Trivium - In The Court Of The Dragon (Roadrunner)
There are so few bands that fulfill what is predicted of them. Back in the late 2000's Trivium were pipped to become one of the newest breed of headliners by the music press. They have had ups and downs since then but consistently released excellent records that has seen them climb to those lofty heights of festival headliner, however they have done it on their own merit, not relying on being a press favourite or the next big thing anymore, they have released album after album played tour after tour and built up a reputation as one of the best live bands on the scene due in part to their love, respect and mastery of heavy metal. I use that blanket term as Trivium have always incorporated various elements of metal into their music, starting out in the metalcore years and defining their signature sound there. They have added different approaches ok every subsequent album with classic metal on the Crusade, technical prowess on Shogun and the most modern heaviness on In Waves all while keeping that dark/light dynamic of having growled/clean vocals and a distinct guitar sound that makes you immediately think of Trivium. (I've even used them as a comparison when other bands do it).
There are so few bands that fulfill what is predicted of them. Back in the late 2000's Trivium were pipped to become one of the newest breed of headliners by the music press. They have had ups and downs since then but consistently released excellent records that has seen them climb to those lofty heights of festival headliner, however they have done it on their own merit, not relying on being a press favourite or the next big thing anymore, they have released album after album played tour after tour and built up a reputation as one of the best live bands on the scene due in part to their love, respect and mastery of heavy metal. I use that blanket term as Trivium have always incorporated various elements of metal into their music, starting out in the metalcore years and defining their signature sound there. They have added different approaches ok every subsequent album with classic metal on the Crusade, technical prowess on Shogun and the most modern heaviness on In Waves all while keeping that dark/light dynamic of having growled/clean vocals and a distinct guitar sound that makes you immediately think of Trivium. (I've even used them as a comparison when other bands do it).
The band are now at the 22 year mark in their career and have yet to slow down, consistently releasing new material, with their recent release being something of a purple patch. During the pandemic in June 2020 the band confirmed it was already working on a follow up to What The Dead Men Day and that has materialised into this record, their tenth studio effort. In The Court Of The Dragon has a beautiful Renaissance-esque fantasy art cover depiction of a titular dragon and Knights of old. This evocative image immediately draws you in and as soon as the instrumental X opens (special guest programming/arranging etc by Ihsahn) you feel the album build in intensity which is unleashed on the thrash riffing fury of the title track, Matt Heafy and Corey Beaulieu unleashing their unified guitar assault from the get go blending the heavy and melodic to brilliant effect.
Next up is the albums two most Trivium-like songs Like The Sword Over Damocles and Feast Of Fire are soon-to-be live favourites the former with a huge chorus the latter is heavy groover. Then we have A Crisis Of Revelation which is back to those metalcore days with the choppy riffs and some furious drumming from Alex Bent as The Shadow Of The Abattoir evokes the sounds of melodic Iron Maiden Paolo Gregoletto's bass work throbbing like Steve Harris' making for a moody track. We are led through these shorter songs and into the 7 minute prog metal Fall Into Your Hands which is full of technical twists and turns. You'd think this may be the climax of the record but From The Dawn Of Decadence is thrashier appetizer into the final song The Phalanx which again clocks in at over 7 minutes and apparently came from the Shogun sessions which is quite audible when you listen to it. After 22 years Trivium have very much fulfilled/exceeded the destiny predicted of them, one of the best metal bands around have released one of the best metal albums of the year! 9/10
The Paradox Twin - Silence From Signals (White Star Records)
Singer/Songwriter/Mastermind Danny Sorrell returns with a much more introspective and personal sophomore album from the Paradox Twin. He approached the songwriting of this album differently than he did on their debut release The Importance Of Mr Bedlam, that album had personal themes on it but on Silence From Signals Danny deals with his own life experiences of having a baby son around the same time as his eldest daughter being diagnosed with Autism. These life experiences drove the conceptual element of this record, the story of two twin siblings, a neurotypical sister and a neurodivergent brother and how they navigate their life.
Singer/Songwriter/Mastermind Danny Sorrell returns with a much more introspective and personal sophomore album from the Paradox Twin. He approached the songwriting of this album differently than he did on their debut release The Importance Of Mr Bedlam, that album had personal themes on it but on Silence From Signals Danny deals with his own life experiences of having a baby son around the same time as his eldest daughter being diagnosed with Autism. These life experiences drove the conceptual element of this record, the story of two twin siblings, a neurotypical sister and a neurodivergent brother and how they navigate their life.
Due to this duality in the storyline, the band have recruited the gorgeous vocals of Nichole Johnson, to become the second voice on this record, blending beautifully with the Danny's to create wonderfully poignant soundscapes such as on I Am Me, I Am Free. The Paradox Twin have had prog writers and fans comparing them to bands such as Anathema and I too have to make that comparison, especially with the now double vocal style, the atmospheric progressive rock style on Prism Descent sounding as if it could have featured on Weather Systems. Danny not only provides the keening, affecting vocals but also the keys/synth, guitars and programming, making The Paradox Twin ultimately his prog rock baby but he has a virtuoso band behind him.
Graham Brown's drumming a much heavier and louder, for added impact on tracks like the grinding Haptic Feedback, while Diane Fox's bass playing is structured and grooving, Leland Freeman providing the counterpoint guitars and melodies, the four players bringing Danny's musical visions to life. Silence From Signals is another wonderfully emotive conceptual release from The Paradox Twin, which greatly benefits from Nichole as a singer especially on the beguiling Specular and the magnificent Perfect Circles which closes the record. With Anathema, downing tools, The Paradox Twin are worthy successor. If moving, progressive, music is what you have been missing, then you must get Silence From Signals. 9/10
Houston - IV (Frontiers Music Srl)
IV is the fourth album from Swedish AOR rockers Houston. Originally a project it has now been a fully fledged band for a while led by the velvet tones of Hank Erix on vocals and on this record they have brought back AOR mainstay Ricky Delin to produce the record and co-write the songs on this album. He is also a former member of Houston so it's almost a homecoming from him of sorts. IV sees Houston looking back to their first two record for musical inspiration but with the benefit of ten years experience in the bank. It pays off in droves as IV is a self professed homage to AOR legends such as Survivor, Foreigner and Journey who Houston have always paid so much dividends too. With Delin on board they have a massive production sheen that bounds out of your speakers with deep punchy bass, twinkling keys and shimmering guitar riffs, this is Sweden going to the West Coast.
Opening with the She Is The Night, IV kicks off with a moody, late night synthwave sounding number that takes musical cues from Don Henley, it's an atmospheric opener leading into the dramatic You're Still The Woman, the percussive Hero which is very Journey as Heart Of A Warrior steals from Survivor. The long nights and hot, crazy days, as Judas Priest famously put it can be felt in every moment of this record. Hank Erix has a great voice soulful enough for the rockers and with enough emotion for the ballads, he's got a myriad of classic AOR vocalists all wrapped up in those pipes. The band are also on top form peeling off the radio rock like a sunburnt body off a plastic lounger. IV is music for open top cars on the beachfront as the sun drops in the sky, this album must be available on cassette, if not though pick it up from your favourite Frontiers supplier, get those windows open and those black Ray Bans on. 8/10
Black Rose - Game Of Souls (Sleaszy Rider Records)
Swedish heavy metal band Black Rose have been slinging punchy, melodic metal since 1993 and really their sound hasn't changed since then. Game Of Souls is their seventh studio record and they are in their own words consistent. Riffy, chorus filled heavy rock songs, that also feature a lot of virtuosity especially in the solos, which have some classical music influences. The guitars and vocals reminding of fellow Swedes Europe (the band have actually been a backing band for Kee Marcello). Their music is slick and the band are clearly very experienced, you have to give them kudos for sticking to their guns for all these years but Game Of Souls is a decent melodic metal album. 6/10