This new release from Thor includes a lot of new music, but it’s augmented with older, previously unreleased stuff. I know Thor is considered heavy metal, which is why I have included this under that heading. Some of this fits. Other songs are closer to punk rock and general hard rock. Not everything is completely effective for me, but there is enough here that works well.
This review is available in book (paperback and hardcover) form in Music Street Journal: 2025 Volume 1. More information and purchase links can be found at: garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2025.
Track by Track Review
Ride The Iron Horse
A measured hard rocking sound gets things underway here. The music leans toward metal. The vocals seem closer to something like DOA.
Lightening Rod
This is unusual and intriguing. It has more of a mysterious metal vibe at play. The vocals work better on this one than they did on the opener.
5-0 Let's Go
Driving metal is on the menu here. I’m not as taken with the vocals on this track, but there are better than those on the album opener. The guitar solo on this is purely incendiary.
Peace By Piece
The punky edge on this is prominent. The chorus gets it more into metal territory.
Unlock The Power
Here we get more of a driving rocker. This has some punky angles, too.
No Time For Games
Now this is so cool. It’s a dramatic power metal styled piece. It has a lot of style and charm.
Bring It On
Meaner and more aggressive, this has both metal and punk elements. It’s a powerhouse that’s one of the highlights of the set.
Flight Of The Striker (Unreleased 1987)
This is a driving metal stomper. It has some killer riffs.
Had It Been Another Day (Unreleased 1986)
Hard rock merged with punky textures is the order of business here. This one doesn’t do a lot for me, really.
Watch Your Back
Now, this is more like it. There is a theatrical metal vibe built into this stomper. It’s a highlight of the disc, and includes some exceptional guitar soloing. It is a mean song.
Hit And Run (1979 Demo)
The recording on this is rough, and the song feels sort of like something an amateurish band would do. Then again, it’s a demo. It’s got plenty of metal in the mix, but is also punky and hard-rock based.
100% (1979 Demo)
A stripped back tune, this demo is basically an acoustic rocker that feels like a party recording.
Shields Up
There are definitely punk angles on this hard rocker. It’s a solid tune, but not a standout.
Bonus Tracks
Thunder On The Mountain
Driving metal is the concept here. There are some rock and roll elements at play, too. The organ solo later brings almost a Deep Purple sound to the table.
To The Extreme
Punk, hip hop and more seem to merge on this song.
