The Rare, the Raw, and the Rest...

If grunge didn't come in and spoil hair metal's seemingly never-ending backstage party, there were several bands that appeared to be on the cusp of following the likes of Bon Jovi, Motley Crue, and Whitesnake up the charts -- such as Thunder. While they never teased their hair up as high as the aforementioned groups -- and their music merged the melodic metal of the aforementioned bands with more classic rock sounds -- they were still being covered in the same media outlets at the time (Rip magazine, Kerrang! magazine, Headbangers Ball, etc.). Thunder may never have broken out of mere cult status stateside, but they did retain a sizable fan base back home in the U.K., as they continued issuing albums over the years. And along the way, quite a few B-sides and rarities managed to fall through the cracks. Now, thanks to the release of The Rare, the Raw and the Rest, these odds and ends -- including the AC/DC-esque "Move On," a rollicking cover of the Small Faces' "Stay with Me," and the Bad Company-like "Fire Is Gone" -- can now be discovered by their hardcore fans. While none of these songs would have probably served as true "single material," The Rare, the Raw and the Rest should nonetheless be a fun listen for Thunder fanatics/completists. ~ Greg Prato