Planet Rock

Jesus Christ, what year is this? What dimension is it? Valient Thorr begs such questions. The band is a pleasing pastiche of Molly Hatchet and Iron Maiden from Venus by way of Valhalla. It harks back to the 1970s glory days of thundering conceptual rock, when music was stupid and...

By Clay McNear

August 7, 2008

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Jesus Christ, what year is this? What dimension is it? Valient Thorr begs such questions.

The band is a pleasing pastiche of Molly Hatchet and Iron Maiden from Venus by way of Valhalla. It harks back to the 1970s glory days of thundering conceptual rock, when music was stupid and fun. Still, even though these bearded Norse-type dudes who label themselves “Venus’ most famous rock band” and share the pseudonymous nickname “Thorr” are hard to take seriously, their music is occasionally topical and their riffs heinously crank. More surprising still, frontman Valient Thorr names MC5 – not KISS, not Maiden – as the band’s godhead.

Wed., Aug. 13, 7 p.m., 2008

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