Tracklist:                     
01 - Palantir
02 - Lidless Eye 
03 - Demons & Diamonds 
04 - The Great Walls Of Stone 
05 - Days Of Confusion 
06 - Enforcer 
07 - Heartrazor 
08 - The Murderer's Dream (Of Purgatory) 
09 - Haunted By Shadows 
10 - Baptized By Fire 
11 - Crucified 



Bandmembers:          
Tony Johannssen - Vocals, Keyboards
Cato Syversrud - Lead Guitars
Frank Johannssen - Rhythm Guitars
Morten Eriksen - Bass
Vegard Waske - Drums



Websites:                    
www.thunderbolt.no
www.massacre-records.com

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Thunderbolt - Demons and Diamonds
Massacre Records 2003

A Chinese woman with a sword, a logo that looks like its been stolen from a third rate cowboy movie, the music; incredibly good traditional heavy metal

Yes my friends, whoever said metal died surely must get a kick in the face when he puts on this jewel of an album. Ok ok, its nothing that hasn't been done before, but to be honest, I don't care I love this sort of stuff always have and always will. Now don't go thinking we're dealing with another HammerFall clone but think more towards Iron Maiden and Pegazus.
Thunderbolt shows with this debut album that Norway isn't only the country where people burn churches or play 500 notes a second on keyboard or guitar oh no, hell, if I didn't read it personally I would not even believe they come from Oslo. They sound so English so NWOBH with an attitude like. 

The voice of Tony Johannssen reminds me at times of Dickenson and so do the vocal-lines but the band fortunately doesn't restrict its music around happy galloping riffs and twin guitar work. As mentioned before Thunderbolt makes traditional heavy metal but with a more up to date sound to it, which I happen to think is a good thing. Oh I know, a lot of people are going to whine and cry how its not original and how it's all been done before, well people BITE ME!

Back to the album, Demons and Diamonds contains 10 tracks and 1 intro, especially this intro deserves some extra credit, it sounds more like something you would expect on a gothic metal album and it somehow gets a hold of you and doesn't let go until you're being sucked in further by "Lidless Eye". After listening to this song for about a minute you know exactly what to expect and you're left no choice to turn up the volume.

I am sure my neighbors are thankful I didn't get sent the actual booklet with all the lyrics because I found myself singing along several times.
I can't help it though, catchy tunes, great vocals and a hell of a good production. But seeing as how I hate it when there's nothing to bitch about, I tried to come up with something good,.. and well.. nothing. Perhaps they could have done even better if the album had a ballad or two because with the 10 up tempo songs you listen through the album as its a mini cd. 

I just have a small suggestion for Iron Maiden, become friends with these guys before they come and kick you off the throne of metal!! A must for real metalheads.

  
  81/100

  Michael