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TNT
XIII

Frontiers (2018)
Rating: 7/10

Well I’ll be damned, if it isn’t one of my favourite melodic metal bands back with a new album after a gap of eight years since 2010’s A Farewell To Arms.

I loved this Norwegian act back in the 80s when they were responsible for such gems as TNT (1982), Knights Of The New Thunder (1984), Tell No Tales (1987) and Intuition (1989). They were the glory years, the golden days of hard rock and metal, and yet in spite of continued success through the 90s with Realized Fantasies (1992), Firefly (1997) and Transistor (1999) I’m of the opinion that the quality deteriorated. However, it didn’t stop the band marching into the new millennium with 2004’s My Religion, 2005’s All The Way To The Sun, 2007’s The New Territory, 2008’s Atlantis and of course the aforementioned A Farewell To Arms… that period being arguably the band’s most productive.

This latest outing marks the TNT recording debut of new vocal warbler Baol Bardot Bulsara and bassist Ove Husemoen, who join original members Ronni Le Tekrø (guitar) and Diesel Dahl (drums). And with XIII I still hear a band that’s fresh, vibrant and full of energy.

Baol’s voice is pleasant on the ears as is the music throughout this 12-track outing, TNT dishing out glossy, pristine melodic rock that flirts – although in limited quantities – with what we’d deem metal. Ronni Le Tekrø, as always, is still responsible for the tight riffs and sweet leads, but TNT has certainly opted for a more AOR approach.

The melodies feel sugary and light, the drums are airy and the bass is nifty but fluffy, and the sound in general often leads towards poppier sensibilities on the likes of ‘Catch A Wave’ and ‘We’re Gonna Make It’. ‘Tears In My Eyes’ does have dashes of the metallic, but the overall content is more summery and bubblegum as flecks of Tyketto and the likes breathe in.

Those seeking heavier details won’t be disappointed when they do emerge, however. ‘People, Come Together’ is a fine example of how the guitars, when given freedom, cut deep in the solo department, while the dreadfully titled ‘Get Ready For Some Hard Rock’ thumps with an anthemic quality circa Queen’s ‘We Will Rock You’ mixed with Def Leppard, but equipped with an early 90s swagger.

‘Fair Warning’ is probably my favourite cut on the record. This one offers a darker guitar rumble and more oomph in the vocal cries, and again there’s that saunter throughout led by Ronni Le Tekrø’s divine touch. ‘Where You Belong’ offers up the aching bittersweet balladry as Baol whispers “Woke this morning and said your name, blew a kiss but all in vain”. This track offers up a dose of haunting melancholy where the vocals steadily build to higher echelons. ‘It’s Electric’ loiters once again in poppier realms, as do ‘Can’t Breathe Anymore’ and closer ‘Sunshine’, while in contrast there’s a touch of meatiness about ‘Not Feeling Anything’.

So TNT’s fresh start stirs up a myriad of emotions. While the band will always have a place in my soul, I have to say I’m a touch disappointed by the flakiness on show throughout XIII. It’s a record that lacks a strong enough back bone in spite of a spattering of hardier numbers, while for the most part the sugary tones seem to come in thick waves. One can’t really argue with some of the softer melodies, as they do make the hairs tingle and Baol Bardot Bulsara’s voice certainly seems up to the task. But in an age where Stryper outweighs TNT, I naturally have to have my concerns.

Neil Arnold

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