An enjoyable melodic/metal album
George Dionne | Cape Cod, MA | 12/06/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The Good
"A Fix" is laced with an addictive guitar lick that will have you begging for more. Vocalist Tony Harnell is enduring and melodic in his delivery as he exclaims that his woman is the only drug for him. There's some sweet solo work courtesy of Ronni Le Tekro. Bending licks and mid-tempo muted riffs help propel "Driving;" a track about making changes in your life. The melodic chorus section on "Me and I" is both powerful and inspiring.
"Sometimes" has all the making of an eighties rock classic with its acoustic and electric tones and catchy lyrical hooks. "All the Way to the Sun" shows off more of TNT's metal side with heavy distortion and passionate vocals. How could I forget the shedding solo? "Black Butterfly" is another track that falls into the metal category. Diesel Dahl's galloping drum work gels well with Le Tekro's chugga-chugga riffage. "Ready to Fly" is the perennial power ballad that's full of bluesy tones and high-registering vocals.
The Bad
The opening lyrics to "Too Late" turned me off to the song instantly; I don't wanna hide / But I'm feeling stuck inside / Like a baby that's overdue. I just thought that simile was lame. Also, there's not really much you can do to a classic like "What a Wonderful World." The gritty original will always win, hands down. TNT's version is too bright and optimistic.
The Verdict
I said in the past that anything with Tony Harnell's name attached to it is worth every penny, and I'm sticking to it, especially when it's with the band he made his name with. I don't think that All the Way to the Sun had the same grandeur and energy as their last outing, My Religion, but it's still an enjoyable melodic/metal album."
All the Way to the Sun - GP Review
Quinn Miller | Columbus, OH United States | 01/08/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Every once in a while I, just as everyone else, needs a l'il GP (guilty pleasure) in my life. In music, listening to TNT's All the Way to the Sun, would have to foot that billing. This is the only TNT album I own, but can say that it will not likely be my last. I'm aware these guys have been around since the late 80's, but just have never been curious enough to give them a listen before now. Listening to ATWTTS, it seems that the group is still caught in 1989, even if they have downtuned the bass and grunged up the leads.
I'm guessing that vocalist Tony Harnell is an optimist, and probably spiritual (if not religious) based on the words that flow in his ultra professional, squeaky clean singing. Usually I find these types of traits to be grating and annoying, but here for some weird reason, I am totally on board. Songs like "Driving" (one of my favorite pasttimes and worst enemies), "Sometimes," the hard-hitting title track, and "Ready to Fly" are stuff that inspirations are built from indeed. If ever I wanted to start my day off wanting to believe that I will kick a@# and everything will be just fine, these are the songs to help one pull that off. Cheesy as that may sound, it's true and I don't even mind confessing to it! Congrats to TNT for causing me to not care about reverting back to semi-commerical, radio friendly rock. That said, I'm sure they'd never play the bruising "Black Butterfly" next to Bon Jovi."