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Album Details
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· Produced By: Ronni Le Tekro and Tony Harnell. Mixed by Tommy Hansen
· Running Time: 44.58
· Release Date: March 8
· Released: EU
· Genre: Melodic Hard Rock
· WebLink: TNT
· LabelLink: MTM
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Details
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TNT are easily one of the classiest and most respected bands of their genre. Their catalogue of albums and hit songs is the envy of their peers.
During their long and successful career they have always delivered high quality material, not to mention mega hits “10,000 Lovers”, As Far As The eye Can See” or “Intuition”, to name only a few.
It was 1982 in a little town in northern Norway called Trondheim where the rock band TNT was born. Four guys made up the band - Dag Ingebrigtsen (Vocals), Ronni Le Tekro (Guitar), Steiner Eikum (Bass) and Morten "Diesel" Dahl.
At that time, there was no rock market for them. They played many clubs and started getting people's attention. They were eventually signed by Vertigo and released their first album “TNT”. Steiner left the band 1983 and a good friend of the band, Morty Black joined.
Because of personal problems and the bands desire for international success, Dag left TNT in 1984. The band received a tape from the singer of a local band in New York called 'Jackal'. His name was Tony Harnell!
Late in 1984 they released “Knights Of The New Thunder”. To pursue the image of an all Norwegian band, Tony Harnell was listed as Tony Hansen. TNT were already famous in Norway and sold out all shows during their Norwegian tour then toured the East Coast of the USA.
In 1987 “Tell No Tales” was released. The songs on this album were very different from their past. This was a great hard rock album with sophisticated arrangements and strong hook lines. Songs such as "10,000 Lovers" and "Everyone's A Star", were played on US radio and the band supported STRYPER and LOUDNESS during a West Coast tour. After the tour, Diesel then left TNT and started TINDRUM with first singer Dag. Later TNT welcomed Morty's old friend, Kenneth Odiin as the new drummer.
In 1988 TNT won the Spellemannspris Award (Norway's Grammy Award)!
“Intuition” was the next album released and became one of best hard rock albums in 1989. The title track "Intuition" started selling in Japan, leading to a video shoot that would later be released as 'Forever Shine On' in 1991. After the Japanese tour, Kenneth Odiin left the band and despite selling good quantities in Japan and Norway, TNT was dropped by label PolyGram.
Drummer John Macaluso later joined and the band, which went on to sign a new record deal with Atlantic and release their fifth album “Realized Fantasies”. Although the quality of this album was not that bad, it was different from “Tell No Tales” or “Intuition” and didn't sell well. After the Japanese tour, TNT disbanded.
In July 1996, TNT announced reunion after 4 years since they had broke up. The line-up was Tony, Ronni, and Morty plus Dag Stokke as a support keyboard player and Frode Hansen as a support drummer. On New Year's Eve, TNT appeared on Norwegian TV and played some songs from their upcoming album "Firefly" which was released in 1997.
Another album, “Transistor” was released to solid critical acclaim in 1999.
But now the band are finally back to their most loved and classic line-up.
Their first release back together was the teaser EP Give Me A Sign, which has won the band widespread critical acclaim and has warmed the fans up for more.
Now TNT is back with their new full length album “My Religion”.
Both, the EP and the new album was recorded and produced Tommy Hansen who worked for HELLOWEEN, PRETTY MAIDS, JORN LANDE, WUTHERING HEIGHTS, HEAVENLY, BEYOND TWILIGHT, and more.
Great cover artwork has been done by Eric Philippe.
Throughout their illustrious career TNT has garnered respect the world over by pioneering a genre known as melodic hard rock.
With the incredible pairing of Guitarist Ronni LeTekro and singer Tony Harnell a songwriting and performance combination has seen some of the classiest hard rock moments of the past two decades.
Add to the mix the groove driven rhythm section of bassist Morty Black and Diesel Dahl and you have one hell of a machine.
The band's Best Of compilation The Big Bang (Universal), toped the charts in Norway and has been awarded gold status.
With the success of the two CD's the band headed out on the road for a successful summer tour of Northern Europe. Upon returning home the band continued work and eventually completed their new opus entitled “My Religion”. This is an album packed with sizzling guitars and emotionally driven vocals that soar through your ears like the best candy you've ever tasted. Melody, harmony and big arena energy fill this incredible disc. This is a true classic and is a perfectly executed hard rock masterpiece that acknowledges the roots of hard rock and yet brings it into a new era with contemporary style and sophistication.
From the 80's era TNT sounding “Lonely Nights”, “Everyone's Got A Secret” and “You'll Be There” to the more contemporary “Invisible Noise” and title track “My Religion”, TNT drive through these amazing songs like young kids out to prove something. And they just might! It would be hard to argue that this band is not THE best of it's kind.
Just as you think you understand what kind of band they are out comes a beautiful, heart-wrenching ballad, as in “Perfectly”. Tony Harnell's lyrics smile in their vulnerability and yet are strong willed and real.
Ronni LeTekro's guitar playing is a shining star into itself. Lyrical, imaginative, eclectic and magical. His rhythm guitar, though often ignored is equally stunning and important to the TNT sound.
Tony Harnell's voice is a marvel. An inhuman ability channeled into a very human and personal delivery. Clear as a bell, raw as hell and everywhere in between, Tony pours his soul out on every note drawing the listener in to his world. Many know of this man's bizarre range that leaps from a whisper to a scream, but it's the subtleties in his voice, the little details that are most important.
My Religion has everything a TNT fan would want and more. It has the ability to bring new fans to the party and to give the long time TNT fans something new to get addicted to.
With the resurgence of melodic metal, TNT is poised to reclaim their throne as the masters of a genre that they helped to create.
One listen to “My Religion” and you too will be worshipping TNT!
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