Year : 1984 (Japan SHM-CD Remastered Edition 2012)
Style : Glam Hard Rock
Country : Norway
Audio : 320 kbps + all scans + Video
Size : 122 mb
Bio:
TNT is a Norwegian power metal band from Trondheim, formed in 1982. The band has released twelve studio albums, three EPs and two live albums while going through numerous line-up changes since its formation. Guitarist Ronni Le Tekrø is the only consistent member of TNT. In 2013 singer Tony Harnell returned to the band after a seven year absence reuniting 3/4 of the band's classic 80s lineup.TNT was formed in the Norwegian city Trondheim in 1982, by vocalist and rhythm guitarist Dag Ingebrigtsen, guitarist Ronni Le Tekrø, bassist Steinar Eikum and drummer Diesel Dahl.Securing a national record contract with PolyGram subsidiary Vertigo Norway, they released their self-titled debut album the same year — their only album that features Norwegian lyrics — and got a hit with the single "Harley-Davidson". In August 1983 Morty Black replaced Steinar Eikum on bass, and the following year American vocalist Tony Harnell became TNT's new frontman, making his debut on their album Knights of the New Thunder. His unique and powerful 4 octave range was the final element the band needed to break out of Norway and into the world market. The album was a huge success in Scandinavia and the band then was offered a worldwide deal with Mercury/Polygram worldwide out of New York. Knights was then released in the U.S. in 1984 and the video for "Seven Seas" got heavy rotation on MTV and the album entered the billboard charts.That line-up recorded one more album, Tell No Tales in 1987, before Diesel Dahl parted company from TNT the following year after some turbulent times within the band. Tell No Tales produced TNT's biggest hit, the single "10,000 Lovers (In One)". Tell No Tales marked a slight change in sound from melodic Euro-metal to a more palatable hard rock style, with Le Tekrø and Harnell gaining a reputation as a talented duo. The album was the best selling release in Norway and Sweden that year (outselling hugely popular artists like Michael Jackson and Def Leppard). Tell No Tales also saw the band establishing a mainstream following in Japan and the U.S. Promotional Videos for "Everyone's a Star" and "10,000 Lovers (In One)" were featured on both European and American MTV. They were also featured on Headbangers Ball. The band supported Stryper on a sold out arena tour in the U.S. followed by a tour with Twisted Sister and Great White as well as headlining shows in large clubs in the U.S.Kenneth Odiin became TNT's new drummer and played on TNT's fourth studio album, Intuition, in 1989. This release marked a more AOR-oriented sound, still maintaining a little of the hard rock edge of the previous album. Intuition was another huge success in Scandinavia and Japan. It was also the band's best received American release and saw the band embarking on their first headlining tour of the U.S. which broke attendance records across the country in small theaters and large clubs, thanks to the prominent display of the video for the title track on MTV.
Album:
Remastered and with its originally censored cover artwork , TNT‘s “Knights Of The New Thunder” was reissued by Universal Japan on high quality SHM-CD not so long ago as part of a three-album TNT reissue series also featuring albums Tell No Tales and Intuition, both already featured here on the blog.So let’s check this “Knights Of The New Thunder”, TNT second album but the band’s first ‘international release’ recorded with their new vocalist Tony Harnell.Finding terrific American singer Tony Harnell provided TNT their own strong identity which alongside guitar genius and primary songwriter Ronni Le Tekro would serve the band well for eight good to impossibly-great full length albums between 1984 and 2005.Tony Harnell would be dubbed Tony Hansen for this album, to make him feel welcome amongst his new Scandinavian pals… or more likely to avoid accusations of ‘Americanization’ something Brits Def Leppard were being hit with left and right in 1984 (but they didn’t care, they were selling truckloads of albums in America).TNT would never be so fortunate, but they were as deserving of Leppard-size global success.“Knights Of The New Thunder” was their first confident stab at greatness. Each track is a splendid piece of pristine classic metal / hard rock highlighted with blistering guitar wizardry and charismatic vocalsOpener ‘Seven Seas’ is full of Viking imagery yet never becomes cartoon-y, built on a mean, punchy mid-paced main riff, and going a long way to prove TNT weren’t trying to sound too cosmopolitan just yet. Same can be said for ‘Tor With the Hammer’ which gallops along with plenty of Norse pride.Despite a remarkably slick, squeaky-clean production, the album does not lack any power. It’s got a confidence and personality that the band lacked on their first try, and it certainly doesn’t hurt having Harnell slashing away with his godlike vocal gifts.His voice is much like the production: a shimmering, shining thing of great strength and depth. He reaches some stratospheric highs too, heard in ‘Ready To Leave’, ‘Last Summer’s Evil’, epic title track ‘Knights of the Thunder’ and the incredible Halford / Crimson Glory’s Midnight-like squeals in ‘Deadly Metal’.Le Tekro is a perfect match for Harnell: as fast and nimble as fellow Scandi Yngwie, as inventive / explosive as Mr. Van Halen, and having the manic precision panic of solo-era Vinnie Vincent, Le Tekro planted his feet firmly as a guitar genius extraordinaire with this album. It’s a recognizable six-string voice, to say the least. You’ll always know it when you hear it.The first ever TNT song I heard ever was the incredible ‘Ready To Leave’ (the album highlight to me), mixing classy Euro metal riffs with a near AOR chorus. Topped off with soaring vocals from Harnell and gang-like backing vocals, it probably doesn’t get better than this.Or perhaps it happens with beautiful AOR stylings of ‘Without Your Love’, a terrific ballad but still plenty of bite.“Knights Of The New Thunder” was pretty successful in Europe, so their record label decided to launch TNT in the USA to capitalize their strengths in the raising hard rock scene.The album’s original cover art featured this illustration of half naked women and caused controversy in Norway. A new artwork was made and used for the national and international editions, except for Japan where the album was released with its original cover, reproduced in this reissue.The track Eddie’ was an exclusive bonus track on the CD edition in Europe, and replaced ‘Tor With The Hammer’ on USA version. The Japan edition included both. Additionally, ‘Deadly Metal’ has a different guitar solo.This remastered SHM-CD sounds incredibly neat & punchy, put on sale at very affordable price.
Line-Up:
Tony Harnell – vocals (credited as Tony Hansen)
Ronni Le Tekrø – guitars
Morty “Black” Skaget – bass guitar
Diesel Dahl – drums, percussion
additional personnel:
Bård Svendsen – keyboards and background vocals
Production:
Record Company – Universal Strategic Marketing Japan
Marketed By – Universal Music LLC
Distributed By – Universal Music LLC
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Island Def Jam Music Group
Copyright © – Island Def Jam Music Group
Arranged By – TNT
Cover, Design, Artwork – Ton Friesen
Engineer – Rune Nordal
Management – Fireball
Photography By – Åge Hojem
Producer – Bjørn Nessjø
Sleeve, Graphics – Gustav Alfheim
Tracklist:
01. Seven Seas
02. Ready To Leave
03. Klassisk Romance
04. Last Summer’s Evil
05. Without Your Love
06. Tor With The Hammer
07. Break The Ice
08. U.S.A.
09. Deadly Metal
10. Knights Of The Thunder
11. Eddie (Bonus Track)
+ Video "Seven Seas" (Official Video)
Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/
