Trouble
s/t

We go for Trouble times four at the Hallowed site now, four reissues of classic Trouble albums – this is the self-titled fourth album. The debut was once self-titled but was renamed Psalm 9. Trouble was released in 1990 and might be one of those classic albums that you might not have heard or heard about. It sure looks like something from the era, and it sounds the part as well. Thanks to Hammerheart who are reissuing these albums I can once again confirm that the retro is best with albums from the era no matter if you have heard them or not – I didn’t know this album before but can conclude that it is way better than any retro-rocker I have heard in recent times.

Doom metal is one genre that is mentioned in relation to Trouble and comparisons with the likes of Black Sabbath is inevitable, it has the same classic rock/metal feel to it but Troubles widens their scope to make a very varied album on their self-titled release. It is also the most mature and complete of the four albums I review, it is like they have taken everything and perfected it for this one that sounds best on both overall sound and singer. The songs come in a wide range but most of them shows a timeless quality as well as a strong hit potential, it is creative visions and craftsmanship combined into what would appear to be a magnum opus for the band.

It starts brilliantly with At the End of My Daze that has an excellent riff and is a great song, from their it just continues with some magnificent songs. Perhaps the one called The Misery Shows is my favourite, it is a bit longer and a little more relaxed than some of the other songs on the album, it is a memorable track. But that is not the only one, R.I.P. that follows and was made as a video track is another one that stands out with a catchy feel to it, there is a lot of hit potential throughout this album that thanks to these timeless songs might be worthy of mentioning as a classic. The sound is very much to the period, and it suits the album perfectly. I try to think of a doom metal album done after this one that was actually better and I am not sure that there is one, I can’t think of one anyway. So why did I miss this one? Perhaps because the doomier metal like Black Sabbath has never been a real love of mine but when it is done as well as this one it is hard to make arguments against.

I noticed that the Hammerheart store still had copies of the vinyl limited to only 200, if that isn’t a sign of this album not having achieved the recognition it deserves, I don’t know what is. I would have bought it if I could have afforded it, and I certainly recommend checking it out because it is worth giving plenty of time and attention. One of the highlights of the era and of the genre.

HHHHHHH