Thunder Horse: Dead Alive in Texas

Hailing from St. Antonio, Texas, Thunder Horse is a doom metal quartet fiercely conversant not only with Southern-fried stoner rock as well as classic rock/blues tropes, but with a bit of groove besides. Listening to this nine track album taken from live performances in Cibolo, Thunder Horse gallops across a starfield that blooms with psychedelic splendor.. The riffs are so crushingly heavy there's very little choice for the listener--either surrender now when you still have a fighting chance of walking away alive, or dripping away slowly later when you've been immolated within the cauldron of their sound.

As vocalist and rhythm guitarist Stephen Cooper sings in "New Normal," "no compromise/we will not hide." Oozing liquid gold from his fingertips, lead guitarist T.C. Connally squeezes scorch from his six-string. Thunder Horse has a unique sound that partakes equally of elements of The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix and Robin Trower as much as it does, say, St. Vitus or Corrosion of Conformity--listen to "Rememberance Demon" and learn some old school lessons.

But just when you've pegged them for a nostalgia trip drowsing in a hippie Planet Caravan, "Demons Speak" barrels in with Sabbath on steroids energy. "Separated by policy, do you think that they give a s***t, we're all just puppets, controlled by the hypocrites" indeed...Thunder Horse aren't afraid to express some home truths and outlaw spirit whilst they melt faces. And lest we forget the anchor of music in the heartbeat and bodily movement, Dave Crow on bass slips his sinuous lines inside Johnny Lightning's expert percussive battery.

"Song for the Ferryman" evokes the mythical journey of the soul across the river Styx, revealing a crucial aspect of Thunder Horse's appeal: the narrative thrust. It's a mini-epic similar in some ways to a doomy Manowar.. The lyrics are evocative and superbly crafted. If you love bands like Black Diamond, or even Electric Wizard, that trade in dark fantasy themes, you'll find a lot to enjoy here, and Connally's wah-laden leads are just plain tasty. Even if you weren't particularly partial to an early death, by the time "Ferryman" reaches its conclusion, you'll feel the urge to merge with the grave.

"Monolith" swiftly follows, a "Five Minutes Alone"-like fist in the face to haters that not only stands its ground but pierces it like a pile driver sinks rebar. The band's staunch, multi-angled music reminds me of a sort of sonic Cubism. "Burn this m**********r down," screams Bishop, bringing the crowd to its feet for a sing-along.

"Liber Ad Christ Milites Temple" is next, with its chugging guitars dropped into a maelstrom of harmonic fury, with overtones of Hawkwind, Electric Wizard and Cough. "We're riding steel dragons, we bring death from above," Bishop sings in this brutal critique of the Holy Crusades, painting in music a damning portrait of dogmatism yoked to power and its destructive force which can still be seen in society today. The jam at the song's conclusion is a stuttering splice-through of "Black Sabbath," only this time instead of Satan coming around the bend, it's Christ's messengers. "Chosen One," the penultimate track, showcases Johnny Lightning's lacerating skin work. It's a testament to how brilliant this album is that this very strong track happens to be the weakest one of the set; it's a bit disjointed, ragged and lacking compositional focus, however well-played, as though random riffs were grafted together into a single song. Which doesn't at all detract from the performance, just that it wasn't quite for me--your mileage may differ, and I suspect this one will grow on me with the repeated listening I definitely plan to devote to this album and this band.

Bringing together into a single weapon the foundation of all heavy music since 1975, "Aces of Spades" is a romping, rollicking, different arrangement of the Motorhead classic and closes the album.

I feel so fortunate to have been introduced to the magic that is Thunderhorse via this album. They have three previous studio efforts I'll be checking out next. Give this one a spin, you will thank me.

TRACKLIST:
1. Let Them Bleed
2. New Normal
3. Rememberance Demon
4. Demons Speak
5. Song For The Ferryman
6. Monolith
7. Liber Ad Christ Milites Temple
8. Chosen One
9. Ace Of Spades

Added: May 22nd 2024
Reviewer: Alex S. Johnson
Score:
Related Link: Band Facebook Page
Hits: 789
Language: english

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