THUNDER RIP IT UP ON NEW ALBUM Thunder: 'Rip It Up' Out Now (earMUSIC) 17th February 2017 Words: Mark Taylor The third coming of Thunder, after they reformed for a second time in 2011, has seen the loveable Sarf London rockers return to Premiership status where they rightly belong with the release of their Top Ten album 'Wonder Days' in 2015 which saw them selling out a UK theatre tour as well as headline festival slots, all followed by an arena tour. Expectations are high for their eleventh studio album, 'Rip It Up', and while it doesn't necessarily break down any new barriers, it does see Thunder keeping the bar raised high with a willingness to experiment a little without moving too far from their signature sound. Once again all compositions are entirely created by guitarist Luke Morley, backed by his ever faithful band featuring the soaring soulful vocals of Danny Bowes, 'Harry' James providing a solid as ever backbeat along with the rhythm of bassist Chris Childs and rhythm guitarist Ben Matthews. The album kicks off in galloping style with 'No One Gets Out Alive' and the title track, 'Rip It Up', which has a stomping seventies stamp with a Metal coating. These two tracks are amongst the heaviest songs Thunder have ever done, with Danny Bowes handling the vocals with ease while Morley cranks out the riffs with simplistic breeze. 'She Likes The Cocaine' is about a party loving girl who is still swinging in her sixties rather than heeding previous warnings. Guest Lynne Jackaman adds superlative wailing vocals on this rocking number which is not to be sniffed at. 'Right From The Start' sees Morley and Bowes working their heartfelt magic acoustically while 'In Another Life' has a slow building laid back bass line allowing Bowes to use his vocals to the fore. Like the previous album, there's flavours of seventies rock to explore with the groovy 'The Chosen One' featuring some fanciful fretwork from Morley, while 'Tumbling Down' brazenly kicks in with the sounds of The Who and Led Zeppelin riffs aplenty. The album ends with 'There's Always A Love', a ballad with a Bonzo type drum backbeat that will become a firm favourite. Although not as immediate as their debut 'Backstreet Symphony' or even their comeback album 'Wonder Days', 'Rip It Up' is a cohesive solid effort which Thunder fans and those new to the game will find plenty to cherish.