Second Ascension

VINYL FORMAT! Limited to 500 copies. With this second album, Thunderbolt Pagoda has moved on from the heavy kosmische sound of their first album. This time the music is more progressive rock. The two sides of the album are very different. The A side (silver label) is an interesting mixture of progressive rock with heavy metal. Think Porcupine Tree with more of a heavy metal influence. There are also moments when the music sounds slightly like the symphonic metal of Aesma Diva and Therion without the classical instruments and operatic vocalists. The B side (black label) is completely different. It starts quietly with a wordless female vocal accompanied by what sounds like a zither. The music is slightly dark in sound. This music gives way to synthesizers playing quiet, simple music that sounds like it came from the Mid-East. Drums and bass guitar then enter. The sound turns louder and darker and the synthesizer music becomes more complex. Then you are left with just the synthesizers playing quiet, trance like music. Thunderbolt Pagoda definitely has a unique sound. – Positive Feedback