Thunderhawk

This tetrad of rockers have put forth “IV”, an album that compiles songs written during the last decade (even if Thunderhawk as a band has only been around for seven of those years). It was recorded in a living room, and that really is a feat in itself, as “IV” has a professional sound to it that only is broken during certain moments (such as the beginning to Flying Corpse/Fake Troops Ending). The band moves from simple rock to taking influences like Southern/country-rock bands (Lynyrd Skynyrd) one second to moving into a path that is completely their direction the next. In that sense, they are similar to fellow Hoosiers The Nancy School. The ability of Thunderhawk to elicit emotional response from their listening base during tracks like (Love Galaxy) is simply something that cannot be surpassed. Lead singer (and guitarist) Josh Hall really makes this song something that will draw a tear to a listener’s eye.

This band is destined for something bigger than central Indiana; the songs, like rough stones made smooth by the tumbler (or time, in Thunderhawk’s case), are smooth and nearly flawless. What is striking about Thunderhawk’s music is the extremely short length of the vast majority of tracks on “IV”. The entire nine tracks of the disc end slightly after the twenty-five minute mark, making the average tracklength well below three minutes. Yet, especially during tracks like “Constantine”, the band creates something that completely drops listeners out of a specific chronology and puts them into the band’s own reality, making a sub two-minute track feel like it lasted five. The ability of Thunderhawk to so specifically use their influences in their tracks – with track five sounding much more like an early-nineties alternative track than anything else on the disc – and yet make a disc that by and large is tied together is another fat checkmark in what makes them an exciting and impressive band.

Flying Corpse/Fake Troops Ending really is the track that makes “IV” for me, using journeyman guitar riffs (not particularly concerned with trying to wow with a virtuosic guitar solo) and sly, sedate vocals Thunderbirds really show that they know their stuff. While this disc has been eight years in coming, I have a feeling that the band’s next album will be able to build off the polish and finesse that is so present on this album. The longer tracks do provide listeners with the juicy breast meat of the Thunderbirds; perhaps the band will go with longer songs this next disc? I hope so.

Top Tracks: Flying Corpse/Fake Troops Ending, Karate Choppers

- Neufutur

I’d like to find out more about the band Thunderhawk and their album IV, but their website contradicts the plastic that was sent to me. I’d also like to join their band, but I’m too old, live too far away, play the baritone ukulele and have too many responsibilities. Sometimes life doesn’t give you what you want.
What life did give me was a compact disc of nine highly polished and well written power pop songs that draw from the best of the last four decades of pop. This is promising for those enrolled at Ball State, as three of the four members have degrees in music engineering from that educational institution. These members are, in order of height divided by graduation date, Josh Hall (vocals and instruments), Doug Market (instruments), Greg Dixon (guitar) and Justin Darrow (bass).
Thunderhawk formed in 1994, taking its name from a sarcastic attempt to attract enough of the ubiquitous metal fans to satisfy venue owners. But there isn’t any metal or even hard rock on IV. Nope What you get, at least what I got on the nine song pre-release version, is free-wheeling pop and rock with loads of classic touches. Your mileage may vary on the “over 30 song” version listed on their website, or on the 22-song version referred to on their online press release.
Unfortunately, the disc I received didn’t have song names, so I’ll make them up. “Feldspar” features clean guitars, breezy 60s pop, and the feel-good vibe of The Spongetones. A Pavement influence is found in “Gravy Pajamas,” which is heavier to the point of mega-power-pop, causing the singer to sing “All I see are robots when I sleep.” “Lunch Money for the Dead” and “Llama” both sport a Ween sheen, one with gritty rock and the other with more fanciful rock elements, a great, driving guitar melody and a catchy vocal line. The lazy, ambling “Conduit Skies” is Beach Boys meets Guided by Voices, and “Sleepytime Gorilla Museum” takes a chunky Kinks riff and a classic rock guitar solo to the inevitable conclusion of a massive “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” repeating wall of overdriven guitars. The album closes with “Pink Bunnies,” a raucous, distorted, gritty garage rocker.
To get your hands and ears on this excellent and excellently recorded album fly on over to www.thunderhawkband.com and see if they’ll sell you one. The price is either $15 or $13, depending on the page you are viewing, the browser you are using and the name of your podiatrist.
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- Whatzup