THUNDA is a Columbian band formed in 2007. After 14 years of fighting to get to where they are now, their debut record, Enlightened, finally saw the light on June 16, 2021. Fitting solidly into the heavy metal genre, they favor killer dual guitars, galloping bass and thundering drums. Is there any more noble goal in the world than to bring your artistry to life? I think not.

The record begins with "Metalized Thunder," a quick instrumental to set the mood. It builds slowly, fades gently, and the theme starts anew with the title track, "Enlightened." This song feels like it about waking up and figuring out someone in your life is toxic, then fighting to get away from them. Haven't we all had that person around us at some time? This song has a killer riff and interesting vocal use. The solos are a good fit for the tune. Solid song overall.

"Midnight Warriors starts with a cool bass line that keeps running through much of the song. The guitars work well together, and the drums are powerful. Again, the vocalist stays down in his lower register much of the time, but when he decides to rise up and hit a higher note, he does it clearly and with all the force he needs to get the note across. The backing vocals are a god addition to the song, hitting some nice harmonies.

"Lord Of the Night" is a guitar heavy song. The riff is more aggressive and covers the bass a little more in some sections, but never completely hides it. The lurking bass seems to darken the song a little, giving it a bit of a doom feel. Then, the guitars go higher, and the tone lightens again. It's a really good shift in feel and mood.

The second instrumental, "Vicious," is four minutes of galloping, chugging goodness. The riff is heavy and full of killer sound. The drums are frenetic and a pleasure to hear. The bass punctuates the riff really well. The tempo is nice, the rhythm fills in the gaps and the solos fit perfectly in the overall range of the song. This is fun to listen to and would be killer to hear live. "Dime" is the power ballad. The gentle riff and rhythm at the beginning add a bit of melodic lead in to the heavier chorus. The fade back to single guitar is a good touch.

Overall, this is a good record. The songwriting is good, the musicianship solid. The guitars play off each other well. Whether they are in tune with each other or supporting through the solos, they never feel like they are conflicting with the other. The bass and drums are on time and really sit well within the songs. The vocals are varied and powerful, whether he is adding distortion, belting or hitting the falsetto range. It would be cool to see these guys live if they get a chance to tour the US.