Tell No Tales

This was TNT's break out album, with the semi-hit, "10,000 Lovers (In One)". These musicians from Norway moved away from their older sound to this catchier more pop oriented material that is represented on this album. Keep that in mind when listening to this album, because it was the first that established TNT's most popular sound, which was later refined and honed to melodic perfection on "Intuition" and rough edged on "Realized Fantasies". Tony Harnell's voice is full and soaring and brims with this rich youthful sound. Ronni Le Tekro's axework is jaw dropping as usual, and the songs are nicely styled, with several awesome tracks to stand out from the others.

"10,000 Lovers (In One)" is the definition of what TNT is. A melodically beautiful track, gorgeously plush with soaring vocals provided by the golden throated Tony Harnell. I can't stress enough how great this song really is, it must be heard to be understood. If any fault is to be found with this song, its with the number of times the chorus is repeated. "As Far as the Eye Can See" is a catchy TNT rocker in fine form. "Sapphire" is a weird little instrumental track, beginning with fast paced acoustic clangy guitar and then switches to this thick bassy background with lots of guitar, and then into Malmsteen-like riffing with that neo-classical edge before fading out. "Child's Play" is a big TNT ballad with an overall delicate and gentle sound which is driven home with Harnell's beautiful vocals. "Smooth Syncopation" is soft and acoustic and rounds out the end of "Child's Play", so they flow together nicely. "Listen to Your Heart" is another TNT song that rocks out with a huge sticky chorus, called that, because it sticks right in your head and won't let go. "Desperate Night" is heavier tune with some neat drum work that sets it apart from the others. The slower melody of the song makes it standout even more from the others. "Northern Lights" is a true tear jerker with its gentle, delicate sound dominated by Harnell's voice which soars higher than the angel's themselves. Truly one of his most outstanding performances, and the highlight of the album. "Incipits", is the last instrumental, dramatic and haunting, very much unlike the other two on the album, its more for a mood effect than anything else, for it lasts only seconds. "Tell No Tales" is almost speed metal! Frantic and fast, its like this hurricane that just blasts on through. Tony is screaming his butt off, and the machine gun technique of Le Tekro's is all over it. The first song on the album is mentioned last because its my least favorite. Although not bad, "Everyone's a Star", is more of a substandard track. Its not a terrible song but it seems to be missing something. Maybe its something about that electronic robot sounding voice they threw in there once to mumble the line 'everyone's a star' like one of those old computers on the cheesy sci fi shows.