Thunderclap’s debut EP album, Hell Bent on Success, is a tantalizing surprise filled with spooky, dramatic, yet still catchy songs that carry a unexpected amount of heart and spirit without becoming pretentious.
Emotive, dark and twisted, the entire album is draped in a velvety gloom that, with ease, manages to bypass depression and barrel ahead to catchy with it’s strong personality.
While the album may not be everyone’s cup of tea, and I definitely wouldn’t classify it as mainstream pop, country or rock it is one worth checking out if you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind experience.
The majority of Hell Bent on Success sounds like what I imagine the love-child of Sweeney Todd, Tim Burton and Les Misérables’ Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman) character.
Because the music is so unique it’s not something than can be blared and sang along to in the vehicle but the extraordinary storytelling that comes along with the lyrics more than makes up for that fact.
Within the first track of the album the bar is set undeniably high and the remainder of the album rises to the standard.
However it’s not all fanciful doom and gloom; within the songs pokes slightly more chipper and psychedelic undertones, while remaining devilishly twisted.
Other parts of the album thunder and crash as like the grand number of any dramatic musical with a whole cast of voices and background environmental noises adding their presence.
Hell Bent on Success loses points in my book for lyrics, as some of the songs are too wordy to be as appealing as the other songs. However, even those songs have their own personality and don’t stray from the dramatic-musical formula.