Alternative outfit Thorslund introduces their lyric video, “Wildfire,” lifted from their upcoming self-titled debut album, set for release in October.
The album is a non-linear autobiographical rock opera, exploring themes ranging from religious extremism, ostracism, and toxic relationships, as well as rebirth, looking for new love, and chasing dreams.
Talking about “Wildfire,” Thorslund shares that it is “a love song, set during the California wildfires when the smell of fire is in the air. It’s about going out and finding love on a Friday night.”
Made up of brothers Jeff (vocals, guitar, bass), and Tom (drums, backing vocals), the siblings were introduced to music early on by their father, a musician and Beatles fan. At the age of 11, Jeff began playing guitar, followed by enlisting Tom to be his drummer.
As they matured, they played in various bands together, releasing several original albums. However, because of their Jehovah’s Witnesses family, they were precluded from totally committing to music. Eventually, the two brothers shed their conservative background and moved to Los Angeles, where they just finished recording their forthcoming album.
Self-produced and engineered by the brothers, the album was mixed by Nick DiDia. To capture the unique sound they were looking for, the brothers utilized rare vintage rock n’ roll instruments in the recording of the album, including several Kalamazoo-era Gibson guitars, an original 1968 Marshall full stack only a few serial numbers away from Van Halen’s famous amp, and a 1970 Thermogloss Ludwig drum kit identical to the one John Bonham used in Led Zeppelin.
“Wildfire” opens on a muscular, platinum-colored guitar rolling into a driving rhythm composed of tight, crunching percussion and a fat, thrumming bassline. For some reason, the texture of Jeff’s guitar conjures up suggestions of early Joe Walsh, with the James Gang, raw and tangy.
Highlighted by delicious rasping nuances, Jeff’s vocals imbue the lyrics with vibrant surfaces, giving the song infectious flavors and retro tones. Dazzling, skintight guitar licks give the outro a rich, luminous vibe.
Thorslund has it going on! With “Wildfire,” they deliver a pulsating, wickedly alluring momentum, along with galvanizing vocals.
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