! Thundra is a Norwegian all-star band formed as a side-project between Harald (drums, ex- Enslaved), Stein (bass, ex-Einherjer) and Nils (synth) in 1998. Nowadays, Thundra is no longer a project, but a full grown band. They recruited Rune (guitar), Steven (vocals) and Thor Erik (guitar and vocals) and released the album “Blood Of Your Soul” in 2000. Leaving their old bands behind, the shiny gems began fading… “Worshipped” by Chaos just can’t hold my attention very long. It is missing any really interesting parts. Elements can be heard of the former bands Thundras members used to play in: Enslaved, Einherjer and above all Arcturus and Borknagar. Grunts, screams and clean vocals take turns while the other instruments play heroic Viking metal with atmospheric intermezzos. The clean vocals are dominant and not very well mixed with the other instruments in my opinion. The music lacks originality, it just doesn’t have ‘it’. Not much more can be said other then that Fafnir in the end was slaughtered by Regins foster-son Sigurd, who then claimed Fafnirs preciousss gold… (Mart)