Thunderbolt--A Tribute to AC/DC

Thunderbolt--A Tribute to AC/DC (1996/Triage) Rating--8.0

A cover disc featuring a ton of stars, mostly from the '80s metal scene. Covering a group of AC/DC's stature is a tough chore, as there are simply too many great songs to include on one disc. A good job is done here, just the same.
Kevin Dubrow breaks the seal with "Highway to Hell," and his swagger fits the song well. Joe Lynn Turner and Phil Collen turn in a raspy, cranking job on "Back in Black," while the Great White duo of Jack Russell and Mark Kendall roll through "Sin City".
John Carobi provides the pipes and Bob Kulick the nasty licks on "Shake a Leg," Dee Snider is abrasive on "Walk All Over You," and "It's a Long Way to the Top" has the screeching axework of Jake E. Lee, atop the singing of freakin' Lemmy!
The absolute top spots come from a band penned as "The Sensational Whitskiteer Band"... which is basically Ugly Kid Joe! When Whitfield Crane hits those first few lines in "Live Wire"... Jee-zus! It's Bon Scott reincarnate! The tune is rolling, winding, and attitude throughout. The unit shows up again on "Ride On," and does another spectacular job.
Sebastian Bach gives a mechanical, effects-laden feel to "TNT," and it remains the nasty track it was meant as. His rendition of "Little Lover," however, leaves a bit to be desired. Another semi-disappointment is Stephen Pearcy singing "Whole Lotta Rosie". His voice - and the track as a whole - never quite hits a comfortable rhythm.
If you're a fan of tribute discs, this is a good one to add to the collection.
TRACK LIST: Highway to Hell/Little Lover/Back in Black/Live Wire/Sin City/Ride On/Shake a Leg/Whole Lotta Rosie/Night Prowler/It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock n' Roll)/Walk All Over You/TNT

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