Title: Trespass
Artiste: Trespass
Year 2015
Nationality: British
Genre: NWOBHM, Heavy Metal, Melodic Metal
Rank: Novice *
2**
Expectations: I've loved Trespass ever since I heard “Stormchild” on the compilation album
Metal for Muthas, Vol II, but despite desperate searching, have been unable to come across any of their material. They did release an album, it seems, in 1993, called
Head, but it's really hard to get, even impossible. Other than that, all that's been available from them to date has been compilations, and though I was excited to see this, their second real album, released this year, I note now that basically it's again just a rehash of previous compilations, with no new material at all, which is a big disappointment. Still, I've failed even to find those compilations, so to me most of this will be technically new. For a band who have been championed by me on the basis really of two songs, this will be an interesting introduction to what I suppose is really their back catalogue.
1. Stormchild: We kick off on the song that made me sit up and take notice of them, with its wonderful single riff intro, then joined by a powerpunch from a second guitar, before the two get going in unison and then the vocal comes in. Superb solo and a smashing end; this song should be known much more than it is. If there's any doubt that Trespass can be considered metal, this should blow those protests away. This is however a re-recorded version, and though I still prefer the original, I'm still Blueing it.
2. Assassin: This has NWOBHM written all over it, and yet has the commercial appeal of a song you could hear on the radio, even now. Little dated yes, but not that much. Good rocker with a killer riff running through it. This, and some others including the next one, go right back to their original demo
Through the Ages (optimistic or what?) released in 1980. Turns into a real power boogie in the fourth minute (it runs for just over six, and was originally released as parts 1 and 2).
3. Ace of spades: Anything in the fact that this was written in the same year as Motorhead's classic? I don't know, but then it's a fairly common theme for songs I suppose, though I don't know of another so titled. When I saw this on the tracklisting I thought originally it might be a cover, but given that it was originally recorded in 1980 that was unlikely. And it's not. It's a totally different song; nowhere near as in-your-face or fun as Motorhead's one of course, in fact if anything it reminds me of Stampede (who?) as it bumps and grinds along. This version is extended from the original by almost two minutes. Great guitar break in the middle, which then rises into a killer solo.
4. Eight till five: This one, conversely, is slightly shorter than the original, though only by twenty seconds. Hits a real groove from the off, with some fine Lizzyesque guitar. Also reminds me of the best of the Tygers of Pan-Tang. Great stuff.
5. Bloody moon: One of the few new tracks, as it were, this appeared on their first compilation in 1992,
The Works, where it appears to have originally been called “Blood moon”, though that could just be a typo. Another fine Lizzy intro with a great rocking beat that should have been ringing out across the nation, and further. Criminal. Maybe a little too close to Lizzy on this occasion, but still fantastic.
6. One of these days: The other song I know of theirs, which appeared on the
Metal for Muthas Vol II compilation. It didn't hit me as hard as “Stormchild” did (considering that closed the entire album, it had added punch) but it is interesting that they were the only band to have two tracks chosen to go on that album. Anyway, it's a good good song, though perhaps not as great as it could be. The re-recorded version? Oh holy good ****! They extended it to twice its length and did some of this by placing a truly gorgeous guitar intro where normally the song would just start. Certainly makes a difference. Okay, in fairness, with lyric like “You run around giving yourself a bad name/ I rally think you ain't got no shame” it's not going to be winning any songwriting contests. But what it lacks in lyrical finesse it makes up for in raw energy and enthusiasm, and this extended version - which has another powerful guitar solo at the end too - ticks all the boxes and fills in the missing parts of the original. Much, much better. It was gonna go Blue anyway, but at least now I feel more justified in doing so.
7. Live it up: This was in fact their first single in 1981. Oddly, though it was on the original demo, the B-side, which is the next track, wasn't. Again it's not the most original of sentiments in the lyric, but it's a decent song.
8. Jealousy: I wonder why this wasn't originally released on the EP? It certainly rocks like a good thing, and doesn't really stop till the end. Bit odd the way he sings “Jealous-eye” though.
9. The duel: This is another fine rocker, with some really expressive slower guitar at the end before it bursts out with a riff reminiscent of the one that opens “Stormchild”, and then fades out on that.
10. Lightsmith: Beautiful acoustic intro to the closer, which again was on the demo. Thought it was going to be a ballad till it suddenly exploded on a powerful lively guitar and began galloping along in the midsection.
Final result: Well if nothing else this proves that the two tracks I heard were certainly not flukes! The quality of musicianship, songwriting and singing on display here makes me once again shake my head and wonder why these guys never made it? I guess some mysteries will just never be solved.
Rating: 
* Although I've only heard two of their songs, it hasn't been for the want of trying to purchase their material, so technically not really a Noob but I can't say I've heard enough of their music to qualify as anything other than that.
** In existence since 1978, Trespass nevertheless released only two albums in that time, their other efforts being all compilations, of which there were three between 1992 and 2004.