Tony Martin – Thorns
Release Date: 14th January 2022
Label: Battlegod Productions
Pre-Order
Genre: Groove Metal, Heavy Metal.
FFO: Black Sabbath, Giuntini Project, Pantera, Silver Horses, Empire.
Review By: Jordan Burton-Morris
Battlegod Productions proudly presents the new studio full-length album from Tony Martin, an English heavy metal vocalist best known for his time fronting Black Sabbath, initially from 1987 to 1991 and again from 1993 to 1996. He was the band’s second-longest serving vocalist after Ozzy. “Eternal Idol” and “Headless Cross” are among the best known Black Sabbath albums which feature Martin as well as “Scream”, his solo album from 2005. This new album will feature Danny Needham (Venom), Magnus Rosen (Hammerfall), Scott McClellan, who helped co-write the album, and Greg Smith, who performed with Alice Cooper, Rainbow, Blue Öyster Cult, Dario Mollo and many more!
The album consists of 11 tracks, and a runtime of just under 50 minutes. We get syncopated drums on tracks such as opener As The World Burns. Black Widow Angel has some thunderous riffs, soaked with a doomy, southern feel (very suitable for head-banging). Book Of Shadows has a strong choral intro and a synth solo from hell. Crying Wolf is the first of the album’s strong, heartfelt ballads, which is, again, very well delivered. Damned By You gives us something a little different, mixing big riffs with orchestral elements, topped-off with a face-melting solo. Nowhere To Fly is the true meaning of a metal ballad, with a huge, killer chorus. Passion Killer is driven by strong vocals, delivered with passion, ironically, and bolstered with thick Pantera-esque riffs. Run Like The Devil sounds like something Mötley Crüe and Van Halen wrote together (which is amazing). Penultimate track This Is Your Damnation is a country/blues rock tune about the state of the country. Title track and closer Thorns is another ballad, but my word it’s so much stronger and powerful than the others, and an incredible way to round off the album!
Overall, this is a stellar album, proving Tony has still got the fire and passion he had back in the Sabbath days. His voice still sounds very strong and clear, and the album is packed with sections of just bass and either vocals or orchestral instruments, which creates ominous and dramatic vibes. Definitely one for fans of ‘classic’ metal.
(4.5 / 5)
