Lockdown: the hard-hitting new studio album from Thunderstick – released 20th October 2023

12th September 2023 0 By Jon Deaux

Led by the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal legend, Barry Graham Purkis (aka

Thunderstick), and fronted by the mesmerizing lead vocalist, Raven Blackwing, October 2023 sees the release of a brand-new studio album from Thunderstick. Lockdown will be the band’s first new studio album since the critically acclaimed Something Wicked This Way Comes album in 2017.

A collection of fourteen titles playing for one hour and twenty minutes, Lockdown features brand-new material never before released and includes compositions written by Barry

Graham Purkis during the band’s original tenure in the 1980s only made it to the demo stage at the time due to live commitments.

Taken from the album, stage favorite ‘Go Sleep With The Enemy (I Dare Ya)’, was released as a single in August and has been picking up extensive airplay.

Lead singer Raven Blackwing: “I’m very excited about the forthcoming full-length studio album which is my first with the band. I have been working really hard on the live shows and believe that the album tracks present many different facets of my onstage characters.

I hope that our fans enjoy meeting them all.”

Thunderstick’s alter ego and creator Barry Graham Purkis adds: “What can I say… I am so pleased that I am able at last to announce that we have new material ready for release. Drum tracks for this album were laid down pre-covid in 2019, so to say it has been a long time coming would be an understatement. I do believe, however, that it has been worth the wait. I regard the new material as some of the strongest that I have recorded. Something that I can thank the many guest appearances for, as well as my live band.”

Featuring the band’s regular touring line-up of Raven Blackwing (vocals), Pete Pinto and

Dave Butters (guitars), Rex Thunderbolt (bass) and the legendary Thunderstick/Barry Graham Purkis (drums), the album also features a number of guest appearances from friends of Purkis, including former Thunderstick guitarists, Dave Kilford and Vinny Konrad; ex-Iron Maiden guitarist, Terry Wapram; Dave John Ross from NWOBHM band, More; and solo heavy metal guitarist, Marius Danielson.

About Thunderstick:

Best known for his time with Samson and an early Iron Maiden Barry Graham Purkis (AKA

Thunderstick) has been the legendary icon for the NWOBHM (New Wave Of British Heavy Metal) scene since the late 1970s. His eponymously-named band, renowned for its female-fronted power rock and theatricality, has a considerable heritage. The band played live and recorded for six years, both in the UK and in the US, throughout the 1980s until playing their last gig in October 1986.

Then in 2016 former lead vocalist, Jodee Valentine, tragically died following a five-year battle with early-onset Alzheimer’s. In recognition of Jodee’s memory, Barry decided to record some of the songs that Jodee had performed live. This became the Something Wicked This Way Comes album, the first Thunderstick product in over thirty years. It was released in July 2017 to enthusiastic reviews worldwide.

Barry: “Back in 2017 after the ‘Something Wicked’ album was released I had no intention of forming a live performing band or indeed a follow-up studio album but after such positive encouragement from both long-time supporters and new followers alike I realized that there was still an audience of many out there that wanted our particular brand of mayhem. The die was cast. After much deliberation a new Thunderstick was formed staying true to its theatrical roots but still relevant in today’s fast-changing-musical environment. I am so lucky to have found the musicians that I now work with especially Raven whom I consider to be one of the finest rock singers that I have the good fortune to watch and listen to every time we perform. She is the ‘real deal’ both in terms of voice and stagecraft. The next chapter in our story is now ready for the writing.”
Upcoming live date:

‘British Steel’ Festival Fismes, France – 7th October

A live DVD of the band’s appearance in Lublin, Poland last April is also scheduled for release towards the end of the year.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thunderstickofficial/