Thundering Asteroids! - Thudering Asteroids! (Cover Artwork)
Staff Review

Thundering Asteroids!

Thudering Asteroids! (2011)

self-released


This, female-fronted four-piece from Portland, Ore., have been called a "nostalgiacore" band. Although one might find that a very limited genre, there does seem to be a number of bands who might occasionally take a step in that direction of late, although perhaps without embracing it as wholeheartedly as Thundering Asteroids! do.

Opening with the catchy "We Need Another Cold War," one gets the idea that this lot really do ache for days gone by, despite the band not looking old enough to have experienced such times. I get the feel that these bygone days hold some sort of hold over people, especially as it did give rise to punk rock which was very anti-authoritarian, political and came at a time when many were basically scared shitless at the prospect of the war to end all wars as the super powers jostled with each other in a show of machismo that left both sides looking ridiculous. The song includes many '80s references and I think that this does a good job of tying in the nostalgia trip the band are intent on undertaking with a modern soundtrack.

Next up is "They Live," and this is the second song I've heard in the past two months which is based on the sci-fi film of the same name, the other being "Hoffman Lens" by Night Birds. This might not have the frantic urgency of the Night Birds track but it still has its merits and is a strong contender for best track on this EP.

"Glued Up Over You" shores up the middle of this EP, although it doesn't quite have the quality of the preceding two tracks and leads into "Kill Screen of My Heart," a song that is based around the video arcades that were hugely popular in the '80s (I have no idea if such places still exist).

Finally, "Sk8 & Destroy" rounds things off with another song making numerous references to the '80s. There is a huge groundswell of interest in that decade at the moment, and much of what is making a comeback reminds me of the crappier times, but Thundering Asteroids! manage to put a smile on my face, so hats off to the nerds!

Overall, this is a pretty solid EP. The band straddles new wave and punk rock with a hint of rock 'n' roll thrown in for good measure. Thundering Asteroids! definitely get chalked up as a band looking backwards whilst maintaining some forward momentum.