Thunderbolt (Norwegian band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Thunderbolt


Img_capt =
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Oslo, Norway
Genre = Heavy metal
Years_active = 2001−present
Label = Face Front (Scandinavia) / Massacre (world) [ [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:g4420rjal48n~T2 Discography at allmusic.com] ]
Associated_acts = Highland Glory, Lash Out, Wobbler
URL = [http://www.thunderbolt.no/ Official band homepage]
Current_members = Tony Johannessen
Geir Marius Halleland
Morten Eriksen
Stig Ronny Moe
Past_members = "See below"

Thunderbolt is a Norwegian heavy metal band that combines the classical influence of bands like Iron Maiden, Helloween, and Black Sabbath with a more modern, powerful sound like that of Bad Brains and Entombed.

History

After releasing their demo "Bandits at 6 O'Clock" in 2001, the band received multiple offers for a record contract and subsequently signed in Scandinavia with Face Front/WME [ [http://www.facefront.no/modules.php?name=Encyclopedia&op=content&tid=14 FaceFront Records band page] ] (and Massacre Records [ [http://www.massacre-records.com/bands/bands.asp?bands=THUNDERBOLT Massacre Records band page] de icon] outside of Scandinavia) for the release of their 2003 debut album "Demons and Diamonds" [ [http://www.metal-observer.com/articles.php?lid=1&sid=4&id=4681 Interview at Metal Observer] ] . The album received acclaim in Norwegian and international music press and was even appreciated by the mainstream Norwegian press — rare for a band in this genre.

Following the success of "Demons and diamonds", the band played several gigs and festivals in Norway, Germany, and Scandinavia from 2003 through 2005.

Recording and mixing of the follow up album "Love and Destruction" was finished in the summer of 2005. However, due to matters in the hands of the record label it took quite a while to make administrative arrangements and bring this album to the public, It was finally released Friday 19. May 2006 and followed up by a Norwegian tour together with Paul Di'Anno and Masterplan [ [http://www.metal-temple.com/interview.asp?id=319 Interview at Metal Temple] ] as well as a major European tour supporting King Diamond [ [http://www.digital-steel.com/DS/index.php?headpage=interviews&id=13 Interview at Digital Steel] ] (May-June 2006). The band followed this with yet more activity, furthering their reputation as a ferocious liveband in their native Norway, as well as gaining a cult-following throughout Europe. The band did another European tour with Swedish battlemetallers Sabaton during the summer of 2007, as well as more Scandinavian dates later on that year. The guys are currently working on their third release, due to be recorded before the end of 2008.

Current lineup

* Tony "Thunder" Johannessen — vocals
* Geir Marius Halleland — guitar
* Morten Eriksen — bass guitar
* Stig Ronny Moe — drums

Previous members

* Cato Syversrud — guitar
* Vegard Waske — drums
* Ole Kristian Løvberg - drums
* Frank Johannessen — guitar

Discography

*(2001) "Bandits at 6 O'Clock" (demo)
*(2003) "Demons and Diamonds" (CD) — Face Front / Massacre Records
*(2006) "Love and Destruction" (CD) — Massacre Records

Reviews

*"Bandits at 6 O'Clock": 4/7 at [http://www.groove.no/html/review/29925776.html Groove.no] no icon
*"Demons and Diamonds": 5/6 in [http://www.vg.no/pub/vgart.hbs?artid=2141525 VG] no icon
*"Demons and Diamonds": 5/6 in [http://www.dagbladet.no/tekstarkiv/artikkel.php?id=5001060081789 Dagbladet] no icon
*"Demons and Diamonds": 5/6 in [http://www.screammagazine.com/ Scream Magazine] (paper issue only) no icon
*"Demons and Diamonds": 8/10 in [http://www.metal-observer.com/articles.php?lid=1&sid=1&id=2736 Metal Observer]
*"Love & Destruction": 5/6 in [http://www.dagbladet.no/kultur/2006/11/14/482847.html Dagbladet] no icon
*"Love & Destruction": 4/5 at [http://www.metal-temple.com/review.asp?id=1665 Metal Temple]
*"Love & Destruction": 80/100 at [http://www.digital-steel.com/DS/index.php?headpage=albumrevs&id=87 Digital Steel]

References and notes

External links

* [http://www.thunderbolt.no/ Official website]
* [http://www.massacre-records.com/bands/bands.asp?bands=THUNDERBOLT Massacre Records Thunderbolt web page] de icon
* [http://www.facefront.no/modules.php?name=Encyclopedia&op=content&tid=14 FaceFront Thunderbolt web page]