Only the Strong (Thor album)

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Only the Strong
Studio album by
ReleasedApril 1985
RecordedLivingston Studios and Silo Studios, London
GenreHeavy metal, power metal, hard rock
Length38:33
LabelRainbo/Viper
ProducerTom Doherty
Thor chronology
Unchained
(1983)
Only the Strong
(1985)
Live in Detroit
(1985)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[2]
Rock Hard7.5/10[3]

Only the Strong is the second album by the Canadian/American heavy metal band Thor, released in 1985.[4][5] The singles "Let the Blood Run Red", "Knock 'Em Down", and "Thunder on the Tundra" helped the album reach platinum status in Canada and the United Kingdom. "Let the Blood Run Red" and "Thunder on the Tundra" peaked, respectively, at Nos. 91 and 89 on the UK Singles Chart.[6]

Track listing[edit]

No.TitleLength
1."2045"0:52
2."Only the Strong"3:06
3."Start Raising Hell"3:50
4."Knock 'Em Down"4:12
5."Let the Blood Run Red"4:28
6."When Gods Collide"4:38
7."Rock the City"4:10
8."Now Comes the Storm"2:57
9."Thunder on the Tundra"3:28
10."Hot Flames"3:10
11."Ride of the Chariots"3:39
2000 limited reissue
No.TitleLength
12."Rock the City" 
13."Knock'em Down" 
2002 bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
12."Invader"3:58
13."Unchained"5:01
25th Anniversary Reissue
No.TitleLength
12."Lady of the Night"2:46
13."Warriors of the Universe" (Live from the Sweden Rock Festival 2009)3:39
2021 Digipak Deluxe edition bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
12."Wild Life"2:36
13."Steal Your Thunder"3:37
14."Energy"3:46
15."We Live to Rock"3:26
16."All Evil in My Path"3:15
17."Forever and After"3:24
18."Anger Is My Middle Name"3:20
19."I Am TunderHawk"4:13
20."Ride Away from You"3:11
21."Lightning Strikes" (Live)2:58
22."Thunder on the Tundra" (Live)3:48
Bonus DVD "Only The Strongest World Tour"
No.TitleLength
1."Lightning Strikes" 
2."Ride of the Chariots" 
3."Anger" 
4."Show of Strength - Super Lung" 
5."When Gods Collide" 
6."Let the Blood Run Red" 
7."Gladiators Battle (Smash the Bricks)" 
8."Electric Eyes" 
9."Show of Strength - Secret of the Steel" 
10."Show of Strength - Super Lung" 
11."Atomic Vibrations (Behind the Mask)" 
12."Thunder on the Tundra" 
13."When Gods Collide" 
14."UK Tour & Tour Bus Antics" 

Notes[edit]

2000 reissue
  • Tracks 12-13 recorded Live Pinktooth Brush, U.K. 06/13/1985
2021 Bonus Tracks
  • Tracks 12-15: from "The Edge Of Hell" (1987)
  • Tracks 16: 1983 demo of "Scratch and Destroy" recorded at A Step Above Studios, NY
  • Tracks 17: Recorded in 1983 at A Step Above Studios, NY. Additional recording in 1988
  • Tracks 18: 1981 demo of "Anger" recorded at Moshroom Studios, Vancouver, BC & Thunder Sound Studios, New Westminster, BC
  • Tracks 19: 1986 demo of "Thunderhawk" recorded at Thunderhawk International Studios
  • Tracks 20: Recorded in 1981 at Moshroom Studios, Vancouver, BC & Thunder Sound Studios, New Westminster, BC. Additional recording in 1988 at Thunder Sound Studios, New Westminster, BC
Bonus DVD
  • Tracks 1-6: Marquee, London 1984
  • Tracks 7: Great Yarmouth Festival 1984
  • Tracks 8: Connecticut 1983
  • Tracks 9: New York 1983
  • Tracks 10: New York 1982
  • Tracks 11: Washington DC 1982
  • Tracks 12: Great Yarmouth Festival 1984
  • Tracks 13: Vancouver, Canada 1984
  • Tracks 14: United Kingdom Tour 1984

Credits[edit]

  • Jon Mikl Thor – vocals
  • Steve Price – guitar
  • Keith Zazzi – bass, backing vocals
  • Mike Favata – drums
  • Cherry Bomb (aka Rusty Hamilton) – backing vocals

Production[edit]

  • Produced by Tom Doherty
  • Engineers: John Dent, Tony Harris

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Only the Strong Thor". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  2. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 8. MUZE. p. 153.
  3. ^ "THOR Only The Strong". Rock Hard. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  4. ^ "Thor Biography by Eduardo Rivadavia". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  5. ^ Phillips, William; Cogan, Brian (2009). Encyclopedia of Heavy Metal Music. ABC-CLIO. p. 233.
  6. ^ "THOR". Official Charts. Retrieved 7 September 2022.