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Anyone familiar with at least some of his work will know guitarist Roy Z is no slacker when it comes to axe-slinging, but to expect something quite as striking as this was a long shot. Teaming up with powerhouse vocal wailer Rob Rock, Roy Z's Driver, a band rising from the ashes of legendary underground status, have finally got around to releasing their much anticipated debut album, and as Sons of Thunder roars through the stereo, I can't help but wonder why the hell it has taken so long to see the light of day.

While fans of Rock's near-perfect vibrato will know what to expect in the vocal department, Roy Z's guitar work is more melodic and Hard Rock-based than anything he has produced/performed on with Bruce Dickinson, Halford or Judas Priest. The riffs still have that snarling bite to them, fitting effortlessly with the soaring melodies and belting choruses; both rough and clean, they sit well within a tight framework of catchy, yet provocative inflections. The songs are very much in the mid-paced Power Metal vein, all armed to the teeth with superb melodies and vocal lines that are frankly unforgettable – just check out the anthemic "I'm A Warrior" or the galloping "Winds of March" – although the speed does occasionally spice things up, bringing the often 80s sounding manifestos into the new millennium.

As it is the songs themselves that will draw in the punters, Sons of Thunder is a tidy collection of short, punchy metal numbers that sadly suffers from a stagnant production and a lack of innovation. Push that to one side however, and you'll find a very enjoyable record nonetheless. After all, can you actually name a bad record Rock has been involved with? I doubt it.