20. Trouble Psalm 9 1984 (Metal Blade)
Doom Metal
Crushing their way through the pitfalls of metal.
The Lowdown
There are a couple of bands on this year’s list, that seemed totally oblivious to what was going on in metal around this time and one of those band’s was certainly Trouble from Aurora, Illinois. The band had no special interest in thrash or hair metal (even though they adeptly blend in some thrashy touches across the album) but instead were dedicated disciples of the doomy meanderings of Ozzy era-Black Sabbath, who had laid down the roots of doom metal on mythical tracks like “Black Sabbath” “Electric Funeral” and “Into the Void” tracks which all served as a blueprint for doom metal. Since this era though, the slow pounding metal which would become known as doom metal had literally stagnated as a growing sub-genre in the 1970s (check out my ‘In the Shadow of Sabbath’ sections) and it was largely down to American bands like Pentagram to keep the doom flag flying and they didn’t even get their first album out till 1985, years after they had originally formed. In the meantime British band Witchfinder General had put out what could be coined the ‘definitive’ doom metal album during the NWOBHM period and despite being a great album,
Death Penalty for me always felt like a really great Black Sabbath knock-off recording rather than an innovative affair. Now
Psalm 9 the debut album by Trouble is not exactly an album that I would go mad about, for the simple reason that doom metal as a sub-genre needs to be really good to consistently hold my interest. Trouble though have made this year’s list for the simple reason, that they have put out a doom metal album that at least tries to be innovative and not a standard Black Sabbath copy track for track. The album also makes the list at the expense of fellow doom metal pioneers Saint Vitus from Los Angeles, who also put out their debut album the same year, but the Trouble debut is the tighter album of the two and for that reason makes the list. The band had already appeared on the Metal Blade compilation albums and Metal Blade headman Brian Slagel would be on hand to produce the album. Needless to say the album gets off to a familiar sounding Black Sabbath start on the 6 plus minute “The Tempter” before embarking on an addictive sounding galloping section, singer Eric Wagner sings ‘I am the tempter ruler of hell, bringer of evil beware’ and the song shifts back and forth between its ultra-slow pounding and galloping sections. “Assassin” is one of the faster tracks, but the dynamics of the song sorely expose the scratchy vocals of Eric Wagner. Third track “Victim of the Insane” is the best on the whole album and would do prime-era Black Sabbath proud with its dark sludgy tone and menacing King Crimson/Flower Travellin’ Band vibe. Track four I have issues with “Revelation (Life or Death)’ as it sounds too blatantly like a Sabbath rip-off and following track “Bastards Will Pay” keeps the album pace on the higher side. By the time of “Fall of Lucifer” I’m wondering is this more of a thrash album than a doom one, as some of these songs are pretty fast and wouldn’t be out of place on a thrash album and the instrumental “Endtime” is a good song that mirrors Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man” . The title track "Psalm 9" closes the original album and its mid-tempo incorporate all the aspects of the band from the previous songs and dishes up a slightly more convoluted effort, and the CD version of the album comes with the Cream cover of "Tales of Brave Ulysses". Overall the dark sludgy tone, heavily down-tuned guitars, the abrasive nature of the band and the Tony Iommi inspired driven riffs make
Psalm 9 a worthy album, but on the other side of the coin I really don’t dig Eric Wagner’s vocals, as his voice is too high and scratchy, and his vocal execution sloppy at times.
Psalm 9 is considered a landmark doom metal album, largely because it was one of the first doom metal albums to consistently maintain a plodding monolithic sound across the whole album and at the same time manage to sound contemporary. Also in my opinion the band’s material would actually get better as time went by, because when it comes to mid 1980s doom metal Candlemass usually gets my vote.
Eric Wagner- Vocals
Bruce Franklin- Guitar
Rick Wartell- Guitar
Sean McAllister- Bass
Jeff Olson- Drums
Production- Brian Slagel