Thunder are back with a new album inspired by the overall isolation felt during the COVID-19 outbreak and people’s addiction to social media, following the success of last year’s “All The Right Noises.”

“Dopamine,” the hard rock band’s 14th studio album, was released on Friday and includes 16 songs written during the lockdown, according to guitarist and songwriter Luke Morley.

In a joint interview with Thunder lead vocalist Danny Bowes, Morley remarked, “Most of it was created and written throughout the epidemic, so there’s lots of things about isolation and the more positive sides, self-analysis.”

“Most of it was conceived and written throughout the pandemic, so there’s lots of stuff about isolation and the more positive aspects, self-analysis,” Morley said in a joint interview with Thunder lead singer Danny Bowes.

“The other theme… is about social media, people’s addiction to it and the dopamine hit they get from holding up their phone and going, ‘Oh, God, I’m lovely today or whatever’.”

The record features a mix of sounds – acoustic blues, catchy guitar riffs, sax solo, accordion and a gospel chorus.

Lead single “The Western Sky” nods to Bowes’ and Morley’s annual charity motorbike trip while “No Smoke Without Fire” was inspired by online trolling.