Buckcherry – Roar Like Thunder
Release Date: 13th June 2025
Label: Earache
Order/Stream
Genre: Hard Rock, Sleaze Rock.
FFO: AC/DC, Slashes Snakepit, Nickelback, Motley Crue, Dirty Honey.
Review By: Paul Franklin
Q. What do Buckcherry and the Borg from Star Trek have in common?
In 2025 there may be an argument to say that there is no longer a place for the retro ‘leather and whiskey’ rock ‘n’ roll peddled by these tattooed, Californians. And that the well of great tunes has been drained by their now disbanded contemporaries. But there are always two sides to every argument, and Roar Like Thunder defiantly stands its ground and simply refuses to back down.
The title track roars into life like, eh… thunder, all throbbing attitude, driving riffs and Josh Todd’s distinctive nasal sneer. Let’s be honest, the blueprint for Buckcherry albums was set many years ago and whilst this one doesn’t throw up anything from left field, there are a few welcome little embellishments to the template. When The Sun Goes Down dials up the punky guitar, whilst I Go Boom swaggers along on a swell of horns and Come On’s stuttering riff wouldn’t seem out of place among AC/DC’s finest.
The ‘almost ballad’ Hello Goodbye ticks the melodic, thoughtful box before the band empty the tank with the incendiary Let It Burn.
So after all these years, Buckcherry, as reassuringly familiar as still finding a prawn cocktail on a restaurant menu. I defy anyone who appreciates ‘pure uncut rock ‘n’ roll music’ to get to the end of any of these ten tracks without at least one of their extremities tapping.
A. Resistance Is Futile!
(4 / 5)
