''Alliance'' is the 39th full-length studio album by heavy metal,
power metal
Power metal is a subgenre of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional heavy metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. Generally, power metal is characterized by a faster, lighter, and more uplifting sound, in contra ...
band
Thor
Thor (; from non, Þórr ) is a prominent god in Germanic paganism. In Norse mythology, he is a hammer-wielding æsir, god associated with lightning, thunder, storms, sacred trees and groves in Germanic paganism and mythology, sacred groves ...
, released through
Deadline Music
Deadline Music is a record sub-label wholly owned and operated by Cleopatra Records. Deadline was founded at the turn of the century during a revival of 1980s glam/ hair metal bands in which there were new albums from Quiet Riot, White Lion, Wa ...
in 2020. It features several guest performers, such as John Gallagher (
Raven
A raven is any of several larger-bodied bird species of the genus ''Corvus''. These species do not form a single taxonomic group within the genus. There is no consistent distinction between "crows" and "ravens", common names which are assigned t ...
),
Björn Strid
Björn Ove Ingemar "Speed" Strid (born 10 September 1978) is a Swedish vocalist who has worked with bands such as Allegaeon, Disarmonia Mundi, Terror 2000, Coldseed, The Night Flight Orchestra, Act of Denial, Gizmachi, and most notably Soilw ...
(
Soilwork
Soilwork is a Swedish melodic death metal band from Helsingborg. They are signed to Nuclear Blast. Formed in late 1995 by Björn Strid and Peter Wichers, originally under the name ''Inferior Breed'', the band changed their name in late 1996 to S ...
Manowar
Manowar is an American heavy metal band from Auburn, New York. Formed in 1980, the group is known for lyrics based on fantasy (particularly sword and sorcery) and mythology (particularly Norse mythology and Greco-Roman mythology), as well as ...
),
Nina Osegueda
Nina Osegueda (born Balvina Osegueda) is a female heavy metal vocalist from Washington, D.C.. is of Catalán and Salvadoran descent. She is the lead vocalist of A Sound of Thunder. In 2012, A Sound of Thunder released an album under Nightma ...
(
A Sound of Thunder
"A Sound of Thunder" is a science fiction short story by American writer Ray Bradbury, first published in '' Collier's'' magazine in the June 28, 1952, issue and later in Bradbury's collection ''The Golden Apples of the Sun'' in 1953.
Pl ...
Striker
Striker or The Strikers may refer to:
People
*A participant in a strike action
*A participant in a hunger strike
*Blacksmith's striker, a type of blacksmith's assistant
*Striker's Independent Society, the oldest mystic krewe in America
People wi ...
),
Neil Turbin
Neil Turbin (born December 24, 1963) is an American singer known for being the first full-time vocalist for thrash metal band Anthrax. He is the current lead vocalist and songwriter of heavy metal band DeathRiders
(
Anthrax
Anthrax is an infection caused by the bacterium ''Bacillus anthracis''. It can occur in four forms: skin, lungs, intestinal, and injection. Symptom onset occurs between one day and more than two months after the infection is contracted. The sk ...
), and
Danko Jones
Danko Jones is a Canadian hard rock trio from Toronto. The band consists of Danko Jones (vocals/guitar), John 'JC' Calabrese (bass), and Rich Knox (drums).Nina Osegueda
Nina Osegueda (born Balvina Osegueda) is a female heavy metal vocalist from Washington, D.C.. is of Catalán and Salvadoran descent. She is the lead vocalist of A Sound of Thunder. In 2012, A Sound of Thunder released an album under Nightma ...
(
A Sound of Thunder
"A Sound of Thunder" is a science fiction short story by American writer Ray Bradbury, first published in '' Collier's'' magazine in the June 28, 1952, issue and later in Bradbury's collection ''The Golden Apples of the Sun'' in 1953.
Pl ...
) and Fang VonWrathenstein ( Lords of the Trident). A music video directed by Josh Grambo was also made to accompany the song.
Reception
The album has received positive reviews from critics.
A review from Now Spinning Magazine gave a positive review, stating that "Thor still knows how to perform, on record as much as on stage, and that this album has lots to love." Concluding with saying how it's "Rocking, entertaining, and wonderful listening." Adam McCann of Metal Digest gave a mixed review of the album, saying that "While ultimately, it isn't actually the best, the guest spots stop this album from being relatively dull, and it shows that Thor is a better writer than a musician." Ending with that "'Alliance' is, however, a lot better than Thor's recent output and if you're the sort of person who doesn't need much encouragement to slip on a loincloth and pick up that Broadsword then it'll do the trick."
Track listing
*Tracks 13-17 omitted from 12" vinyl release due to length restrictions.
Personnel
;Band
*
Thor
Thor (; from non, Þórr ) is a prominent god in Germanic paganism. In Norse mythology, he is a hammer-wielding æsir, god associated with lightning, thunder, storms, sacred trees and groves in Germanic paganism and mythology, sacred groves ...
– vocals
*John Leibel – lead guitar
*Matt Hamilton – rhythm guitar
*Kevin Stuart Swain – guitar, bass
*Ted Jedlicki – bass
*Tom Croxton – drums
*Richard Fabio – drums
;Session members
*John Gallagher (
Raven
A raven is any of several larger-bodied bird species of the genus ''Corvus''. These species do not form a single taxonomic group within the genus. There is no consistent distinction between "crows" and "ravens", common names which are assigned t ...
) – additional vocals (track 1)
*
Björn Strid
Björn Ove Ingemar "Speed" Strid (born 10 September 1978) is a Swedish vocalist who has worked with bands such as Allegaeon, Disarmonia Mundi, Terror 2000, Coldseed, The Night Flight Orchestra, Act of Denial, Gizmachi, and most notably Soilw ...
(
Soilwork
Soilwork is a Swedish melodic death metal band from Helsingborg. They are signed to Nuclear Blast. Formed in late 1995 by Björn Strid and Peter Wichers, originally under the name ''Inferior Breed'', the band changed their name in late 1996 to S ...
) – additional vocals (track 2)
*Fang VonWrathenstein ( Lords of the Trident) – additional vocals (track 3)
*
Nina Osegueda
Nina Osegueda (born Balvina Osegueda) is a female heavy metal vocalist from Washington, D.C.. is of Catalán and Salvadoran descent. She is the lead vocalist of A Sound of Thunder. In 2012, A Sound of Thunder released an album under Nightma ...
(
A Sound of Thunder
"A Sound of Thunder" is a science fiction short story by American writer Ray Bradbury, first published in '' Collier's'' magazine in the June 28, 1952, issue and later in Bradbury's collection ''The Golden Apples of the Sun'' in 1953.
Pl ...
) – additional vocals (track 3)
*Dan Cleary (
Striker
Striker or The Strikers may refer to:
People
*A participant in a strike action
*A participant in a hunger strike
*Blacksmith's striker, a type of blacksmith's assistant
*Striker's Independent Society, the oldest mystic krewe in America
People wi ...
) – additional vocals (track 4)
*
Neil Turbin
Neil Turbin (born December 24, 1963) is an American singer known for being the first full-time vocalist for thrash metal band Anthrax. He is the current lead vocalist and songwriter of heavy metal band DeathRiders
(
Anthrax
Anthrax is an infection caused by the bacterium ''Bacillus anthracis''. It can occur in four forms: skin, lungs, intestinal, and injection. Symptom onset occurs between one day and more than two months after the infection is contracted. The sk ...
) – additional vocals (track 5)
*
Danko Jones
Danko Jones is a Canadian hard rock trio from Toronto. The band consists of Danko Jones (vocals/guitar), John 'JC' Calabrese (bass), and Rich Knox (drums).Chris Holmes (Chris Holmes/Mean Men, Ex- W.A.S.P.) – guitars (track 3)
* Ross "the Boss "Friedman (Ross the Boss Band, Ex-
Manowar
Manowar is an American heavy metal band from Auburn, New York. Formed in 1980, the group is known for lyrics based on fantasy (particularly sword and sorcery) and mythology (particularly Norse mythology and Greco-Roman mythology), as well as ...
) – guitars (track 3)
*Frank Soda (The Imps) – guitars (track 8)
*Frank Meyer (The Streetwalkin' Cheetahs) – guitars (track 10)
*Dennis Post (
Warrior Soul
Warrior Soul is an American rock band, formed by lead singer and producer Kory Clarke. Clarke started the band on a bet from a promoter at New York City's Pyramid Club, after a solo performance art show called "Kory Clarke/Warrior Soul". Clark ...
Prism
Prism usually refers to:
* Prism (optics), a transparent optical component with flat surfaces that refract light
* Prism (geometry), a kind of polyhedron
Prism may also refer to:
Science and mathematics
* Prism (geology), a type of sedimentary ...