This past Friday, neo-classic rock outfit Thundermother released its latest album to the masses via AFM Records in the form of Dirty & Divine. The band’s third album for the label, Dirty & Divine came roughly three years after the band’s then latest record, Black and Gold. Over the course of its 10 total tracks, the 34-minute record proves to be a work that most rock and guitar rock purists will enjoy. Further, it continues to cement the band’s place in the “New Wave of Classic Rock.” This is proven in part through its featured arrangements, which will be discussed shortly. The album’s lyrical themes ensure their own engagement and entertainment and will be addressed a little later. The record’s production puts the finishing touch to its presentation and will also be discussed later. Each item noted plays its own important part to the whole of Dirty & Divine. All things considered they make the album one more welcome early addition to 2025’s field of new rock albums.
Dirty & Divine, the latest album from Thundermother, is a record that is sure to appeal to any rock and guitar rock purist. It is also a work that is a welcome addition to this year’s field of new rock albums. The record’s appeal comes in part through its featured musical arrangements. This is proven right from the record’s outset in ‘So Close,’ which is easily comparable in sound and style to more recent works from the even more legendary Joan Jett & The Black Hearts. The bluesy, grungy rock composition is infectious from start to finish, making it a smart choice to open to album. ‘Can’t Put Out The Fire’ meanwhile throws back even farther to the rock and roll sounds of the 1970s in the vein of KISS and others. This all while the song still boasts its own unique identity. As if this is not enough, as the album progresses, that vintage rock lean remains on full display. Case in point is ‘Feeling Alright.’ The song’s verses boast a riff that is comparable to that at the heart of Pat Benatar’s timeless classic ‘Hit Me With Your Best Shot.’ Again, the similarity in sound and style is there but the arrangement still boasts its own identity even here. Meanwhile the song’s bridge, through the solo, conjures thoughts of Def Leppard. Yes, Pat Benatar and Def Leppard is quite the contrast, but the influence of each is here and somehow it works.
Even later in the album’s run, the band’s tribute to the golden age of rock continues in yet another entry, ‘I Left My License in the Future.’ The steady, upbeat bass-driven composition is another gritty, bluesy composition that really is its own composition. At the same time, audiences can hear the influence of so many acts who laid the groundwork for Thundermother throughout the song’s nearly four-minute run time. The enjoyment hardly stops here for the noted audiences. There is just as much for said listeners to appreciate in the infectious ‘Bright Eyes,’ ‘Dead or Alive,’ and ‘Can You Feel It,’ with each throwing back to the glory days of rock each in its own way. All things considered, the musical arrangements featured throughout Dirty & Divine offer quite a bit for the noted audiences to appreciate.
The musical side of Dirty & Divine is just part of what makes it appealing to rock and guitar rock purists. The album’s lyrical themes make for their own appeal. Again, reaching back to the album’s opener, this song alone makes that clear as front woman Linnea Vikstrom sings, “One more step/I’m closer to the goal/An endless dream/That I’ve been working for/Determination in my heart/Been going so hard from the start/I feel I’m tripping/Got too much to face/The door is closing/And that’s the case/It’s a chance to redefine/I’m gonna cross the finish line.” This is a song celebrating hard work and determination, point blank. This is further proven as Vikstrom sings in the song’s second verse, “Running to the glory/Take the flight/I don’t’ care/I do it all again tonight/Determination in my heart/Will walk right back toward the start.” There she clearly uses the word, “determination.” Again this is a positive, uplifting message that when coupled with the song’s equally positive musical arrangement, gains even more punch, making the song in whole so appealing.
On another note, the band, which is all-female, takes a topic so often used by male rock acts from the 70s and 80s in the form of ‘Feeling Alright.’ The topic in question is that of intimacy. Male acts from the noted eras typically take a very distinct direction. In the case of this song though, Thundermother is almost at the level of their male counterparts but less explicit in in its presentation. This as Vikstrom sings, “Keep the light on, babe/Got nothing to hide from you/Don’t wanna keep on any clothes/That obstruct the view.” Again, this is coming from a female rock vocalist. To that end, any feminist out there can no longer argue that only men go to such levels when singing about sex. Vikstrom continues here, singing, “Run your fingers through my hair/Whisper sweet things and touch me there/So seduce me, baby/I’m on the loose/Ready for you/I wanna be naked together.” To say that this is pretty direct is an understatement. It is that female empowerment to a point and proves women can be just as explicit as their male counterparts.
One more example of the role of the lyrical themes in Dirty & Divine comes immediately after in the form of ‘Take The Power,’ This song comes across as a seeming sociopolitical commentary. This as Vikstrom sings, “Time to rise-And tear down the wall/We will start a revolution/Put an end to it all/we’re the people/We’re the force/No respect?/No remorse?/Fight the fight/Take the power.” This as she also sings of feeling the shiver at seeing people “swimming in their blood” and being “slaughtered by the machine.” This is a powerful statement calling for people to unite against that “machine,” that war machine, that political machine. It is a unique way to address a familiar topic and is sure to resonate in its own way with listeners just as much as the other themes examined here. When it and the other themes noted are considered alongside the rest of the album’s lyrical content, the whole proves unquestionably that the album’s lyrical content is just as important to the record’s presentation as its musical material.
Rounding out the most important elements of Dirty & Divine is the record’s production. As noted, from beginning to end, this 34-minute record is raucous and wild. There is so much energy exhibited throughout the album. That energy is expertly expended and balanced throughout each song, with no one part overpowering those of their counterparts. The result is a record that is as easy on the ears as on the mind all the way around. To that end, Dirty & Divine proves to be a record that most rock and guitar rock purists are sure to enjoy.
Dirty & Divine, the latest full-length studio recording from Thundermother, is a strong addition to this year’s field of new rock albums and among this year’s field of releases among bands in the “New Wave of Classic Rock.” That is proven in large part through its musical arrangements, which each throw back to the golden era or rock while still maintaining their own unique identities from those vintage works. The album’s lyrical themes make for their own appeal through their accessibility and familiarity. The album’s production rounds out its most important elements, ensuring together with the musical and lyrical content, that the album succeeds all the way around and will appeal to so many rock and guitar rock purists. Dirty & Divine is available now through AFM Records.
More information on Dirty & Divine is available along with all of Thundermother’s latest news at:
Website: https://thundermother.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/thundermother
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thundermother
