Let's face it. Metal is dumb. Metal has always been dumb. And hopefully, metal will always be dumb. (I could, however, do without the "Metallica bleating 12-step recovery program slogans over a tin drum" kind of dumb. Because that's just not metal.) And why fight the dumb? Metal is loud; it's obvious; it's incurably theatrical. Dumb is the way of metal, and the dumber the better. Leather! Flames! Swords! Warriors! Skulls! Hot chicks and motorbikes! Hell, yeah!
John Mikl Thor (his real name) was at one time a winner of the Mr. Canada and Mr. USA pageants, a champion bodybuilder with a taste for training to heavy rock. Back in the '70s, when it was still (relatively) cool to wear studded leather collars and sing about the hammer of the gods, Thor stole a page from Alice Cooper and KISS and took his act on the road as Thor The Rock God, blending metal with Norse mythology and epic stage shows (he claims to have been an influence on GWAR and Manowar). Throughout the heyday of metal (roughly the late '70s through the mid-'80s), he toured the globe doing mock battle with evil warlords, brandishing sword and shield, and perform feats of strength such as bending steel bars, smashing bricks against his chest, and blowing up hot water bottles until they burst. He has been known to ride onstage in Charlton Heston's chariot from Ben-Hur.
And even though the world has moved on and metal has turned to rap and diary excerpts for new inspiration, Thor is still making music. His new album, Thor Against The World is out next month on Smog Veil Records.
So what does the rock god’s new album sound like? Well, it's goofy, it's bombastic, and it's as satisfying to the primitive part of my lizard-brain where the metal receptors are located as anything I've ever heard. Thor Against The World rocks in the finest tradition of AC/DC, Alice Cooper, KISS, WASP, Judas Priest, and all the other great deep-shag acts of the golden age of hard rock. Is it an instant classic? No. But it is one hell of a lot of fun.
Article comments
1 - foad
"Metal is dumb." You obviously don't understand what metal is all about and therefore shouldnt be reviewing anything dealing with a subject you are so clueless about. Fuck off and die.
2 - Johno
Q.E.D.
How adorable.
3 - Mike 'Y Di' Cole
YOU'RE RIGHT !!I haven't heard THOR
AGAINST the WORLD yet (Im waiting to get it)..BUT I've been following THOR
for many years and he always delivers.
THOR's been very prolific in the past few years and its some of the BEST
HARD ROCK coming out ON THE PLANET !!
great review..I can't wait to get mine!
4 - Tan The Man
Where's the Black Sabbath love?
5 - Laura
I have the new Thor CD and it is great! We saw them recently south of Orlando as they kick of their new tour. The show was great, the music sounded nice and crunchy, next time I go I am buying one of those G-Strings he is selling!
6 - Bob A. Booey
Now THIS is a review.
Johno, I'm sure I would hate this band and I hate metal, but I like this piece.
You had me at the opening:
"Let's face it. Metal is dumb. Metal has always been dumb. And hopefully, metal will always be dumb."
I can't relate to your bad taste in music, but I can relate to your writing and it made me want to read about a stupid band named after a Norse god (something that's a no-no for any self-respecting rock critic).
I officially nominate Johno to be the new music reviewer rather than Senator Al Barger.
Olsen: what ever happened to the old search function where you could search comments by the commenter's name? I wanted to go back and read some of my old schtick :)
7 - Damien
THOR is back with a work of art.I would recommend this to any fan of 80's type metal.Every song on the CD grabs you and pulls you in.