CLASSIC RECOMMENDED METAL

TNT– KNIGHTS OF THE NEW THUNDER

1984 Vertigo Records

TNT was pretty much alone in this genre back in the early '80s. The band was from Norway and their first album was even sung in Norwegian. They replaced the original vocalist Dag Ingebrigtsen with American Tony Harnell before making this recording. Every song included on KOTNT is killer, even the one instrumental "Klassisk Romance," (really cool acoustic guitar) which sets up the opening to "Last Summer's Evil." Ignore comments about this album being "spotty"...in my opinion, that description best fits their following album TELL NO TALES, which was short and littered with strange filler instrumentals. (I don't deny that TELL NO TALES still has some great songs, though!) KOTNT is solid and very listenable without being too commercial like the band would be on later albums. I even enjoy the ballad "Without Your Love." One interesting aspect of this album guitar-wise, is that there are almost no overdubs. When the solo comes up, Ronni goes right into it, with only bass and drums behind the solo. You not only get to hear how great a guitarist he is, but how good a bassist Morty Black is. Diesel Dahl is a pretty cool drummer, too. He adds some classic fills.

You'll find a certain enthusiasm on this album that is very infectious. You'll want to pick this up on CD, since it includes a bonus track, "Tor With The Hammer." If you like your Metal on the higher end of the spectrum and can stand the 'shrillness' of Tony's voice, you'll like TNT.

DISCOGRAPHY:

TNT (1982)

KNIGHTS OF THE NEW THUNDER (1984) Vertigo

TELL NO TALES (1987) Mercury

INTUITION (1989) Mercury

REALIZED FANTASIES (1992) Atlantic

THREE NIGHTS IN TOKYO (Live) MMG

TILL NEXT TIME (Best of) (1998) Atlantic

FIREFLY AND LIVE (1997) Shrapnel

TRANSISTOR (1999)

BIG BAND ANTHOLOGY (1999) Spitfire