Tony Martin - Thorns

Rock Media UK
Jan 30, 2022
4 min read

Updated: Jan 31, 2022

Album review by; The Dark Cookie

In a similar way to Dr Who fans have their Doctor, normally the one they first saw. Mine is the floppy hatted, long scarfed, jelly baby proffering Tom Baker, TONY MARTIN is technically my BLACK SABBATH singer. To explain, whilst a SABs fan for a long time, I was an infant and young child when OZZY was doing his thing, and just missing out on RJD’s time. I never saw the brief time when IAN GILLLAN briefly, and some say mistakenly, took the vocal duties, or any of the others who did their bit either. No, Mr. MARTIN was the first SABBATH singer I saw live. It was on the “Headless Cross” tour on the hallowed Hammersmith Odeon stage, and blew me away. A couple of years later, same venue, but the “Tyr” tour was the second and final time watching TONY, TONY IOMMI, COZY POWELL, NEIL MURRAY and GOFF NICHOLLS, knocking right out of the park, and I my memory is right GEEZER came on for the Encore, therefore forever making him mine (not in a creepy, stalkerish way!).

Roll the years on and it was announced TONY was going to be the vocalist for the forthcoming tour with MARK STANWAY’s KINGDOM OF MADNESS, something that unfortunately didn’t happen, thanks to the bloody virus we never had that pleasure. One can hope that sometime in the future perhaps it can be made to work, we live in hope.

This brings us to 2022, and it is time for TONY MARTIN’s latest solo album “Thorns” has been unleashed on the world, a little time on from his last solo record “Scream” in 2005.

“As The World Burns” kicks things off and immediately two things are obvious. One, TONY’s vocals have not diminished one jot and two, this album is going to be very, very HEAVY! This is a Doomy, nearly thrashy powerfully dark balance of old and new metal. This would not sound anywhere near as good as it does without the band being up to the challenge, and they very much are.

“Black Widow Angel” is a doom-laden, chugging monster, driven by some massive riffs. In fact the guitar sound is somewhere between TONY IOMMI and ZAKK WYLDE. Then what the heck is that mad bass and drum piece! Really weird, but somehow works within the structure of the song.

“Book Of Shadows” with its choral chanting and massive drums, and oddly hooky undertone is both catch and creepy at the same time. But man, oh man TONY’s vocal performance, from subtly to soaring, gentle to deadly all within the one song. And a very fine keyboard solo makes this a min-opera.

If the first three songs follow a certain very heavy pattern, “Crying Wolf”, whilst still heavy is something entirely different. I am going to describe it as Heavy Flamenco. The acoustic Spanish-style guitar and rhythms belay the intense heaviness of the song. It doesn’t need to be crashing guitars and pounding drums to have weight.

I’m not sure if that is keys, Electric Violin or some mad guitar effect at the beginning of “Damned By You” but I like it. Earlier I mentioned the GILLAN era SABs, which was dubbed PURPLE SABBATH, I think this songs heavy bluesy rock vibe could be called DEEP SABBATH, and “No Shame At All” melds in some COVERDALE/HUGHES DP Mk3 grooves for good measure.

“No Where To Fly” puts us back in a heavy, glacial-riffing dark place. This track demonstrates the fantastic production of the entire album. Riffs, bass and drums are layered and distinct, with TONY’s vocals above them all.

“Passion Killer” has that modern feel again, well to these ears anyway. Staccato drums and that wailing guitar gives the song an urgent feel, and TONY’s growls of “Passion killer” during the chorus, well lets just say he shows some of the more contemporary growlers how to do it with class.

“Run Like The Devil” is hard and fast in a PRIEST or SAXON vein. This showcases TONY’s vocal range, from dirty to soaring. Now there’s a tour I would like to see! The band show they can do it with the heavy hitters too.

Then, um, we get to “This Is Your Damnation”. I don’t know quite how to explain this song. Don’t get me wrong it is great. It is an pacey acoustic country vibe, with a spoken verse with a lightness of touch. I’ve decided to dub it “Satan’s Bluegrass”. Seriously, you cannot help to tap your feet to the story of a soul being damned.

The title track “Thorns” is the final offering, and is everything you would expect it to be. Riffs, Drums, both TONY and guest vocalist PAMELA MOORE sublime vocals. If they ever decide to do a heavy Bond theme, this would have to be up there as a contender, it has that cinematic structure.

I wish I could give this 6 out of 5, as it goes beyond just being good, there isn’t a mis-step on the album, it is heavy, there is variety and it can surprise you. TONY, all I ask now is unleash this beast live!

5 out of 5

Track listing;

1. As The World Burns

2. Black Widow Angel

3. Book Of Shadows

4. Crying Wolf

5. Damned By You

6. No Shame At All

7. No Where To Fly

8. Passion Killer

9. Run Like The Devil

10. This Is Your Damnation