Barry Graham Purkis, who also goes by the masked alter ego 'Thunderstick', is a drummer whose career dates back to the early days of the NWOBHM, briefly manning the drum stool in an early incarnation of Iron Maiden before joining Samson for a few years, eventually leaving to form his own band Thunderstick, who recorded and toured for five years before folding in 1987. Here we are now in 2017, and the band have reappeared once again, the drummer putting together a new line-up that he hopes will launch them to success within the modern metal scene. Joining Thunderstick are Martin Shellard (guitars), Dave Kandy Kilford (guitars), Rex Thunderbolt (bass) and Lucie V (vocals). Considering it's been over thirty years since we've heard new material from this outfit, the band are locked and loaded here on Something Wicked This Way Comes, their blend of melodic metal, hard rock, and a touch of punk gives songs such as "Dark Night Black Light", "Go Sleep With the Enemy (I Dare Ya)", and the groove laden heavy rocker "The Shining" plenty of fist pumping swagger. Lucie V brings her powerful lungs to the proceedings and does a fine job, as she belts out one anthem after another, supported by some fine riffing and locked in rhythms. "Lights (Take Me Away)" features some catchy hooks, while the lengthy "Blackwing" is a dramatic throwback to the glory days of the NWOBHM. Fans of speedier fare will like the punk-meets-speed metal of "Thunder Thunder", another hook laden tune with some fine vocals courtesy of Lucie V.
Though a few songs are kind of generic and 'by-the-numbers', this is a fun album overall and a welcome return from a band who probably should have achieved greater fame back in their original run. Let's see if they can make it happen now three decades later.
Track Listing
1. Dark Night Black Light
2. Don't Touch I'll Scream
3. Go Sleep With The Enemy (I Dare Ya)
4. The Shining
5. Encumbrance
6. Fly 'N' Mighty
7. Lights (Take MeAway)
8. Blackwing
9. Thunder Thunder '17'
10 I Close My Eyes
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