I saw Rockbitch a couple of times in the past. Need I saw that I didn't come for the music? They actually didn't play THAT bad, but at the same time, there are around one zillion bands better than them out there. I'm thinking that the same must have applied to Canadian testoterone phenomenon Thor. It couldn't POSSIBLY have been for the music and in particular Jon Mikl Thor's voice people showed up at their shows.

I know, I know, some of you will say 'but you're an old fart, Thomas, you must've listened to it back then!'. No, I didn't. I remember having seen the covers, but it was one of those bands I didn't check out. I suppose my hunger was bigger for heavy metal around 1986/1987/88 when I began listening to metal, i.e. a couple of years after the release of 'Only the Strong', and I can't deny that I MIGHT have liked it back then. But I can tell you for sure that I don't today.

There are hints of Iron Maiden and other good acts in the music of Thor, but a great singer the former bodybuilder certainly isn't. Not even the so-called hits of the album, Thunder on the Thundra and Let the Blood Run Red (apparently reached high chart positions in the UK) manage to capture and the rest is really just mediocre or bad.

The biggest Spinal Tap moment is the demo Ride Away from You. I can't figure out if it's a joke, seriously. There has to be a law against something like that.

The two live tracks suck big time soundwise. You can't tell what's going on at all, basically.

The accompanying DVD is entertaining. At some stage you want to turn of the sound, but nevermind that; seeing this broad-breasted muscle beast wander around stage, flanked by the equally big-titted backing singer, Pantera, and the guitarist and bassist with their much too tight spandex, yielding hammers, swords, inflating hot-water bottles until they burst, bending steel bars with his teeth and what not. This is hilarious in all its cheesiness.

Much to my bafflement, the internet tells me that Thor is still around. More power to them. This just proves that entertainment can be stronger than musical talent. I'm glad that I've been confirmed in my intuition back then; Thor really isn't my thing.