 TNT
All the Way to the Sun
Mayhem Records 2005
www.tnttheband.com
Read the Tony Harnell interview
What’s the 4-1-1?
Scandinavian melodic hard rock band TNT has been headlining festivals
and garnering radio airplay around the world for more than twenty
years. This album is their eight studio release.
Genre
Hard rock / metal / melodic
The Good
“A Fix” is laced with an addictive guitar lick that will have you
begging for more. Vocalist Tony Harnell is enduring and melodic in his delivery
as he exclaims that his woman is the only drug for him. There’s some sweet
solo work courtesy of Ronni Le Tekro. Bending licks and mid-tempo muted riffs
help propel “Driving;” a track about making changes in your life.
The melodic chorus section on “Me and I” is both powerful and inspiring.
“Sometimes” has
all the making of an eighties rock classic with its acoustic and electric tones
and catchy lyrical hooks. “All the Way to the Sun” shows off more
of TNT’s metal side with heavy distortion and passionate vocals. How could
I forget the shedding solo? “Black Butterfly” is another track that
falls into the metal category. Diesel Dahl’s galloping drum work gels
well with Le Tekro’s chugga-chugga riffage. “Ready to Fly” is
the perennial power ballad that’s full of bluesy tones and high-registering
vocals.
The Bad
The opening lyrics to “Too Late” turned me off to the song instantly;
I don’t wanna hide / But I’m feeling stuck inside / Like a baby
that’s
overdue. I just thought that simile was lame. Also, there’s not really
much you can do to a classic like “What a Wonderful World." The gritty
original will always win, hands down. TNT’s version is too bright and optimistic.
The Verdict
I said in the past that anything with Tony Harnell's name attached to it
is worth every penny, and I’m sticking to it, especially when it’s
with the band he made his name with. I don’t think that All the
Way to the Sun had the same grandeur and energy as their last outing, My Religion,
but it’s still an enjoyable melodic/metal album.
Did You Know?
Tony Harnell contributed vocals to the Starbreaker project in 2005.
Rating:  out
of 5
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--George Dionne
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