'Behind Closed Doors' is Thunder's third album but the first with changes within the ranks. Mark "Snake" Luckhurst was gone and after extensive searches and try-outs Swede Mikael Höglund from Great King Rat was picked and immediately hit it off with the band. The reinvigorated lineup flew across the Atlantic where the new album was recorded at three American studios and one Canadian as well as one in England. Ironically 'Behind Closed Doors' was never released in North America even though it's a scorcher!
'Moth To The Flame' opens up the proceedings and is kind of mid-paced yet heavy and in your face as Danny Bowles sings about people easily lead and who never learn constantly repeating their mistakes. 'Fly On The Wall' brings up the ludicrousness at what length and measure the press/ media goes to "find a story" to sell no matter what. Höglund's fat thumping bass guitar excels in this faster and rockier composition where the added horn section heightens the sound. As romantic as it gets 'I'll Be Waiting' is not a ballad per sé but it is soulful and heartfelt nonetheless and Luke Morley plays a wonderful guitar solo. A trademark Thunder rocker 'River Of Pain' unearths what can happen when someone loves too much and all the problems that comes with it if these feelings are unanswered. Thunder got the inspiration to 'Future Train' while recording the album in Los Angeles. They experienced the OJ Simpson trial and the Rodney King riots which inspired them to write this song. Acoustic guitar and percussion initiates the song before switching to full-on Thunder at their rockiest best. In 'Til The River Runs Dry' Thunder addresses the horrors of domestic violence which wasn't a usual thing at the time. It's mainly acoustic guitars back by a string section.
Next up is the rowdy party hard song 'Stand Up', it's great rock song through and through. Being on the opposite end of the spectra from grunge 'Preaching From A Chair' is a response to the moaning and complaining the upcoming grunge stars like Soundgarden did, bitching about recording and fame. Soul feel in the slower verses, more rockier and slightly faster in the chorus. 'Castles In The Sand' offers what it's like to find the best suitable relationship even though the partner is not the ideal. Funky and bluesy 'Too Scared To Live' is about being afraid of everything to the extent you stick your head in the sand. 'Ball & Chain' is a wonderful rocker about breaking away from the daily rut of being stuck in your dead-end home town. Take the step and get away, your life will be better for it. Album closer 'It Happened In This Town' brings up the sad horrible case of a local teenage girl who was raped and murdered. It's largely acoustic at first, but it later takes on a very nice Deep Purple vibe, at least to my ears.
Thunder built perfectly on their previous release when making 'Behind Close Doors'. Call it natural progression but to me this album couldn't sound any different having been birthed from 'Backstreet Symphony' and 'Laughing On Judgement Day'. It's definitely Thunder but Thunder at their very best. That 70's heavy rock feel is very present walking side by side with poignant and sometimes difficult themes, the only difference being the playing is much tighter yet free-flowing from the guys. Also, Mikael's bass playing helped pushing the music forward as well. Not only is he guiding the songs better, he also steps out of the box by not always being a part of the rhythm section. All in all, 'Behind Close Doors' is a great album by a great band.
-Swedebeast
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