by Eduardo RivadaviaFor a while, it seemed England's Thunder would follow in the footsteps of Def Leppard and conquer America with their melodic hard rock. But when faced with the ever more hostile musical environment of the early '90s (read: Seattle), all they managed were a number of incredibly well-produced albums and moderate success in their homeland. Save for the "big single" "Everybody Wants Her," the songwriting on their second release, Laughing on Judgement Day makes it less immediate than their more popular debut, but ultimately, just as strong. The band is certainly guilty of playing it safe, but with not a single obvious clunker among these 14 songs, one can't really blame them. "Low Life in High Places" and "Empty City" in particular showcase the formidably soulful voice of singer Danny Bowes -- a latter-day David Coverdale in the best sense. And while monster choruses take charge on other highlights like "The Moment of Truth" and "Today the World Stopped Turning," Thunder's sound was quickly becoming yesterday's news, and the group never really recovered their early success.