Throughout the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Nazgul have their own musical score. The music that was written for them is dark and operatic; when you hear it, you anticipate awful things to happen. And yet, I feel the choice that was made just wasn't dramatic enough so I took it upon myself to choose new music for The Black Riders.
After repeated listens to Black Thunder, it is my conclusion that The Nazg'l's music should be replaced with the song 'Ride or Die,' and not just because the song-title is fitting. The opening sequence of the song is filled with gloomy guitars and down-tempo drums, very foreboding of something evil to come. And then it hits, like a Nazgul appearing out of nowhere. The song's pace picks up with a mix of thrashy guitars and hellaciously out of control drums. That evil is quickly on your ass and there is little you can do. Just as the song suggests, you better ride or you're going to fucking die.
Many have made notations in regards to the notoriety of the members of Doomriders and their respective past experiences in the underground music community. And while Nate Newton, Jebb Riley, Chris Pupecki, and Chris Bevalaqua all have impressive resumes, none of that is relevant. What matters is that they have a knack for writing killer tunes.
For example, the title track is an excellent cut, and shines in the opening slot. 'Black Thunder' packs together everything great about punk, hardcore, metal and rock-n-roll into one song. It is an energizing display of gritty fast-paced rock-n-roll music that makes use of singalongs, brilliant guitar riffs, and extremely prolific drumming. The band uses this formula successfully throughout the album and shines on the tracks 'Deathbox,' 'Listen Up,' 'Worthless,' and 'The Whipcrack.'
One thing that distinguishes Black Thunder from the hordes of heavy rock / punk records is their versatility. Doomriders extend their sound beyond a band that is full of rage. They dare to venture outside of the stereotype, a risk many bands never take during their careers. 'Midnight Eye' takes a cue from the darkest frontman-of-them-all and obvious influence, Danzig. The song slightly resembles the hit 'Mother' as it takes that ballad-like structure and partners it with Newton's crooning vocals and a perfectly placed guitar solo. 'Voice of Fire' is another instance in which the band differentiates themselves - think ominous, brooding, and dark metal in a slow-rising configuration.
Black Thunder is thirteen tracks of abrasive punk and rock-n-roll. I wouldn't call this a hardcore record by any means, but I can see where that comparison stems from. No matter what you call it or who you'd compare it to, if you're looking for a lively album filled with unruly music that will make you kick your feet up and wail on that air guitar, this is a great choice.
