Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10
The God-Mother of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Susie Quattro, would arguably be proud of the continuation of her vision, that of female rock that doesn’t capitulate to the notion that to be taken seriously does not mean betraying everything that you stand for just so you can get noticed. Yes, there was the patent alure that went with the gravitas of the music played by Ms. Quattro, however, like Sweden’s Thundermother, it is the storm created by the Heatwave that brings the joy of Rock to the ears of the listener, the heavy pound of a heart in love with the music on offer.
Heatwave is about development, growth, the chance to start back over and be, if possible, attain new heights of pleasure, of tearing up what was considered a rule book, and throwing the pages onto the fire of indifference; for in life the Heatwave dictates a new approach, a new sound and creativity.
The energy supplied by Filippa Nassil, Guernica Mancini, Emlee Johansson and Majsan Linberg throughout Heatwave not only sizzles and bakes like hot tar mixing freely with the surrounding air and creating the allusion of waves, the refraction of temperature, but it carries with it the signals of warmth, of passion and sheer beguiling intensity that is impossible to ignore.
Across songs such as Dog From Hell, the generating excitement of Back In ’76, Into The Mud, Driving In Style, Somebody Love Me and Purple Sky, the four women supply so much power, extensive verve and considerable industry that the scorcher of tracks could, in other hands, spell the notion of an oncoming drought, but for Thundermother the exact opposite is true. It is a sign that they have targeted the response of the relentless, not content with resting on their laurels, resolute to keep the dream alive, and despite a public split, the music is Queen of all it surveys.
When a Heatwave comes, it is best to roll up the sleeves, lay back, close your eyes and enjoy every minute, the sunshine of expectancy is, after all, good for the soul and the mind of those willing to listen to the rumble of thunder.
Thundermother release Heatwave on July 31st via AFM Records.
Ian D. Hall