ALBUM REVIEW: After The Fall – Thunder Horse
The city of San Antonio is a place rich in history and culture, a convergence point for people from Central America and the United States, as well as the home town of towering basketball centre Big Shaq. With a list of artists, writers, film stars and musicians that is the size of Texas itself, the city is a hot bed of modern culture. Adding to that list is the unstoppable occult doom, heavy psych band THUNDER HORSE. Their sound is hard to pin down, bringing in speedy elements of NWOBHM, traditional BLACK SABBATH-esque riffs, DEEP PURPLE style melodies and brooding psych atmospheres.
This makes the Texas quartet an alluring prospect for all doom and heavy psych fans. As a result, after taking the DIY approach, THUNDER HORSE galloped to success early on in their career with a thunderous self-titled debut. Only a few years later it was followed up by the even heavier sophomore album Chosen One in 2021. Now THUNDER HORSE ride roughshod into heavier and bluesier territory on their anticipated third album After The Fall.
In some ways After The Fall picks up from where Chosen One left off, but also strikes out on its own as its own unique entity. THUNDER HORSE have acknowledged what has come before and elevated it to a whole new level, bringing in more intoxicating psychedelics and soul stirring bluesy licks and riffs. The album conjures up some interesting imagery in your imagination. Where it conceptually straddles the lines between occult, acid trip and real life, the band’s narratives and observations are surreal trips into the void and beyond. Alongside the brooding atmospheres and visceral, upfront and grittily-delivered lyrics, the album has a sharp and punky edge to it.
Alongside this are some incredible PINK FLOYD style solos that conjure up a plethora of emotions, like the first time you hear Comfortably Numb or Breathe (In The Air). With all these strong influences behind the music, coupled with THUNDER HORSE’s innate ability to craft strong, nuanced and impactful songs, it’s safe to say After The Fall is a belter of a doom album.
The thick wall of fuzzed out sound that accompanies these journeys to realms beyond is built on the weighty rhythm foundations of Dave Crow (bass/vocals) and Jason “Shakes” West (drums). With a Bill Ward/Geezer Butler-style relationship and efficacy the pair drive the songs forward whilst bringing in hypnotic, earth-shaking grooves that bring you into the band’s gravitational pull. This allows for the gritty vocals of Stephen Bishop (vocals/guitar) and the guitar wizardry of Todd “The Bird” Connally (guitar/programming) to build intoxicating, hazy and bewitching synth layers that the guitar licks and vocal melodies can weave in and out of.
One thing THUNDER HORSE do impeccably throughout this album is integrate the PINK FLOYD style guitar leads with the crushing weight of BLACK SABBATH influenced riffs. It is a combination that you don’t think would go well together but here it feels so natural that you can’t help but succumb to its alluring magic. As a result, it feels like you’re getting punched in the gut one minute and then being kissed by a sorceress in the next.
Opening up with title track After The Fall, it becomes clear very quickly that this isn’t your standard THUNDER HORSE. The thick, earthy riffs come at you like a sledgehammer but the song descends into a Floydian psychedelic jam halfway through which shows the band’s commitment to evolving their already distinguished sound. New Normal and Monolith showcase the band’s new found sharpness, with tight chops and pummelling riffs as well as that more prominent tinge of bluesiness. The Other Side offers a brief respite despite it being an eerie and trippy two-minute interlude. Psychedelic rock organs accompany the gentle strumming of an acoustic guitar, while Bishop’s vocals take on an ethereal property.
Then it’s back down to earth with Apocalypse, as a hulking SABBATH-esque riff comes flying out of nowhere to smash you in the side of the skull. This is the darkest song on the album as swirling synth organs and slow, drudging riffs create a foreboding atmosphere. Inner Demon is a punchy and catchy track that channels the catchy vocal melodies and harmonies of NWOBHM. Likewise with Aberdeen, where there is an emphasis on harmonised riffs and semi-shredding solos accompanied by galloping rhythms. Requiem closes the album in flourishing style, an anthemic final chapter to a pummelling album that will rouse your spirits enough to want to listen to the record all over again.
After The Fall is without a doubt THUNDER HORSE at their boldest, sharpest and heaviest to date. A brilliant evolution in their sound that sees them continuing their phenomenal rise out of the doom metal underground, riff by hulking riff.
Rating: 9/10
After The Fall is set for release on July 21st via Ripple Music.
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