### Thunderhorse: Hurricane bastard features

#### 18/05/14 || Habakuk

Yeah, read that again. “Hurricane bastard features” by fucken Thunderhorse. Raging skeleton (thunder)horse on the cover, too – does anybody need more reasons to check this out? Not me guys, not me. For I suspect that if people get their metal ingredients right in text and visuals already, they might just have an idea about metal music as well. Bold assumption, I know. Bold and in this case also right.

This is some expertly produced and highly enjoyable southern-tinged sludge metal, and I might as well stress the “metal” in that term. The overall feel is that of a tight, riff-oriented crew that don’t shy away from the odd twin lead section, but if we disregard the composition of a big portion of the songs and look at the sound only, this could probably be filed somewhere between CoC, Fu Manchu and Mastodon. Instrumental affairs are topped off with throaty screams which sound like the guy responsible has a huuuge beard. If not, his singing creates the audio equivalent of one. It is one bad-ass tone the dude has, and clearly a highlight on this disc for me.

Dude should stick to his guns though – hooks aren’t, sadly, which pulls one (otherwise great) song down a little. Another thing that these guys better avoid next time is using sex samples. Seriously, folks. There goes half a point and one song off the hard disk. Or Spotify playlist or whatever. It has to go because it’s retarded*. Fine, then back to enjoying some thick, rumbling bass, sharp twin guitars and flawless grooves aplenty.

With its mix of catchiness and ballsy punch, this album might not exactly be reinventing the wheel, but with as much quality in exection, that ain’t necessary to make me a happy camper. Anyone with a more than slight interest in punchy southern heavy metal should risk an ear here. Why not start with the shockingly uninspired video to The headless horseman? Excuse me, “The fucking headless horseman”.

*Note: Euthanasia is only ok if it’s related to your listening habits mkay?

- Information
- Released: 2010
- Label: World Domination
- Website: Thunderhorse MySpace
- Band
- Pete Rice : vocals, guitars
- Gary Velasco: guitars
- Manell Menor : bass
- Justin Estep: drums

- Tracklist
- 1. Rise demons rise
- 2. The headless horseman
- 3. Thunder and lightning
- 4. The keep
- 5. The pincer
- 6. Underneath your flame
- 7. Opium den
- 8. Scarlet lady
- 9. May the horse be with you