TROUBLE — Trouble (review)

TROUBLE — Trouble album cover Album · 1990 · Traditional Doom Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
UMUR
"Trouble" is the 4th full-length studio album by US doom metal/heavy rock act Trouble. The album was released through the Rick Rubin owned Def American Recordings in February 1990. It´s the band´s first release on the label and label boss Rick Rubin acts as producer on the album. It´s of some notice that the album is actually the second release by the band to feature an eponymous title as Trouble´s debut album from 1984 also featured that title. The latter had it´s title changed to "Psalm 9" after the release of the 1990 album.

Musically the album takes a bit of a left turn compared to the three preceding releases by the band. While "Run to the Light (1987)" wasn´t nearly as doomy and heavy as the first two releases by the band, it was still through and through a doom metal release. The same can´t be said about "Trouble", which features a more accessible vers/chorus structured hard/heavy rock with only very few nods toward doom metal. Examples of the latter style can be heard in the intro to "R.I.P." and in the middle section of "Heaven on My Mind". A psychadelic element has also crept into the band´s sound, which can be heard on "The Misery Shows (Act II)", where there are nods toward both Pink Floyd and The Beatles. Mostly though the tracks just rock really hard with sharp and groove laden riffing. It´s often said that a self-titled release signals a significant change in sound or a return to the roots, and the former is certainly true when it comes to this album.

The band make the transition with great success though and even though the musical style is in many ways quite different from what came before, this is still unmistakably the sound of "Trouble". Heavy hard rocking riffing, a heavy rhythm section (more hard rocking and groove laden than earlier), and of course the powerful and rusty sounding vocals by Eric Wagner in front. A bit more simple and accessible but still damn heavy. The material is generally of high quality and all tracks are memorable and well played. The Rick Rubin production suits the music well and overall "Trouble" is quite the enjoyable listen if you adjust your expectations to how it sounds and don´t expect it to be a full blown doom metal album. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.
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