Driver - Sons of Thunder
(Metal Heaven, 2008)

With a line-up that boasts highly regarded vocalist Rob Rock and guitarist/producer extraordinaire Roy Z, Driver finally gets the chance to release their debut album that contains several new tracks along with a re-recording of their widely circulated five-song cassette EP demo all the way back from 1990 that earned the band a dedicated worldwide following, as well as attained cult status as one of the most underrated hard rock acts of its time.

Fans of Rob Rock and Roy Z will know what to expect, Rock's fantastic voice and Roy Z churning out huge riff after huge riff, to create a must hear slab of quality melodic hard rock. The tracks from their 1990 EP definitely stand out as the highlights on here. A couple of the newer tracks leave a little to be desired in comparison, especially the reworking of "Change of Heart". Musically, very much the same as Bruce Dickinson's version that appeared on his "Balls to Picasso" album only with cheesier alternate lyrics. The quality of the rest album more than makes up for the couple of gripes I have with "Sons of Thunder".

Overall it's a decent hard rock album, and it's great that the songs from the Demo EP finally get a proper release for us all to hear. If you haven't heard anything by the fantastic Rob Rock before, then I can more than recommend this.

- 8 -

Chris Rogers