Sergeant Thunderhoof – The Ghost of Badon Hill (Review)

Sergeant Thunderhoof are a stoner rock band from the UK and this is their fifth album.

2022’s This Sceptred Isle made a big impression on me, even breaching my end of year list, so The Ghost of Badon Hill is one I’ve been looking forward to. With much expectation riding on it, I’m immensely pleased to report that it has not disappointed at all.

The Ghost of Badon Hill offers a streamlined Sergeant Thunderhoof experience, with the band’s lengthier proclivities tempered by a stricter self-editing process. This more refined approach has given rise to 45 minutes of new material, as opposed to their previous album’s far longer 68 minutes. Tags like stoner, rock, doom, progressive, etc. are all relevant, but honestly Sergeant Thunderhoof increasingly don’t care about any of this, and just play heartfelt, engaging music that speaks loudly in a voice of its own.

The songs are focused and tight, with all extraneous fat cut away in favour of a lean experience where everything is well-considered and justifies its own existence. The record is textured and immersive, drawing the listener deeply into Sergeant Thunderhoof’s compellingly rich world. This is a band that know how to write music that’s instantly arresting, but also with longer lasting appeal.

The Ghost of Badon Hill boasts some massive vocals, and all of these are superb. The singing is clear and strong, absolutely drips with emotive weight, and would outclass everything else here were Sergeant Thunderhoof your average band. But they’re not, and the rest of the music is up to the task of providing a full, high quality, holistic package for the listener to lose themselves in.

The well-crafted atmospheres are dark, brooding, thoughtful, and visceral, depending on the needs of any given track. The band’s skill with melody is on display throughout, complemented by the deft use of riffs to enhance and enrich. The guitars supply a depth of feeling that’s remarkably evocative, bringing a crisp crunch to the proceedings that’s packed with emotive potency.

The Ghost of Badon Hill may have a truncated length, but it’s still absolutely massive. Every song is an exemplar of Sergeant Thunderhoof’s extremely personable style, and The Ghost of Badon Hill puts forward some of the strongest material in this sort of genre that I’ve heard.

Essential listening. If this is a style you enjoy, make absolutely sure you don’t miss out on this.