Metal
artist names reign supreme and the current Metal scene's lack thereof
is one of the many things wrong with the current state of Metal affairs.
Who you're gonna believe will deliver the Mighty Riffing of Steel,
CLIFF
MARAUDER or bloody Albert H. Poindexter-Schmoe?? Would the juvenile
yelps of a 'Sven Nyqvist' ever compare to the Mean Metal Machine screeches
of
PAT SAVAGE? Fuck hell no. It's not that the über-kool
monikers of the 4 members of TRIAL is a major factor in their Metallic
excellence, but it does add something a little extra to the overall atmosphere
of their one and only vinyl "Scream For Mercy". The brooding
colors and eerie artwork even more so.
After an unusually atmospheric intro we're pushed into the claws of one
of Europe's finest and most venomous Power/Speed anthems EVER. We're talking
riffing forged deep, deep into the most fiery pits of Hades!
"Satan
takes you by the hand, and leads you to the promised land.."
- of course he does! The tempo changes dramatically with "Master
of the Valley", an excellent 'Metal-blues' relying heavily on drums
and bass just in the manner that our lords ACCEPT taught us. A-side ends
with a... hm... ballad? Well, at least it's a heavy one with plenty of
guitars, so the mood is not entirely ruined. I
dare you to keep
yourself from clenching your fists and violently throw them in the air
while listening to the title track chorus - this is truly West-Euro Metal
in its most pure and gloriously blackened form. Following this gem is
the up-tempo yet more anonymous "Don't Say Goodbye", which at
least will warm up your neck muscles for the triumphant, closing Heavy
Metal Epic "Heavy Rock In Town". Though not 'Power Metal' it
the traditional sense, this song is truly Metal With
Power all
the way. This album ends much too soon. Should you have the same problem
as I have, trying to locate those live recordings w/ plenty of unreleased
material rumored to exist, you could always satisfy your hunger for more
of the same with some
FUTURE
TENSE, STEELER or WARRANT.
Powerful, speedy Heavy Metal. Partially like their fellows BREATHLESS and also with a touch of EXCITER. But they are more melodic, as an acceptable ballad shows. True eighties cover artwork! An European must-have!