Band:	Thunder
Album:	Laughing On Judgement Day
Style:	Hard rock
Release date:	August 24, 1992
A review by:	omne metallum

Disc I
01. Does It Feel Like Love?
02. Everybody Wants Her
03. Low Life In High Places
04. Laughing On Judgement Day
05. Empty City
06. Today The World Stopped Turning
07. Long Way From Home
08. Fire To Ice
09. Feeding The Flame
10. A Better Man
11. The Moment Of Truth
12. Flawed To Perfection
13. Like A Satellite
14. Baby I'll Be Gone
15. With A Little Help From My Friends [Japanese bonus]
16. Broken Home [demo] [Japanese 2004 Remaster bonus]

Disc II [2009 Expanded Version Bonus Disc]
01. She's My Inspiration
02. With A Little Help From My Friends
03. Low Life In High Places [demo]
04. Everybody Wants Her [radio edit]
05. Dirty Love [acoustic version]
06. Higher Ground [acoustic version]
07. Like A Satellite [live]
08. Gimme Shelter
09. The Damage Is Done
10. Higher Ground [live]
11. Lazy Sunday Afternoon [live]
12. Bigger Than Both Of Us
13. Dangerous Rhythm
14. Everybody Wants Her [Preacher Fade]
15. New York, New York: Harry's Theme [live]

One of, if not the best example of switching up rookie exuberance for mature experience, Thunder produce a stellar follow-up in Laughing On Judgement Day, a solid and vast album that takes the path well-trodden in a new direction. Sophomore slump? Sophomore jump is more accurate.

Laughing On Judgement Day is an admirable follow-up to the cast-iron strong Backstreet Symphony; mixing the quality of the first album with the experience the band had gained, it results in a more mature but no less down to earth sound that imbues each song with a vibrancy and sense of purpose that means that no inch of the vinyl is left unused.

Whether due to a glut of inspiration or the band deciding to throw everything at the wall in the hope that something stuck, you can't fault Thunder for lack of effort in trying to follow up Backstreet Symphony by releasing an album that is 70 minutes long and running the risk of overwhelming the listener or dropping a few misses in the mix. Luckily for the listener the risk pays off, and you get an album full to the brim with vibrant and strong tracks that can hold their own and push the band forward.

This sense of maturity takes the shape of the band trying to broaden their sound and cast their net that bit wider than they had on their debut record, with longer and more progressive tracks that try their hand at moving the band forward while not creating a rift with their identity, such as "Empty City" and "Long Way From Home". The addition of elements like saxophones and female backing vocals to give a jazzy flair to "Everybody Wants Her" and the bluesy country-esque sounds of "Better Man" are just some of the things that keep the sound fresh whilst at the same time not detracting from it, giving the audience more of the same but in a new package.

As good as the band's new elements are, it is not at the expense of the rock sounds the band had made their own, and they are able to balance their past with the present with equal skill. Tracks like "Does It Feel Like Love", "Feeding The Flame" and "Flawed To Perfection" will satiate those who want another straight dose of what had come before with a few subtler touches here and there.

It is on Laughing On Judgement Day that you really come to recognise the depth and breadth of Thunder's talents, being able to incorporate a diaspora of influences and harness them into their own sound with ease. The greater use of non-electronic instruments in acoustic guitars, piano and other woodwind instruments gives the band several dimensions in which they can express their blues rock leanings without any of the songs blurring into one. Morley and Matthews ensure each track has a good dose of guitar that is able to add and lead the track without overwhelming all the other elements that go into the tracks. Taking turns on the piano and organ, the two show that aren't one trick ponies either, proving to be capable at whatever they put their hands to.

Bowes' soulful and blues-soaked vocals give each track an emotive response that adds to the catchiness of the music; knowing when to restrain himself and unleash his voice is admirable given the temptation to just belt out each tune at full volume, but by changing his approach, he helps give each track an extra element of identity.

If you were to ask people their favourite tracks, I'm sure you'd get several varied responses given the consistent strength of the material on the album. For what it's worth, my money would be on "Everybody Wants Her", "Long Way From Home" and "Low Life In High Places", which just have that extra something for me, but I'd happily take any track from this album to listen to.

If there is to be a flaw here, it is that, given the sheer length and scope of this record, you can really feel the run time towards the end of the album. For a negative having too much of a good thing is a very good issue to have, but at the same time, while I couldn't and wouldn't suggest shedding any tracks to rectify this, you will find yourself starting to wear of the album before it reaches its conclusion. Much like a large meal of your favourite food, eventually you will want to stop eating and feel the quantity start to get to you while you still have food left on your plate; you don't want to say you want less next time and risk having too little but you know you won't be able to finish your meal.

Probably the last great record by Thunder and the one that any fans of rock should give a listen to in quick order, Laughing On Judgement Day is a great example of a band being able to expand and move their sound forward without cutting ties with their past, drawing fresh inspiration and sounds into the mix but never at the expense of their identity.