Thunder @ Copenhell 2022

It would have only been fitting if Copenhell had booked Magnum this year, seeing as how they just released their best album since Ozzy knows when. But the case is pretty much the same with Thunder. And all else being equal, I applaud Copenhell's booking department for daring to defy the sadly prevalent elitism among Danish metalheads.

Indeed, most people here would probably dismiss this British stadium hard rock phenomenon as "lame boomer rock" or whatever's considered a cool phrase with kids these days. But to be fair, it wouldn't be entirely hard to see why. Thunder play straight-up, old-school A-1 hard rock so lofty and bombastic that their shows should have a minimum 5000 person attendance.

Sadly, being one of the earliest bands on the final day, they don't. And seriously, 2:45 pm on a Saturday is still morning as far as I'm bothered. But the band seem unfazed, even daring to board the stage after PA'ing the obvious intro from AC/DC's "Thunderstruck".

It does take a couple of songs for the sparse attendance to get what's going on – which, then, seems to happen sometime during the gradiose "Higher Ground" from the band's 1990 debut "Back Street Symphony". And as solid as the remainder af their back catalogue is, this remains their best output.

But also the two years younger "Low Life in High Places" gets the tiny crowd excited enough to applaud prematurely. This only makes lead singer Danny Bowes remark, "Shut up, I'm not done yet", in a deliberately deadpan contrast to his otherwise lively performance. And as we start laughing, he responds, "Don't make me laugh. This is hard."

"Dancing In the Sunshine" is a perfect pick for a summer festival setlist. Because that's exactly what those of us are doing right now who live and breathe for the surge of pure, hard rock: We're dancing in the goddamn sunshine.

If the ice wasn't broken until now, it happens right there. And that paves the way for the band's surprisingly biggest home-run today: "Across the Nation" from the less-than-two months old "Dopamine".

Another newcomer, "Dancing In the Sunshine", as harmless as one might consider it, is no less than a perfect pick for a summer festival setlist. Because that's exactly what those of us are doing right now who live and breathe for the surge of pure, hard rock: We're dancing in the goddamn sunshine.

Holy shit, I'm having a good time. And nothing prevents it from lasting throughout the Wembley-sized fist-pumpers "Love Walked In", the title track from the aforementioned "Backstreet Symphony", and the concluding "Dirty Love", as irresistably cheeky as it's an effective crowd-pleaser.

What an awesome kickstart to what turned out the best day and night of the best Copenhell ever.

I could say a lot here about the definition of real hard rock and the authenticity of the band. But instead I'll end with one quote from the chorus in "Across the Nation" that's an oddly fitting symbol for the band's newly gained Danish fans today, as well as the festival's wicked comeback after the last two years:

There's a fuse gonna blow
And start up a chain reaction
The wall's gonna break, the dam's set to overflow
And we'll drown in a wave of joy across the nation
We'll be living it up

Damn straight, boys. Damn fucking straight.

1. Last One Out Turn Off the Lights
2. The Western Sky
3. Higher Ground
4. Low Life in High Places
5. Across the Nation
6. Black
7. I Love You More Than Rock 'n' Roll
8. Dancing in the Sunshine
9. Love Walked In
10. Backstreet Symphony
11. Dirty Love