When THUNDERSTONE's self-titled debut hit worldwide audiences in 2002, the buzz proved to be loud. Recorded at Laurenne's Sonic Pump Studios in Helsinki, Finland (with Laurenne as guitarist, producer, and engineer) and mixed by Mikko Karmila (Children Of Bodom, Amorphis) at Finnvox Studios (Sentenced, Moonspell, Stratovarius), the hunger so evident in those ten songs delivered an overall dynamite package, and the feel-good album easily etched itself into the annals of quality Finnish heavy metal. Featuring accomplished compositions, a guest appearance by Timo Tolkki (a friend of Laurenne's for over a decade who gave him his first-and-only guitar lesson) on "Like Father, Like Son," and artwork by well-known German visual artist Thomas Ewerhard (Hypocrisy, Sodom, Destruction), this new Finnish band ended the year with a strong presence on numerous year-end "Top Metal Albums Of 2002" lists. In 2003, after being named "Newcomer of the Year" by the readers of Rock Hard Magazine, THUNDERSTONE celebrated their accomplishments with an extensive European tour supporting Stratovarius & Symphony X.
Inspired by their own ability to leave a mark on the scene, THUNDERSTONE returned to Sonic Pump to record their sophomore album, The Burning, which featured Symphony X guitarist Michael Romeo on "Drawn To The Flame." The album not only coalesced the band's collective personality through faultless production, but captured a grittier and more uninhibited performance by vocalist Pasi Rantanen. Among many other accolades (such as the appearance of their promotional video for "Until We Touch The Burning Sun" on Finnish television), the album celebrated a meteoric rise to #13 on the official Finnish album chart. While their European tour with Iced Earth was cancelled due to Jon Schaffer's back injury, THUNDERSTONE were determined to maintain their momentum and quickly booked another tour with Axel Rudi Pell, crowning another successful year by playing for thousands of fans at the world's most well-known metal festival, Germany’s Wacken Open Air.
Despite a busy year the band entered the studio again in late 2004. The efforts of those sessions showcased the band at a new pinnacle. Tools Of Destruction (2005) – the band's third album recorded at Sonic Pump – is where you'll also hear THUNDERSTONE's accumulated live experience. One listen to the album's opening track, the breathtaking curtain-raiser "Tool Of The Devil," and the chorus' gargantuan hook will capture you as it did THUNDERSTONE's fellow Finns, who sent the song straight to #3 on the Finnish Singles Chart. Gigs in Finland and the first headlining European tour with label mates Crystal Ball followed.
After a short breather, the band returned yet again to the studio to record their fourth album in the fall of 2006. The same year also witnessed THUNDERSTONE’s first appearance in the USA. In October the band was invited to take part in the Finnish Eurovision Song Contest. Never shy to take on a new challenge they heartily agreed. Again, what started almost as a joke ended up in phenomenal success: The band was voted second, losing only narrowly to Finnish Idol Hanna Pakarinen. The Eurovision fame resulted in the release of two singles, 10 000 Ways and Forevermore/Face in the Mirror, which both went straight to the top 3 in the Finnish single charts. Finally, the efforts of the previous studio sessions came to fruition when THUNDERSTONE’s fourth studio album Evolution 4.0 was released in March 2007. Showing a darker side of the band and definitely moving them away from the “power metal” of their first release, the album was liked by the fans and entered the Finnish charts at #10. Again, a Finnish tour and summer festivals followed.
Already preparing for a co-headlining tour with Swedish colleagues Nocturnal Rites, the band announced a shocking surprise in August 2007: THUNDERSTONE had parted ways with singer Pasi Rantanen and keyboardist Kari Tornack. Musical differences and motivation problems were quoted as the main reasons for the unexpected split. Despite the difficult situation, the rest of the band decided not to disappoint their fans and do the planned European tour. The band recruited vocalist Tommi “Tuple” Salmela from Tarot and keyboardist Jukka Karinen and kicked ass all around the continent.
The temporary line-up created a flood of speculation, which came to an end with the announcement of the new line-up in early February 2008. The vocal duties were taken up by Rick Altzi, a Swedish powerhouse with an incredible voice that ranges from a rough whisper to a full-fledged scream. On the keyboards the band signed Jukka Karinen, who already handled the key duties on the 2007 European tour.
Never stopping even in the face of hardship, THUNDERSTONE rages on! In July 2008, the now multinational line-up retired to a cabin in the Finnish woods to write and record new songs. Inspired by the new sound, the band started laying down basic tracks for their fifth studio effort in August, while continuing pre-production on still more songs. The result was the aptly titled Dirt Metal, an album which is no doubt the culmination of the evolution toward a heavier and darker sound for THUNDERSTONE. Released in 2009 in Finland, the new masterpiece by the Finnish-Swedish Mayhem Crew is finally available worldwide! Hard-hitting yet ear-catching, rough yet subtle, the future of heavy metal: THUNDERSTONE!
Star
Thunderstone Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Home of the brave
A history of heroes
In my name
One truth under god
I feel I am stranded
In a world covered in dark
A shield against evil
I can feel it in my blood
I carry on my sacred ride
Across the seas and the great divide
I will save you, even if you don't want me to
My electric eye will always find you
I'm the one, me, myself and I
Feel the thunder when I light up the sky
No one can stop me now
It's already begun
I'm the tin star man
It's a thin line between good and bad
But knowing I'm right keeps me on the track
Righteous and clean
I have the power, I have the force
To bring down my foes and to lead my cause
The light shines on me
The lyrics of "Tin Star Man" by Thunderstone depict the mentality of a superhero whose only purpose is to serve his country and community. The lyrics "land of the free, home of the brave, a history of heroes in my name" sets up the tone of the song as a tribute to the American way of life. The powerful and heroic figure in the song is stranded in a dark world, but he carries a shield against evil and will light the spark. The mention of "one truth under God" hints at the idea that the man strongly believes in God and that God leads him to serve his people.
The lyrics continue to express the desire of the man to save people and help them, even if they do not want to be saved. The line "feel the thunder when I light up the sky" is a reference to his superhero-like abilities. The man believes in his righteousness, and that keeps him on the right track, despite the thin line between good and bad. He is strong, bold, and sees himself as a leader who has the power to bring down his foes and lead his cause. The mention of the "light shining on me" confirms his belief in God and that God is always with him.
Line by Line Meaning
Land of the free
This country is known for its freedom
Home of the brave
Bravery is a trait this country admires
A history of heroes
This country has a long history of heroic figures and actions
In my name
These heroes have acted on behalf of the artist of the song
One truth under god
There is one universal truth governed by a higher power
I feel I am stranded
The singer feels isolated and alone
In a world covered in dark
The world seems to be filled with evil or negativity
A shield against evil
The artist acts as a protector against negative forces
I light the spark
The artist begins the fight against evil
I can feel it in my blood
The artist feels that this is his calling and part of his natural being
I carry on my sacred ride
The singer embarks on a journey with a holy or important purpose
Across the seas and the great divide
The journey is far-reaching and expansive
I will save you, even if you don't want me to
The singer feels that it is their duty to help and protect others, even if they don't want it
My electric eye will always find you
The singer is vigilant and always on the lookout for danger or those in need
I'm the one, me, myself and I
The singer is the sole savior or hero in this situation
Feel the thunder when I light up the sky
There is a powerful force or energy associated with the artist's actions
No one can stop me now
The artist is confident in their ability to carry out their mission
It's already begun
The action or mission has already started
I'm the tin star man
The singer is a hero or savior with a metallic or durable quality
It's a thin line between good and bad
The line separating right from wrong or good from evil is often blurred
But knowing I'm right keeps me on the track
The artist is confident in their morality and therefore their actions
Righteous and clean
The artist is pure and moral in their actions and intentions
I have the power, I have the force
The singer is capable and powerful in their actions
To bring down my foes and to lead my cause
The artist is determined to defeat those against them and to conquer their mission
The light shines on me
The singer feels that they are chosen and guided by a greater force
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: KARI ERNST TORNACK, MIRKA KIRIL KRISTIAN RANTANEN, NINO LAURENNE, PASI ANTERO RANTANEN, TITUS HJELM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Alex Johnson
Blinded and weak, mind torn apart
Crushed by the evil that freezes your heart
Driven by sorrow, driven by hate
Breathing object, living human bait
Ten thousand eyes
Locked on the screen
Stripping this innocent beauty queen
Covered in filth and raped by the sin
"Oh girl, you're so sweet, just give me so skin"
Welcome to our land of dreams
We'll give you everything you need
This is where your dreams come true
Just open yourself
You'll get the fortune and the fame
You'll never be the same
What a fine way of life
Girl, you're a star
Feeding the vein
Another array of a human lowlife
Body decayed
No future, no hope
Can you hear the voices: "Hey you, buy a rope... but make sure it's thick
enough hahahaa..."
Welcome to our land of dreams
We'll give you everything you need
This is where your dreams come true
Just open yourself
You'll get the fortune and the fame
You'll never be the same
What a fine way of life
Girl, you're a star
Blinded and weak, mind torn apart
Crushed by the evil that freezes your heart
Driven by sorrow, driven by hate
Breathing object, living human bait
Welcome to our land of dreams
We'll give you everything you need
This is where your dreams come true
Just open yourself
You'll get the fortune and the fame
You'll never be the same
What a fine way of life
Girl, you're a star
Pete Hawthorne
Love this song! |m|
Julián Mejía
thunderstone?? powermetal: Passi R..
Kevin Bourassa
Pasi didn't sing on this one.