Bark Out Thunder Roar Out Lightning cover

Bark Out Thunder Roar Out Lightning

Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah · 2023

56 min · 10 tracks · jazz

A vibrant fusion of jazz with spiritual and cultural themes, pulsating through complex rhythms and evocative melodies.

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Top tracks — play these first

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    Bark Out Thunder Roar Out Lightning — The title track serves as a powerful centerpiece of the album, combining intricate musical arrangements with profound themes of resilience and identity. Its extended length allows for an immersive experience that showcases Adjuah's virtuosic trumpet skills.
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    Blood Calls Blood — Opening the album, this track sets a compelling tone with its urgent rhythms and reflective lyrics that delve into familial ties and heritage. It introduces listeners to Adjuah's unique narrative style.
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    Shallow Water [Tribute Big Chief Donald Harrison Sr. - Guardians of the Flame] — This tribute track highlights Adjuah's deep respect for New Orleans traditions and pays homage to an influential figure in his life. The blend of jazz improvisation with heartfelt homage encapsulates the spirit of the album.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental
61 /100
Treeline
Higher than 71% of albums we've rated

The album blends complex rhythms and cultural themes, showcasing strong composition and distinctiveness.

What we noticed

  • Several tracks incorporate call-and-response patterns, reflecting traditional African musical influences and enhancing the communal feel.
Composition 25% of the score
8/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
7/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
6/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
8/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
5/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • long, immersive listening sessions
  • dynamic emotional journeys
  • layered, dense sonic textures
  • evocative narrative exploration

Where this album fits

Career context
Bark Out Thunder Roar Out Lightning marks Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah's third studio album, following his acclaimed work on 2020's 'The Truth.' By this point in his career, Adjuah had solidified his reputation as a boundary-pushing artist, blending traditional jazz elements with contemporary influences and social commentary. This release continues to explore his roots and the legacy of jazz while addressing current societal issues.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 Blood Calls Blood 7:40
  • 2 Trouble That Mornin’ 4:39
  • 3 Xodokan Iko - Hu Na Ney 3:57
  • 4 Bark Out Thunder Roar Out Lightning 15:22
  • 5 Shallow Water [Tribute Big Chief Donald Harrison Sr. - Guardians of the Flame] 6:13
  • 6 On to New Orleans [Runnin' in 7's Redux] 3:19
  • 7 End Simulation 3:29
  • 8 Ashé Chief Donald [Tribute Big Chief Donald Harrison Jr. - Congo Square Nation] 2:31
  • 9 Golden Crown [Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah - Xodokan Nation] 3:56
  • 10 Bark Out Thunder Roar Out Lightning [Duo] 5:15

What to play next

Ancestral Recall
Listen next

Ancestral Recall

2019

Continues the cultural themes with a rich sound palette and innovative structures.
Axiom
Go back to

Axiom

2020

Sets the stage with similar energy and complex rhythms that lead into the current album.
Full Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah discography Artists like Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah
jazz

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata