Album review: THUNDER – The Magnificent Seventh, Robert Johnson’s Tombstone, Bang! (reissues)

BMG [Release date 04.04.24]

The latest batch of Thunder reissues span the years 2005-2008. All are available on vinyl for the first time.

In 2005 the band released their seventh studio album called, appropriately enough, ‘The Magnificent Seventh’. It was the band’s first after vocalist Danny Bowes and Luke Morley had taken some time out to release a joint effort ‘Mo’s Barbeque’.

Typically with Thunder this was a high standard consistent offering including the highlights ‘I Love You More Than Rock ‘N’ Roll’, ‘Fade Into The Sun’ and ‘One Fatal Kiss.’ This latest reissue adds four live versions recorded in Manchester (2012) and Shepherd’s Bush Empire (2005) the latter also included on the Rough And Ready set in 2010. ****

You may have thought 2006′s ‘Robert Johnson’s Tombstone’ would have the band visiting the blues but, no, this is another straightforward Thunder offering. The highlights include ‘The Devil Made Me Do It’ and Zeppelin-esque ‘Last Man Standing’. The album perfectly blends the band’s ear for a catchy chorus and mix of hard rock, soulful undertow, and heartfelt acoustic ballads such as ‘My Darkest Hour’ complete with cello accompaniment.

The Japanese edition of the original album included four bonus tracks, two of which were session outtakes. Only one of these appears in this latest iteration (‘I’m In Heaven’) but there is a different “session track” ‘Don’t Worry About Forever’ (originally a single B-side) along with two contemporaneous live tracks. ****1/2

2008′s ‘Bang!’ preceded the band’s second “split”. GRTR!’s Jason Ritchie wrote “One of the band’s finer efforts”. It features the opener ‘On The Radio’ (also included as a live bonus), the folksy ‘Retribution’ and soulful crunch of ‘Miracle Man’.

The Japanese version included the track ‘Chain Reaction’ and ‘I Believe’ (from the ‘Six Of One’ EP) but omitted here whilst ‘See My Baby Walking’ and a different mix of ‘I Believe’ are from ‘The Joy Of Six’ EP. The live tracks come from two previously released Christmas shows at Rock City, Nottingham 2007/8. ****

All albums reflect the production and writing talents of Luke Morley who has a great ear for melody but also cranking out a very acceptable riff when needed.

During this period the band had released several now out-of-print EPs (which made up a box set) and it’s a shame that these reissues, although “expanded”, couldn’t have come with a second EP disc. Apart from that vinyl junkies will welcome these first time releases in their chosen format, the CD versions come as digpaks but with no illuminating liner notes. All in all, though, it’s a good way of reintroducing these works to new fans and filling the void with the band currently on hiatus.

Review by David Randall

Feature (The Grotto of Greatness, October 2023)
Album review (Reissues, 2023)

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KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

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