Review THUNDERMOTHER ‘Black & Gold’

It is well known that Sweden has more to offer than red houses and self-assembled furniture. Musically, the country in the far north is known as a provider of outstanding and skilled bands in all possible genres. Of course, rock and metal also have a home in the land of moose and one of those many bands is Thundermother.

The band from Växjö was founded in 2009 by Filippa Nässil and a major upheaval occurred in 2017 when four band members left Thundermother. In the meantime Thundermother are on the road as a four piece, still led by Filippa Näsil.

Neither line-up changes nor the pandemic could stop Thundermother from getting better. Tirelessly the four Swedes are gaining recognition and as special guest of the Scorpions/Whitesnake tour in North America they have another great opportunity to make the band known beyond the borders of Europe.

What supports is the new album ‘Black & Gold’. Thundermother have recorded twelve new songs on their fourth studio album. Thereby the band stays true to itself and earthy hardrockers like the throbbing opener ‘The Light in the Sky’ and the grooving ‘Wasted’ fit exactly into the Thundermother concept. However, it’s not just the familiar sledgehammer songs that Thundermother unleashes on the listener on this album.

There are calmer and emotional numbers like ‘Hot Mess’ and the final ‘Borrowed Time’ which make the band seem more mature and soulful. The four-piece has definitely evolved and the numerous live shows have welded the band tightly together. This is noticeable on ‘Black & Gold’, because rarely have you heard the band playing so tight. Here the left hand knows what the right hand is doing and that is of great advantage for the overall charisma of ‘Black & Gold’.

Overall, however, the smashing riff rockers a la ‘Raise Your Hands’ and the swinging rock hymn ‘Loud and Free’ rule.

Thundermothers have become more relaxed, but this is not synonymous with ‘quieter’. The four ladies from Sweden still let it properly rock and you can be excited about the live shows, because on the stages of the world, the four are still the strongest.