Thunderstone

Power Metal

2000

Thunderstone *2002*

Studio Album

1. Let the Demons Free

2. Virus

3. World's Cry

4. Me, My Enemy

5. Will to Power

6. Weak

7. Eyes of a Stranger

8. Like Father, like Son

9. Voice in a Dream

10. Spread My Wings

Line-up

Titus Hjelm  #  Bass, Vocals (backing)

Mirka Rantanen  #  Drums

Nino Laurenne  #  Guitars, Vocals (backing)

Kari Tornack  #  Keyboards

Pasi Rantanen  #  Vocals, Vocals (backing)

Guest Musicians

Timo Tolkki  #  Guitar solo (8)

Pasi Heikkilä  #  Synth strings (8)

Anssi Stenberg  #  Vocals (backing)

† Kimmo Blom  #  Vocals (backing)

Robin Wickman  #  Vocals (backing)

The Burning *2004*

Studio Album

1. Until We Touch the Burning Sun

2. Break the Emotion

3. Mirror Never Lies

4. Tin Star Man

5. Spire

6. Sea of Sorrow

7. Side by Side

8. Drawn to the Flame

9. Forth into the Black

10. Evil Within

Line-up

Pasi Rantanen  #  Vocals

Nino Laurenne  #  Guitars, Vocals (backing)

Titus Hjelm  #  Bass, Vocals (backing), Guitars (electric & acoustic)

Kari Tornack  #  Keyboards

Mirka Rantanen  #  Drums

Guest Musicians

Michael Romeo  #  Guitars (8)

Esa Kotilainen  #  Pedal organ

Robin Wickman  #  Vocals (choirs)

Anssi Stenberg  #  Vocals (choirs)

Tools of Destruction *2005*

Studio Album

1. Tool of the Devil

2. Without Wings

3. Liquid of the Kings

4. I Will Come Again

5. Welcome to the Real

6. The Last Song

7. Another Time

8. Feed the Fire

9. Weight of the World

10. Land of Innocence

Line-up

Titus Hjelm  #  Bass, Vocals (backing)

Mirka Rantanen  #  Drums

Nino Laurenne  #  Guitars, Vocals (backing)

Kari Tornack  #  Keyboards

Pasi Rantanen  #  Vocals

Guest Musicians

Roope Latvala  #  Guitars (5)

† Kimmo Blom  #  Vocals (backing)

Anssi Stenberg  #  Vocals (backing)

Marko Vaara  #  Vocals (backing)

Timo Kotipelto  #  Vocals (backing)

Pasi Heikkilä  #  Arrangements (strings, vocals)

Evolution 4.0 *2007*

Studio Album

1. Evolution 4.0

2. Forevermore

3. Roots of Anger

4. 10.000 Ways

5. Holding On to My Pain

6. Swirled

7. Down with Me

8. Face in the Mirror

9. Solid Ground

10. The Source

11. Great Man Down

Line-up

Kari Tornack  #  Keyboards

Pasi Rantanen  #  Vocals

Titus Hjelm  #  Bass

Mirka Rantanen  #  Drums

Nino Laurenne  #  Guitars

Guest Musicians

Tiffiny Rossi  #  Narration (1)

† Kimmo Blom  #  Vocals (backing)

Dirt Metal *2009*

Studio Album

1. Rebirth

2. I Almighty

3. Dirt Metal

4. Blood That I Bleed

5. Star

6. Ghosts of Youth

7. Counting Hours

8. Dodge the Bullet

9. Deadlights

10. At the Feet of Fools

11. Suffering Song

Line-up

Jukka Karinen  #  Keyboards

Rick Altzi  #  Vocals

Titus Hjelm  #  Bass

Mirka Rantanen  #  Drums

Nino Laurenne  #  Guitars, Vocals (backing)

Guest Musicians

Tomi Joutsen  #  Vocals (5)

Jaani Peuhu  #  Keyboards (8, 11)

Olavi Tikka  #  Vocals (backing)

Ilja Jalkanen  #  Vocals (backing)

Gus Monsanto  #  Vocals (backing)

Kita  #  Vocals (backing)

Apocalypse Again *2016*

Studio Album

1. Veterans of the Apocalypse

2. The Path

3. Fire and Ice

4. Through the Pain

5. Walk Away Free

6. Higher

7. Wounds

8. Days of Our Lives

9. Barren Land

Line-up

Titus Hjelm  #  Bass

Nino Laurenne  #  Guitars, Vocals (backing)

Pasi Rantanen  #  Vocals

Jukka Karinen  #  Keyboards

Atte Palokangas  #  Drums

Guest Musicians

Teemu Mäntysaari  #  Guitars (1)

Tuomas Yli-Jaskari  #  Vocals (backing)

Netta Dahlberg  #  Vocals (backing)

Timo Oiva  #  Vocals (backing)

Jonathan Hutchings  #  Narration (1, 9)

Single

Virus *2002*

Tool of the Devil *2005*

10.000 Ways *2007*

Forevermore / Face in the Mirror *2007*

I Almighty *2009*

Demo

Demo *2001*

Titus Hjelm  
1974

Nino Laurenne  

Pasi Rantanen  

1969

Jukka Karinen  

1983

Atte Palokangas  

1981

Mirka Kiril Rantanen (Mirka Rantanen)  

Kari Tornack  

Rickard Thornberg (Rick Altzi)  

1972

Tommi Salmela  

1969

Thunderstone is a power metal band from Helsinki, Finland. The band was formed in 2000 by guitarist Nino Laurenne, and the line-up became complete in the following year. After the release of the band's self-titled debut album, Thunderstone, the band toured Europe supporting Stratovarius and Symphony X. Thunderstone released its first four albums through Nuclear Blast; however, their album Dirt Metal was released in October 2009 under Sony Music label.

Thunderstone was formed in early 2000 by ex-speed/thrash Antidote guitarist Nino Laurenne as a project; his first demo was recorded at Sonic Pump Studios. With a growing awareness of the project's potential, a commitment was made to create a full-fledged band. Laurenne then recruited former Antidote bandmate Titus Hjelm on bass and backing vocals, Pasi Rantanen on vocals, and Mirka Rantanen on drums. By the summer of 2001, Kari Tornack joined the band as a keyboardist, and Thunderstone evolved into a quintet.

Thunderstone released their self-titled debut in 2002. Recorded at Sonic Pump Studios in Helsinki (with Laurenne as guitarist, producer, and engineer) and mixed by Mikko Karmila (Children Of Bodom, Amorphis) at Finnvox Studios (Sentenced, Moonspell, Stratovarius), Thunderstone ended the year with a strong presence on numerous year-end "Top Metal Albums Of 2002" lists. In 2003, after being named "Newcomer of the Year" by the readers of Rock Hard Magazine, Thunderstone celebrated their accomplishments with an extensive European tour supporting Stratovarius and Symphony X.

Thunderstone returned to Sonic Pump to record their second album, The Burning. Among many accolades the album received (such as the appearance of their promotional video for "Until We Touch The Burning Sun" on Finnish television), the album rose to No. 13 on the official Finnish album chart.

The band entered the studio again in late 2004 and started work on their third album Tools Of Destruction. The album once again recorded at Sonic Pump Studios. The opening track, "Tool Of The Devil," went straight to No. 3 on the Finnish Singles Chart. Gigs in Finland and the first headlining European tour with label mates Crystal Ball followed.

The band returned yet again to the studio to record their fourth album in the fall of 2006. The same year also witnessed the bands first appearance in the USA. In October the band was invited to take part in the Finnish Eurovision Song Contest. The band was voted second, losing only narrowly to Finnish Idol Hanna Pakarinen. The Eurovision fame resulted in the release of two singles, 10.000 Ways and Forevermore/Face in the Mirror, which both went straight to the top 3 in the Finnish single charts. Finally, the efforts of the previous studio sessions came to fruition when Thunderstone’s fourth studio album Evolution 4.0 was released in March 2007. Showing a darker side of the band and moving them away from the “power metal” of their first release, the album was liked by the fans and entered the Finnish charts at No. 10. Again, a Finnish tour and summer festivals followed.

"We are sad to announce that Pasi Rantanen and Kari Tornack are no longer part of Thunderstone. Due to personal reasons and a visible lack of motivation on their part we saw it best to part with the guys, although the decision was not easy and the timing perhaps the worst possible. Everything was done in good spirits and we thank the guys for an unbelievably great and fun seven years and wish them all the best in their private endeavors.

However, the first priority for us was not to let our fans down even in a situation like this. Therefore, we will go on with the upcoming co-headlining tour with Nocturnal Rites as planned. And we are most proud to announce two incredible musicians who agreed to fill in for the tour on such a short notice. On keyboards we will have none other than legendary JENS JOHANSSON, the crazy Swede and a long-time friend from Stratovarius. The vocal duties will be handled by the incredible- sounding TOMMI 'TUPLE' SALMELA who in recent years has shared the vocals with Marco Hietala in the classic Finnish metal outfit Tarot. As you can probably imagine, we are more than thrilled to have these guys on board. Book your tickets NOW!!!"

Jens Johansson was unable to make it to the tour, but Status Minor keyboardist Jukka Karinen was able to fill in, and was ultimately asked to join the band before the tour even began.

In 2009, Thunderstone released their fifth album, Dirt Metal. Around this time, Mirka Rantanen founded the side project band Hevisaurus, which has seen heavy media coverage as a children's music band that plays heavy metal.

In late July/early August 2013, Thunderstone's official Facebook page made several announcements, including that both singer Rick Altzi and drummer Mirka Rantanen would be parting ways the band. The last of the notices announced the return of Pasi Rantanen on vocals.

In early February 2014, band announced on their official Facebook page, that their new drummer is Atte Palokangas (Agonizer, Before the Dawn)

Thunderstone were in the Finnish preselection final round for Eurovision 2007, with their song "Forevermore". They were placed second with 33% of the given votes.