Just two years after releasing their sophomore album, THUNDER HORSE is back in the saddle again. Okay, so it's not like they fell out of the saddle, it's just I really wanted to go with the whole horse motif and all. You get it. Anyway, this Doom band out of San Antonio, Texas formed about five years ago and has already bridled three full-length albums including "After the Fall" released on July 21, 2023 via Ripple Music. All in all, it is a mixed bag of heavy blues coupled with pedantic, mournful lyrics about societal ills. Almost a natural reaction from the aftermath of COVID, but by now a refrain that is growing weary.

"After the Fall" starts off strong with the title track which is also the longest track on the album. Interesting choice, but a good one. It's a groovy, psych doom affair which borders on Stoner, especially at the 3:45 mark when it launches into a cosmic funk break. The song then erupts into a mean lead solo before circling back to the primary refrain. Pretty much the best track on the album.

By track two, "New Normal," you get the sense the band is beginning to harp on the familiar theme of the decline of our society writ large. Sure, it could be a narrative about imagined alternate world/dimension or it could be personal reflections, but the parallels to the global state of affairs are too obvious. For me, at least, this was a downside to the album. The same theme is picked up throughout the album with tracks like "Monolith," "The Other Side," "Apocalypse," and "Requiem." I guess I have just had enough of the doomsaying.

Best moments are the scathing lead solos. Best tracks are the aforementioned "After the Fall" and the penultimate "Aberdeen"-another Stoner track which builds from fuzzy Desert to heavy blues to Doom standard. Track four, "The Other Side," serves as a segue from side A to side B. It's a short, mellow affair. If it wasn't for the fact that it has vocals, I'd call it an interlude. So that leaves five tracks that weigh in but don't quite make the grade. For me it's very difficult to get past the tired theme . . . and with Crow's clean vocals, you can't even pretend not to hear.

Final verdict is that after such a strong showing with "Chosen One," I was hoping for more with the third outing. Okay for a bluesy rock album, a bit lacking for Metal.