#THIN LIZZY THUNDER AND LIGHTNING UPDATE#

Lizzy takes a stab at dance-rock with 'The Holy War,' while laying back with the tranquil 'The Sun Goes Down' and the album's underrated highlight, the melodic 'Bad Habits.' Like Lizzy's other '80s releases, filler is present - 'Someday She Is Going to Hit Back' and 'Heart Attack' and disappointingly, guitarist Scott Gorham abandons his trademark harmony leads of yesteryear in favor of '80s-era high-tech shredding. Thin Lizzy are an Irish hard rock band from Dublin.Formed in 1969, the group originally consisted of bassist and vocalist Phil Lynott, guitarist Eric Bell, drummer Brian Downey and keyboardist Eric Wrixon. But such heavies as 'This Is the One' and 'Cold Sweat' suit the band much better. While the title track served as the ensuing tour's raging opener, half-baked lyrics detailing a fistfight and an unwarranted synth-solo weakens what should have been a straight-ahead rocker. Although a pop-metal production hinders the tracks, there's more of a harder edge present than on their last release, Renegade. Guitarist John Sykes replaced Snowy White, and the new blood must have inspired Lynott and company to write some of their best compositions in years. Ironically, the final song on Lizzy’s final album is Heart Attack.Thin Lizzy's final studio release, Thunder and Lightning, was their most consistent album since 1979's Black Rose. Scott Gorham left to go to rehab (he is currently in a reformed version of the band with drummer Brian Downey and Darren Wharton) while Phil Lynott went on to pass away from drug-relate heart failure at the beginning of 1986. So, a mixed bag from there two final Thin Lizzy albums. Here’s one occasion when the bonus tracks really do improve the album. And without all the studio trickery, they are much better. In addition to a handful of live tracks they include demo versions of every song on Thunder And Lightning. Also, Lynott’s vocals are buried too far in the mix.įortunately the bonus tracks solve part of the problem. This was the early 80s and the band’s sound is marred by the era’s heavy dependence on echo, synths and other digital distractions. The main problem with Thunder And Lightning is the production. His playing is similar to Randy Rhoads (apparently Sykes was considered to replace Rhoads in Ozzy’s band after Rhoads’ died). This time the youthful infusion proved to be a good thing and Sykes adds new energy into the band starting with the title track. The flipside, Memory Pain, written by Percy Mayfield is an agreeable sounding slice of moody blues.Ĭlick here to listen to Angel Of Death from Renegade:īy the time the band got around to recording Thunder And Lightning, White had had enough of the band’s drug culture and was replaced by former Tygers Of Pan Tang guitarist John Sykes. Thin Lizzy's final studio release, Thunder and Lightning, was their most consistent album since 1979's Black Rose. It’s OK, but the production is rather toothless. Thunder and Lightning is the twelfth and final studio album by heavy-rock band Thin Lizzy, released in 1983 (see 1983 in music). Lynott’s lyric writing lets him down on latter tracks like Mexican Blood and Fats, a jazz-tinged tip of the hat to Fats Waller where Wharton plays a little boogie woogie piano.īonus tracks include Trouble Boys, the Billy Bremner-penned 50s-flavoured tune released as a single. Hollywood (Down On Your Luck) is the other decent track on the album with a riff that is reminiscent of Jailbreak and a respectable set of lyrics. According to the liner notes Lynott was a fan, so I guess it’s cool. Leave This Town sounds like a tribute to ZZ Top with its faux- Tush riff. Much better is The Pressure Will Blow, a classic Thin Lizzy rocker, with just a taste of metal in the mix.

#THIN LIZZY THUNDER AND LIGHTNING UPDATE#

The band tried to update itself with a heavier sound, but this track, with lyrics based on the writings of Nostradamus, sounds like a bad Spinal Tap outtake.Ĭo-lead guitarist Snowy White attempts to add some blues into the mix for the title track, but it too falls flat. Wharton’s influence in painfully obvious on the opening track, Angel Of Death. 19-year-old keyboard player Darren Wharton was brought in to inject some youthful energy into the veteran band, but his contributions only further alienated Lizzy from their core following…hard core rockers who wanted more Jailbreak and The Boys Are Back In Town. Renegade, originally released in 1981, found the band in pretty bad shape with singer/bassist Phil Lynott and guitarist Scott Gorham both supporting debilitating heroin habits. The final two studio albums (numbers 11 & 12 if you’re counting) by Irish rockers Thin Lizzy have been reissued with the usual bonus tracks and extensive liner notes.

Thin lizzy thunder and lightning