Thunder Rising – Back to the Time of Rock 2022 CD Version

Formed in 2010 by guitarist Frank Caruso (Firehouse AOR, Arachness) and drummer Corrado Ciceri (Firehouse AOR), Italy’s THUNDER RISING were featured at plotn08 when they released their eponymous debut in 2012, a quite stunning old-school hard rock featuring the golden voice of Mark Boals (Malmsteen, Ring Of Fire). If you do not already have it then check it out as it is a perfect example of how traditional hard rock should be delivered.

The band has since released a couple of EPs but we now come to what the fans have waited a long time for with their second album ”Back To The Time Of Rock”. The title is very apt as well the artwork: on this release THUNDER RISING continues with their ’80s and ’90s Americanized hard rock style but also the glorious ’70s primal hard rock roots with explicit historic-riff mentions.

The team has changed somewhat and this version of Thunder Rising sees Frank Caruso and Corrado Ciceri being joined by Frank’s brother Enzo on keyboards and backing vocals, Gabriele Baroni on bass and the sensational Alessio Spini on vocals.
The new line-up of the band has deliberately kept within the theme of the debut by retaining the old school approach and sound even to the extent of using instruments and techniques appropriate to the period especially using and emulating analogue equipment, mixing controls and even old sounds such as tape-echo to give that old ‘classic’ sound.
It is obvious that a lot of care and attention to detail has gone into the songwriting and performances making this a worthy successor to the debut and a damn fine album in its own right.

There is a definite feel of the American melodic rock bands of the 1980s so you do pick up sounds of bands like Hurricane or Journey but the overriding sound is British hard rock from the ’70s especially Bad Company, Deep Purple and Whitesnake.
For the ’80s style check the killer ‘Fate Train’ or ‘Black Tiger’ just name a few, while listen to ‘Timeless Blues’ without thinking Purple Mark II and Jon Lord in particular and ‘Rock From The Sky’ is Purple Mark III personified.

”Back To The Time Of Rock” is a joyous affair filled to the brim with old school melodic hard rock and will delight anyone who hears it. As usual, Frank Caruso is on fire with his exquisite solos and Jon Lord must be looking down and smiling at his brother Enzo with his superb keyboard skills, and Alessio Spini has to be heard as this singer is going to go right to the top, sensational voice.

01 Fate Train
02 Black Tiger
03 Scratches On The Hood
04 I’m Still Alive
05 Timeless Blues
06 Rock From The Sky
07 Don’t Be Shy
08 Nameless
09 Escape From You (extended Version)
10 Labyrinth Of Spectres
11 Nameless (second Movement)
12 Stairs To The Top (only For Cd Bonus Track)

turbo