The very moment I pushed the play button on my CD player and the first notes of Thunderbolt’s “Love & Destruction” came out of my speakers, I thought:”There is only one way to review this CD.”. Immediately I went for my closet and pulled out my ripped jeans and denim jacket adorned with band patches and spikes to come in to the right mood, because the music of Thunderbolt literally radiates old school all the way. It’s time for some good ol’ 80’s heavy metal! And that’s precisely what this quintet stands for.

Thunderbolt hails from Norway and play “true” heavy metal in the vein of NWOBHM. Originally founded in 1998, they released their first full length “Demons & Diamonds” in 2002 which received some nice reviews. And now they are back with their second full length “Love & Destruction”.

Musically there is absolutely nothing wrong with this CD. Is it original? Hell no! But I don’t think that was the main intention in the first place. Does it live up to the expectations for a solid heavy metal album? You bet! The material is very well written and played. Guitar duo Frank Johannessen and Marius Halleland are really generous with their Iron Maiden like twin solos.

Drummer Vegard Waske is happily hitting his drums, singer Tony Johannessen has no problem reaching the high notes often in the vein of Judas Priest, and last but certainly not the least, bassplayer Morten Eriksen who often plays some excellent and intelligent bass lines that remind me a bit of Steve Harris.

“Love & Destruction” can be seen as a feast of recognition, traditional heavy metal hand-in-hand with some modern influences. You can practically hear where these gentlemen take their inspiration from. Elements of Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Kiss are but to name a view, but are the most present in the sound of this album.

Another thing that also sounds like the 80’s is the production of this CD. In the 80’s they had even better produced albums then this one. There is absolutely no power in this production and the whole CD just sounds too soft, volume based. This will cost Thunderbolt points, but it’s their only major blemish on an otherwise spotless CD.
“Love & Destruction” is surely worth a try for every self respecting traditional old school heavy metal fan.