Thunderbrew
Red Death
3.7
When it comes to submissions you have somewhat of a delicate balance at work. The bands that generally submit their material are on the verge of receiving possible label attention and are looking for some press to back them up or where the vast majority sit is in the epic search of that one label that will catapult them to stardom. What I do find with these bands is that their general work ethic is always outstanding. They solely work the publicity force from within, hitting the streets and the scene with savvy aggression with mere hopes of getting their band noticed. Their recording budgets are minimal considering they have no backing label, so the cash flow comes right out of their own wallets. All in all it's a labor of love which most bands that are into what they are playing do without argument. My point here is that I do respect hard working unsigned bands and I'm all too aware of what they have to go through in their struggles. So to commence ripping their obvious handwork always comes with apprehension but in the end I really have no fucking choice do I? I have to call it how I see it! In walks Thunderbrew hailing from Wilmington, Delaware. A band that I am sure fits perfectly into the category of "hardworking struggling musicians." So it pains me deeply to proceed with thy dissection but dammit it's all in the name of Rock-N-Roll. Let me first start with their name, "Hey Margery can I interest you in a fresh cup of mountain grown Thunderbrew?" I'm not gelling on the name if you can't tell, it has that feel of basically every rock cover band you come across playing all the lame fucking mandatory tunes, the AC/DC, the Kiss, Accept's Balls to the Wall and who can forget Aerosmith.The required set list for every cock rock cover band out their reliving the glory years. My guess is these roots can be found in at least one of the members of Thunderbrew. Listed in their thanks portion of their CD is Zakk Wylde, Dio, Jimmi Hendrix and of course BEER. What you have here is a band that is working the dated sound of 80's Hard Rock, plain and simple. To their credit I'm not speaking of hair bands either, just your good ole classic hard rock shtick. Also to their credit the production they achieved with their self released title Red Death is actually good, they did get a good mix on a sound that basically doesn't deserve one. The songs within Red Death are preformed solid and basically the musicianship is not lacking but I cannot find one iota of originality or even a single part that is semi impressive. The whole feel is average and quite frankly tiresome. I have heard this particular sound for years and so have you. It reeks of mediocrity, the picture I envision while listening to Red Death is the whole end of the night scenario bar-time testosterone filled fights and chicks with large poofy ass bangs dancing the one dance they know in front of the stage just hoping that the guitar player will notice them. I'm sorry I am just not impressed at all. Bottom Line: With their current sound I do not foresee Thunderbrew making it any farther than a local hero type band. These songs are just too generic, they lack any spontaneity and or substance. Again I would like to stress the musicianship is solid but definitely not used to the potential. All in all the "caffeine free" Thunderbrew is beating not only a dead horse but a decaying one as well. In all honesty and this is actually not a burn, your band may be better off reevaluating your tunes and meshing them into a more Nu-metal delivery, at least this aspect has a demand and could prove profitable.
