Until earlier this year I was not what you would consider a TNT fan. Mainly this was because I had not heard much by the abnd other than 'Tell No Tales' about 15-20 years ago. However three recent events have turned me round into a massive fan. Firstly there was the excellent Starbreaker album that featured TNT's Tony Harnell on vocals, a brilliant modern Heavy metal album. Secondly the band's  last album 'My Religion' which was every bit as good, if not better than anything they had recorded before and lastly, but by no means least, was their stunning performance at the inaugural Firefest back in May. Given this to say I was a happy bunny to receive their new album was an understatement of gargantuan proportions. 

'All The Way To The Sun' opens with a big drum roll heralding 'A fix' and what a fix! Everything the TNT junkie needs especially those catchy riffs and stunning vocals. Next up is 'Too Late' which to my mind features a borrowed Neal Schon riff (I’ll not say which one as you’ll all think I’m obsessed!) and is an excellent up tempo rocker,  the kind of which this album is chocker block full of! 'Driving' opens with an almost Arabian feels but then turns to cool modern rocker with a chant along chorus to boot and if you can't tell by what I have written so far this is one album that is certainly living up to my expectations. 

'Me And I' does nothing to diminish that feeling, kicking off with  keyboard effects and then turning on its head with a circular guitar riff and featuring an almost spoken vocal from Harnell. 'Sometimes' is driven along by the drums and then turns into a cool mid tempo semi ballad. 'All The Way To The Sun' is the albums title track and sounds like an old record during its intro and then the big down and dirty riffs kick in and gives the whole track an almost Soundgarden feel mixed with a Beatlesque chorus - wonderful.

As a slight surprise what comes next is a cover of the old chestnut 'What A Wonderful World' which is  played using a clean guitar and works surprisingly well and is then followed by 'The Letter' whihc is introduced - no surprise - with sound of a letter opening and then proves itself to be a dark track with a riff that is somewhat reminiscent of 'After The Love Is Gone' by TEN! 

After the short solo piece by guitarist Ronnie Le Tekro that is 'Mastic Pines'  which, like all the guitar playing on the album is stunning TNT serve up 'Black Butterfly' with its Queen influenced riff and big vocals and then the penultimate track 'Save Your Love' which may have aspirations to be a very modern rocker but fits very well with the rest of the album. Rounding out the CD in fine style is 'Read To Fly' that features an intro somewhat akin to Doctor, Doctor by UFO but ultimately completes the album with aplomb. 

To sum up 'ALL The WAY TO THE SUN' IS THE BEES KNEES! I’ve listened to it almost constantly for the last week and a half and it just grows and grows with each listen. Quite simply I love it! Tony Harnell is in stunning form vocally but Le Treko is a guitar GOD! Do not take the comparisons in this review as a put down because the riffs make the tracks accessible and borrowing riffs has never harmed anyone's career when it is done is such a superlative fashion. Writing this review has been pleasure, unlike some were I’ve had to force it out!. A possible contender for album of the year - without a doubt and it looks like Harnell will be in my top ten of the year twice! An excellent follow up to My Religion and as Night Ranger only got half way to the sun whereas TNT have gotten all the way lets hope they don’t burn up!

Let us know your views on 'All The Way To The Sun'

Track List

A Fix
Too Late
Driving
Me And I
Sometimes
All The Way To The Sun
What A Wonderful World
The Letter
Mastic Pines
Black Butterfly
Save Your Love
Read To Fly

Line Up

Tony Harnell - Vocals
Ronni Le Tekro - Guitars
Diesel Dahl – Drums