THUNDERMOTHER hailing from Växjö, Sweden were formed by guitarist Fillipa Nässil in 2009. The Hard Rock outfit released so far four full-length albums. Their fifth release "Black And Gold" was produced, mixed, and mastered by Søren Andersen at Stockholm's Baggpipe Studios and Copenhagen's Medley Studios. It has a length of about 42 minutes, and it was released via German label AFM Records which has a number of Hardrock and Heavy Metal bands among their roster.

"Black And Gold" starts with a heavy track. "The Light In The Sky" includes powerful guitar riffing, thunderous drumming, and catchy choruses at mid-tempo. The melodies are epic and the lead guitar solo is, besides the riffing, the highlight of the track. "The Light In The Sky" is a real head-banger and the best possible start to the album. The title song is more dynamic and has more drive compared to the slightly pounding opener. "Black And Gold" is also a bit faster in the rhythm and the riffing. The melodies for the chorus are almost anthemic with the background vocals supporting Guernica Mancini. The song has been released as video and the YouTube link is given below.

While "Raise Your Hands" may not have the catchiness of both opening songs, it does have the dynamics and freshness brought in by the guitars and the vocals. The overall sound of "Raise Your Hands" is slightly different and shows the versatility in songwriting of THUNDERMOTHER. "Hot Mess" also shows a different side of the band. It is a slow song that sounds bluesy during the verse parts and has epic, sing-along melodies for the choruses. In particular, the chorus part reminds a bit on HALESTORM. "Hot Mess" is a great song and one of my album favorites. Speaking about inspirations, the riffing and the lead guitars on "Wasted" has certainly more than a few AC/DC vibes, and the whole track could be on any of their recent albums. "Wasted" has all the ingredients to become a fan favorite: the tight riffing, the cool bass lines, the lead guitars, and the vocals which keep it all well together.

"Watch Out" has a heavy start with the guitars and it has some catchy chorus lines. The extended lead guitar solo is the highlight of the track. Altogether, "Watch Out" cannot keep up with the album highlights. "I Don't Know You" - here we go again with the AC/DC inspired riffing. While the verse parts still remind me on the Australian Greats, the chorus part sounds different with very catchy lyric lines. It is also one of those songs that has the fan favorite potential. "Looks No Hooks" is a classical mid-tempo track with super heavy guitar riffing. It is a head-banger and the chorus lines are sing-alongs, but somehow it is lacking the cutting edge. "Loud And Free" is in principle a similar story: the song has its moments, but cannot really keep up with the album highlights.

"Try With Love" is one of the fastest tracks on the album. The guitar riffing is heavy and the excellently contributing lead guitar solo is the highlight of the track. "Try With Love" really freshens up things on the album as it has a different sound compared to the previous songs. "Stratosphere" shows the Rock 'n' Roll side of THUNDERMOTHER. It is also a fast and dynamic song with some cool riffs. It is surely not an album highlight, but shows once again the versatility of the band. The album closes with "Borrowed Time" and what has been missing so far? Yes, the ballad and it is a good one, driven by the guitars, the epic melodies, and as a highlight the vocals of Guernica Mancini. A great way to finish the album.

THUNDERMOTHER deliver a good album. "Black And Gold" has all attributes of a modern Hardrock album: sharp and powerful guitar riffing, excellent lead guitar solos, dynamic songs, catchy melodies, and a vocalist who keeps it all well together. Highlights are the guitars and the vocals, while the bass and the drums provide a solid rhythmic framework to the sound. THUNDERMOTHER show their versatility by mixing different sound elements, ranging from a very heavy to a bluesy and Rock 'n' Roll sound. The album is very well produced. Fans of Hardrock and Heavy Metal will surely dig "Black And Gold" and look forward to exciting live shows of THUNDERMOTHER.