The third TNT to feature the other “Tony”… as in the one and only Tony Mills, is upon us. After critical and fan claims that the first two albums with Mills failed to hold up to the TNT legacy this album almost seemed a make or break deal for the band. Well I’m happy to say the third time is the charm for Le Tekro, Mills, Dahl and Borge!
After several spins of “A Farewell To Arms”, I can honestly say there isn’t a bad song in the bunch and there are several truly spectacular ones on offer. The record starts off with the heavy and driving “Engine”. The tune has a bit of a modern element to it but in a good way. Tony Mills sounds in fine fashion and the familiar tone of Le Tekro is backing him up. The production on “Farewell” is also huge and beefy!
One of my early favorites is track two, “Refugee”. The song has that classic TNT feel with huge, wall-of-sound vocals, piercing guitars and a driving bottom end. I get a similar feeling with the following track “Ship In The Night”. The opening trio of tunes certainly put a big smile on my face when I first played the disc… TNT is back!
Even when the band isn’t at their best on the new record, like on “Take It Like A Man – Woman!”, it isn’t all that bad. Mills still sounds great and you have to check out the signature guitar solo that only Ronnie Le Tekro could deliver. Amazing!
“Barracuda”, which clocks in at just 2:41 is a song that drives the point home quickly but still does it with conviction. And wait until you hear “Don’t Misunderstand Me”, the song is something of a “breather” for the album as it is has more of a poppy, commercial vibe but it actually sounds like it could have come straight off the “Intuition” album! It’s another great tune!
The title track “A Farewell To Arms” brings back the urgency and has a “Tell No Tales” vintage vibe to its sound. The band sounds somewhat “reborn” on this new record. They bring back sounds and vibes of past records but are finally feeling as though they found their stride with Mills.
“Someone Else” is a bit more on the commercial side of things but again harkens back to the “Intuition” or “Realized Fantasies” days. The album closes with the only “soft” tune on the record, “God Natte, Marie”. It’s not really a ballad in the true sense but the vocals from Mills are soft and delicate and the song has a cool feel overall.
For the European version of the record you get a re-make of the song “Harley Davidson” which the band recorded for their very first record back in 1982. It’s a pretty cool way to show the band has come full circle and is back and on top of its game.
