As is the case with many punk bands, some of my own memories of performing with my band Vacancy are clearer than others. One show I distinctly remember, however, is our August 2017 tape release show at Gainesville’s cozy and intimate Hardback Cafe. The main reason this particular gig will forever stay in my mind is because of hometown band Thunderclap, which tore that tiny venue open with one of the loudest and most memorable hard-rock/metal sets I’d seen in ages. The band was truly a force to behold, with deafening and thunderous low end that you could literally feel in your bones, ripping guitar leads and larger-than-life vocals that were a perfect fit for the epic rhythm section backing all of it. I became a fan of the band from that day forward, and it's been exciting to watch Thunderclap grow into one of the Florida's most promising metal bands.
This leads us to Inebriocean, Thunderclap’s debut LP and first release on Tampa-based imprint Financial Ruin Records, which has put out notable releases from Horsewhip and Meatwound among other heavy hitters. Tracked locally at Gainesville's Black Bear Studios (Hot Water Music, Set And Setting), Inebriocean packs just as much punch and intensity as a Thunderclap live show does. Credit that to this huge recording style, which finds the band — Todd Rockhill, Ale Gasso and Danny Welsh —perfectly pushing the band’s booming sound to another level. The album's intro opens with a beautiful and haunting ambient piano piece, almost lulling you into a false sense of security before transitioning seamlessly into the crushing title track. From that point on, Inebriocean's six tracks consistently hit with the force of a semi truck; huge pieces of music ebb and flow in a manner that's rare for a band's first full-length release. It's clear the five-year gestation period between the band's first EP, The Moon Leads, and this album were spent fine-tuning and crafting these songs to perfection in a live setting, and those who have been anticipating this release will find that it’s been more than worth the wait.
As Florida's metal scene continues to grow and evolve, Thunderclap seems more than ready to make its mark with an outstanding and immense album that also happens to feature songwriting that’ll appeal to not only all lovers of heavier music, but also those who are into classic rock, alternative and the entire rock and roll spectrum. With Inebriocean, Thunderclap joins the ranks of fellow Florida powerhouses like Torche in creating stunningly heavy, sincere and accessible metal with the potential to cross over to audiences that may have looked the other way in the past. This is a record that turns people into metal fans, and that’s what great albums from the genre have a tendency to do. An essential listen and monumental achievement from one of Florida's best current bands.
'Inebriocean' will be released on Friday, March 29. Call your local Tampa Bay record store to see if it is carrying the title. Follow @CL_music on Twitter to get the most up-to-date music news. Subscribe to our newsletter, too.
This article appears in Mar 21-28, 2019.