Thunderstorm
Sad symphony (CD) 2000 Northwind
Thunderstorm are one of the few Italian doom metal bands and they are great! They play an epic doom metal like Candlemass and Black Sabbath [Editor note: They also have a strong heavy-metal feel that reminds you of lets say Iced Earth!]. The singer Fabio "Thunder" is one of the best doom singer I ever heard, alternating screaming vocals and atmospheric passages. The sound is absolutely guitar oriented with a few parts of keys and violin in the title track and in the outro 'Faded memory'. Absolutely exciting are 'Time' (very speedy for the doom precepts), 'The rite' (9 minutes of pure doom metal) and 'Sad symphony' (that is also the most melancholic song, a masterpiece). The other songs are also above the average and in conclusion this is one of the best doom album that I ever heard. Buy or die!	1. Ascension 2. Dark Knight 3. Time 4. The Rite 5. Sphere of Mine 6. Vision of Death 7. The Prophecy 8. Sad Symphony 9. Faded Memory Approx. 51 minutes
Guest review by: Filo
Faithless Soul (CD) 2005 Dragonheart
This is the third album for the Italian doomsters. After ‘Sad Symphony’ (2000) and ‘Witchunter Tales’ (2002). The album once more measures up to the well-known high standards of the Italian doomsters. Take as an example the opening track ‘Templars Of Doom (Dark Knight return)’ which is an ultra-fucking doom metal opus in slow tempo (probably my favorite from the Thunderstorm discography). This song is followed by the faster ‘Forbidden Gates’ which becomes even slower just a little after the middle and is based on a great mournful guitar melody. ‘Black Light’ follows and has a great doom metal opening riff, but just after that great song it is time for a cover version of ‘In a Gadda Da Vida’, originally by old psychedelic rockers Iron Butterfly. In my opinion this hippie song cover does not fit with the doom metal background of the record, even if the band has tried to execute it in their personal musical style. Fortunately after that cover song the slow tempo and the ultra heavy riff of 'In My House Of Misery' reminds us that here we've got doom metal not butterflies and flowers. Maintaining the mood, the record flows like a black river into the listener’s ears with songs such as ‘Hidden face’, “Final Curtain’, and ‘Narrow Is The Road’. The band has got the talent to change between slow and faster tempos; they are always building great riffs, managing to keep the interest of the listener on a high level. They will remind you a little bit of Trouble and Solitude Aeturnus with a little ghost of Black Sabbath wandering here and there. The voice of the singer is of a high standard and much improved from the previous albums, even though sometimes the Italian accent is recognisable in his English. Well, for those who believe that Italy has only spaghetti, pizza and Euro-power metal, Thunderstorm is a great doom metal answer and they have released a high-quality doom metal album. Worth checking for sure.	1. Templars Of Doom 2. Forbidden Gates 3. Black Light 4. In a Gadda da Vida 5. In My House Of Misery 6. Hidden Face 7. Final Curtain 8. Narrow Is The Road Approx. 51 minutes
Reviewed by: CountRaven