Trouble (band)
Trouble | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Origin | Aurora, Illinois, U.S. |
Genres | Doom metal |
Years active | 1981–present |
Labels |
|
Spinoffs | Ian Brown Chuck Robinson Shane Pasqualla |
Trouble is an American doom metal band from Aurora, Illinois, formed in 1981. They are often considered one of the pioneers of doom metal, and have been referred to as one of the genre's "big four" alongside Candlemass, Pentagram and Saint Vitus.[1][2][3][4][5] The band created a distinct style, taking influences of the British heavy metal bands Black Sabbath and Judas Priest,[6] and psychedelic rock of the 1960s.
Trouble's first two albums, Psalm 9 and The Skull, are cited as landmarks of doom metal. To date, they have released eight studio albums. Although never officially disbanded, they went inactive after original singer Eric Wagner left in 1997. He rejoined in 2000 and left again eight years later; he was first replaced by Kory Clarke and then by current vocalist Kyle Thomas, who had also filled in for Wagner during his initial absence from Trouble. Eric Wagner died in 2021.[5]
Core members include Wagner, guitarists Rick Wartell and
History
Formation and Metal Blade years (1981–1988)
Trouble was formed in 1981 by Rick Wartell and was joined by guitarist
The band toured throughout the Midwest during the early 1980s. On February 5, 1983, the band recorded Trouble Live in Chicago. Drummer Jeff Olson mailed the cassette to Brian Slagel of Metal Blade Records and the band landed their first record deal. Trouble released their eponymous debut (later referred to as Psalm 9) with Metal Blade Records in 1984.[8] The Skull followed in 1985,[8] and reflected singer Wagner's struggles with substance abuse, as well as growing turmoil within the group. This led to the replacement of bassist McAllister with Ron Holzner.[8] Drummer Jeff Olson also departed.[8] Reports suggested that Olson had left the band to become a preacher,[9][11] but he had actually decided to pursue studies at Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he received his Bachelor of Music degree cum laude in Film Scoring.[12] Dennis Lesh was drafted as his replacement for 1987's Run to the Light.[8] In comparison to earlier recordings, the critics thought Run to the Light was "disappointing".[9] Ted Kirkpatrick played drums during Trouble's Run to the Light tour. Kirkpatrick later formed the Christian metal band Tourniquet in 1990.[13]
Rise to popularity and hiatus (1989–1996)
A three-year hiatus occurred before the band was snapped up by
The group embarked on a year-long tour before returning to the studio. In 1992, Manic Frustration was released,[8] delving into Beatlesque psychedelia and featuring some of Trouble's most aggressive, energetic performances ever. But after the album failed to connect with a wider audience, the band was ultimately dropped by their record company, which was experiencing financial problems.[8]
The band issued Plastic Green Head through the Music for Nations label in 1995,[8] with the return of founding drummer Jeff Olson.
Reunion and Simple Mind Condition (1997–2007)
Even though Trouble had gone on an extended hiatus after Wagner's departure, rumors of an eventual re-formation persisted. From 1997 to 2000, Wagner was replaced by former Exhorder singer Kyle Thomas, who played four public gigs with Trouble.
On January 26, 2002, Wagner, Franklin, Wartell, Holzner, and Olson performed a short set in Chicago where during their smoking rendition of Black Sabbaths' Children of The Grave with Scott Davidson sitting in on the drums, the P.A. gave out and left the crowd in a stunning uproar. Since that time, the band has played individual gigs throughout the Chicago area and headlined metal festivals in Europe and the U.S. while working on a new album. A concert in Stockholm, Sweden in 2005 produced the live DVD "Trouble – Live in Stockholm" with members
In February 2004, Dave Grohl of Nirvana and the Foo Fighters released a tribute album that paid homage to his metal roots. Entitled Probot, the disc featured various vocalists, including Eric Wagner, who sang on the track "My Tortured Soul". In the album's liner notes, Grohl wrote that buying Psalm 9 was like buying Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
Holzner left the band soon after, to be replaced by Chuck Robinson, who played on the band's newest studio album, Simple Mind Condition, which was released in Europe on April 3, 2007, by Escapi Music. The band toured internationally in support of its release,[14] but were not able to secure a U.S. release date for the album until over two years later. An unplugged album was later released through the band's website and, more recently, Escapi Music.
New singers and The Distortion Field (2008–present)
In May 2008, it was announced that Eric Wagner had left the band and had been replaced by Kory Clarke of Warrior Soul.[15] Jeff Olson also announced his departure from the band in July 2008 to continue with his own band, Retro Grave.[16] Olson's last show with Trouble was, coincidentally, at a rock club called, "The End" in Memphis, Tenn.[17] Olson was replaced by Wet Animal's Mark Lira for the band's upcoming U.S. East Coast tour.[18]
In a September 2008 interview with Rock N Roll Experience, guitarist Rick Wartell mentioned that Trouble had written "eight or nine songs" for their next album, and would begin recording it after touring.[19] When asked which direction is the new music going in, Wartell replied, "I know people have said this a million times and I know you've heard this a million times, but it's pretty fucking heavy, let's put it that way! The music end of it that Bruce [Franklin, guitar] and I are writing is getting heavier and heavier...it's getting heavier, and then we want Kory to incorporate his style into what we are doing, that's basically all that we really want out of this."
On November 18, 2008, Trouble announced, via their website, that they were in the process of writing songs for an album that would likely be released in the summer of 2009. A live bootleg recording featuring the new line-up was released via the band's website in 2008, then worldwide by Escapi Music about one year later. On March 4, 2009, Trouble revealed on their website that the new album would tentatively be called The Dark Riff. On September 9, 2010, the band announced that they are "getting ready for the studio now. [We] have been making preliminary recordings and working out things to bring the best possible Trouble release."[20] Bruce Franklin later said in a 2009 interview that The Dark Riff would not be the title of the forthcoming album.
In February 2012, Kory Clarke left Trouble.[21] Kyle Thomas, who was with the band from 1997 to 2000, took his place. Also in February 2012, two original members of Trouble — vocalist Eric Wagner and drummer Jeff Olson — joined forces with the band's longtime bassist Ron Holzner in a new heavy rock/doom metal act called The Skull. According to a statement on the band's Facebook page, "The Skull is here to do one thing... rock you with the sounds and spirit of Trouble — past, present, future.[22] The Skull did a thirty-year celebration tour of Trouble's debut album, Psalm 9, in 2014.[23]
On February 16, 2013, Jeff Olson announced that he would be playing some keyboard intros on the new album.[24] In May 2013, it was announced that the new album, The Distortion Field, was scheduled to be released July 16 in North America and July 26 in Europe. This was the first release to feature Kyle Thomas and was produced by Bill Metoyer. Shortly after its release, Rob Hultz of Solace and Godspeed joined the band as a bassist.[25]
In 2014, Wartell announced that Trouble had begun working on new material for the follow-up to The Distortion Field.[26] No news or progress on the album had been reported until July 2022, when the band entered the studio to start recording it.[27]
Original Trouble singer Eric Wagner died of complications from COVID-19 on August 22, 2021 at the age of 62.[5][28][29][30]
Music and image
Trouble's music lies with a traditional doom metal style, although their albums since 1990s
Eric Wagner's lyrics deal with different themes, but the early Trouble albums, such as their debut
Reception
Problems with both the
Trouble's first two albums were critically acclaimed and are respected in the metal scene.[36] The following album Run to the Light, however, was said to be "disappointing",[9] but a different direction was taken during the Def American era, when Rick Rubin helped the band to develop a new, unique style. The self-titled album gained "magnificent reviews in all the major heavy metal rags"[9] and the psychedelic Manic Frustration was a "critically lauded, cult-raved heavy metal masterpiece".[9] The 1995's Plastic Green Head received good reviews and "the album's songs also exuded a palpable sense of wary acceptance."[9] However, Trouble was never thought of as a completely unique group; some critiques dismissed the band as a "poor man's Black Sabbath".[37] Nevertheless, Trouble's influence on the metal movement is unquestioned,[36] with groups such as Corrosion of Conformity,[38] Down,[39] Electric Wizard,[40] Cathedral,[41] Crowbar,[42] Orange Goblin,[40] At the Gates,[40] Confessor,[43] Autopsy,[44] Candlemass,[45] and Bolt Thrower[46] citing them as an influence.
Members
Current
|
Former
|
Timeline
Discography
Studio albums
Title | Year of release | Label |
Psalm 9 (formerly 'Trouble') | 1984 | Metal Blade |
The Skull | 1985 | Metal Blade |
Run to the Light | 1987 | Metal Blade |
Trouble | 1990 | Def American
|
Manic Frustration | 1992 | Def American
|
Plastic Green Head | 1995 | Century Media |
Simple Mind Condition | 2007 | Escapi Music |
The Distortion Field | 2013 | FRW Records |
Live releases
- Trouble Live (1983, a live cassette sold by the band before being signed to Metal Blade Records, available on CDR through the band's website)
- Trouble Live Dallas Bootleg (1990, a live concert originally broadcast by radio during the band's tour for the self-titled album on Def American, available on CDR through the band's website)
- Live in L.A. (2008)
- Live in Palatine 1989 (2010)
- Live in Schaumberg 1993 (2010)
- Live 1983 (2011)
- Black Shapes of Doom (2011)
EPs
Demos
- 1980 Demo (1980)
- 1982 Demo (1982)
- 1983 Demo (1983)
- Live (1983)
- 1985 Demo (1985)
- One for the Road (1994)
DVDs
- Live in Stockholm (2006)
References
- ^ Doom Metal AllMusic
- ^ "Petition For Doom 'Big Four' Tour Circulating". Metalunderground.com. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
- ^ Kamiński, Karol (May 11, 2012). ""The Big 4 of Doom Metal" tour in the works? » IDIOTEQ.com". Idioteq.com. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
- ^ "The 10 Best Doom Metal Bands of All-Time". chaospin.com. May 28, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
- ^ a b c "Eric Wagner, Lead Singer Of Doom Metal Legends Trouble, Has Died From Covid-19". Houston Press. August 24, 2021. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
- ^ Leif Edling, Trouble interview, Trouble Live In Stockholm DVD.
- ^ Lahtonen, Luxi. "Interview with Trouble". Metal-rules.com. Retrieved September 6, 2007.
- ^ ISBN 0-7535-0257-7.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Trouble". AllMusic. Retrieved November 29, 2007.
- ^ Popoff, Martin. Interview with Eric Wagner. Liner notes of Psalm 9 re-issue 2006. Escapi Music.
- ^ a b c Siva, Shan. "Supershine". Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved November 29, 2007.
- ^ "Retro Grave Interview". January 7, 2009. Archived from the original on January 7, 2009. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
- ^ "Official Tourniquet website (band information page)". Retrieved November 13, 2022.
- ^ "Trouble.com". Archived from the original on August 14, 2003. Retrieved November 29, 2007.
- ^ "Warrior Soul's Kory Clarke is the new Trouble singer". Blabbermouth.net. 2008. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
- ^ "Drummer Jeff 'Oly' Olson Quits Trouble". Blabbermouth.net. July 31, 2008. Retrieved March 8, 2012.
- ^ "Retro Grave – Welcome to Retro Grave". Retrogravemusic.com. Retrieved March 8, 2012.
- ^ "TROUBLE Recruits WET ANIMAL Drummer For Upcoming Tour". Blabbermouth.net. August 7, 2008. Retrieved March 8, 2012.
- ^ "TROUBLE Guitarist On New Singer KORY CLARKE And METALLICA's 'Death Magnetic'". Blabbermouth.net. September 18, 2008. Retrieved March 8, 2012.
- ^ "TROUBLE Preparing To Enter Studio". Blabbermouth.net. September 9, 2010. Retrieved March 8, 2012.
- ^ "Trouble Taps Former Exhorder Singer". Blabbermouth.net. February 7, 2012. Retrieved March 8, 2012.
- ^ "Former Trouble Bassist On The Skull: 'We Want To Go Out And Have Fun And Play The Old Songs'". Blabbermouth.net. February 12, 2012. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
- ^ "The Skull Featuring Former Trouble Members Performs In Hollywood". Blabbermouth.net. October 25, 2013. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
- ^ "Original Trouble Drummer Jeff 'Oly' Olson To Play Keyboards On Band's Next Album". Blabbermouth.net. February 16, 2013. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
- ^ "Trouble To Release 'The Distortion Field' In July". Blabbermouth.net. May 16, 2013. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
- ^ "Trouble Working On New Material". Blabbermouth.net. August 4, 2014. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
- ^ "TROUBLE Begins Recording First Studio Album In Nearly A Decade". Blabbermouth.net. August 1, 2022. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
- ^ "Original Trouble Vocalist Eric Wagner Passes Away". metalunderground.com. August 23, 2021. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
- ^ "Former TROUBLE Singer ERIC WAGNER Dies After Battle With COVID Pneumonia". Blabbermouth.net. August 24, 2021. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
- ^ "ERIC WAGNER (Ex-TROUBLE, THE SKULL) Has Died After Being Hospitalized With post COVID-injection Pneumonia". Metaladdicts.com. August 23, 2021. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
- ^ "Manic Frustration - Trouble | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic.
- ^ Edling, Leif. Trouble Interview on Live in Stockholm DVD. 2006.
- ^ Lahtonen, Luxi (2002). "Trouble". Metal-Rules.com. Retrieved November 29, 2007.
- ^ a b Schilmm, Patrick (2002). "Trouble". Trouble.de. Retrieved November 29, 2007.
- ^ Christe 2002, chapter 20
- ^ a b Bergman, Keith (2007). "Trouble – Psalm 9". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
- ^ Gao (May 18, 2006). "Trouble – Psalm 9". Noise.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved November 29, 2007.
- ^ Campagna, Tom (January 23, 2018). "Interview: Mike Dean of Corrosion of Conformity". Invisible Oranges. Archived from the original on January 25, 2018. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
- ^ Cowan, Darren (January 18, 2017). "PHA". www.metalunderground.com/. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
- ^ a b c Ruskell, Nick (2021). "Kerrang!". Kerrang.com. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
- ^ "Lee Dorrian". blabbermouth.com. 2021. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
- ^ "Trouble". Facebook. November 15, 2014. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
- ^ Tobin, Dan (October 16, 2006). "Confessor". earache.com/. earache. Archived from the original on October 16, 2006.
- ^ Norton, Justin (May 14, 2014). "Eric Cutler Interview". decibelmagazine.com/. decibel magazine.
- ^ Pratt, Greg (February 21, 2019). "Leif Edling Interview". decibelmagazine.com/. decibel magazine.
- ^ "Jo Bench Interview". uglybass.wordpress.com/. uglybass. September 27, 2016.
External links
- Trouble at AllMusic
- Trouble discography at Discogs
- Trouble discography at MusicBrainz