Thunder, Storm & Passion
Mad Max
•
July 21, 2015

To celebrate the new episode of the MAD MAX saga in every movie theater and perhaps more seriously to increase the obvious fact that the band is still present, improved, well alive and still kicking : MAD MAX is paying tribute to its glorious past and to their most successful period from 1984-87 by carefully publishing a re-recording of their old classics tracks in the same schema as a best-of Album: Thunder ("Rollin' Thunder") Storm ("Stormchild") and Passion ("Night of Passion")... Trying to keep the spirit of the eighties alive in order to set old and new fans on fire again... I still remember their moniker, constantly pumping over in the middle of a nordic wave of promising new acts such as PRETTY MAIDS, 220 VOLTS or EUROPE... It was in the early 80's, indeed an exciting time!
After being signed/promoted by Roadrunner Records and in the late 90's by SPV, the band is now stronger than ever, of course this re-recording mania will be rated as a little annoying for some cartesian rational minds or the usual old grumpy intelligentsia... Of course, it reveals that MAD MAX needs to rebuild its fan base in relying on its respected Legacy!
But once again the experienced members are more than ever on the top of their games... The on stage recording content in "Live at Bang Your Head Festival 2014" as second bonus disc is a strong evidence of this state... Another proof of their prominent stature... Extra bonus at least for me, the excellent cover of "Fox On The Run" originally written by THE SWEET... So, i believe that you've understand now that the sound is based on the heritage of the legendary, so don't expect symphonic arrangments or growled vocals, but instead the good old pace of Melodic Euro Metal with huge anthemic chorus in a Heavy AOR tradition, a sound once popularized by BONFIRE, JADED HEART, PINK CREAM 69, FRONTLINE and evidently MAD MAX!
After a bunch of recommended releases with WOLFPAKK and TEMPLE OF ROCK, Mr. Voss is on a successful wake of triumph... Michael Voss is a really busy musician, that stands as one of the most hard-working character in the Traditional Euro-Metal scene, and one of the most prolific as a songwriter! A guitar player/singer, a producer that is known as the leader of many legendary bands such as CASANOVA and DEMON DRIVE, recently acting as frontman for MSG and producing brilliantly VEANGEANCE or the great "Mission Rock" by UNIVERSE.
The MAD MAX career is spread for over than 30 years with many turmoils, splits, stops and restarts, but with "Interceptor" their latest album , they reach a new status with this release that was focused on their Hard Rocking side, full-throttle from start to finish with no ballads or mellow songs!
The authority of good taste and the viper tongues will predictably deny the integrity of this release and its interest... In fact, the new edgy rendition of those old songs and the great dynamic live recording packaged in superb digipack are definitely good enough to shut their filthy mouths!
8 / 10
Excellent

"Thunder, Storm & Passion" Track-listing:
CD 1
1. Fly Fly Away
2. Losing You
3. Rollin`Thunder
4. Thoughts Of A Dying Man
5. Never Say Never
6. Lonely Is The Hunter
7. Stormchild
8. Heroes Die Lonely
9. Burning The Stage
10. Wait For The Night
11. Night Of Passion
12. Hearts On Fire
CD 2
1. Burning The Stage
2. Night Of Passion
3. Rolling Thunder
4. Wait For The Night
5. Lonely Is The Hunter
6. Never Say Never
7. Thoughts Of A Dying Man
8. Fox On The Run
Mad Max Lineup:
Michael Voss - Lead Vocals, Lead Guitars
Jürgen Breforth - Rhythm Guitars
Thomas "Hutch" Bauer - Bass, Vocals
Axel Kruse - Drums
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