Remastered by Erwin Hermsen at Toneshed Studio.

 

This is Trouble's absolute classic: the legendary 1990 album and the pinnacle of their impressive career. Heavy metal has never been better! Includes a live bonus CD recorded in Dallas, Texas (USA)!

 

Trouble's debut album was hugely influential in the world of metal and remains one of the darkest and thrashiest doom albums to date. A lot can change in six years, especially in the world of metal between 1984 and 1990. The decade may have changed them, but not in a way that suggests a decline in quality or skill as musicians and performers. In fact, Trouble's 1990 eponymous release is arguably their most mature work to date, boasting an evolved sound, unparalleled songwriting and great production, not to mention Eric Wagner's time-crafted vocals, which had improved significantly since their previous efforts. All of this culminates in what I consider to be the most “complete” thing Trouble ever created.

 

From the mid-paced chug of the killer opener, “At the End of My Daze”, to the final notes of “All Is Forgiven”, I can’t find any filler or weak links. The riffs are some of the best ever written by Trouble or anyone else. Every song has an awesome main riff that demands headbanging. The riffs are undoubtedly the focal point here; they define the songs and are a timeless variety of excellence. The interplay between guitarists Bruce Franklin and Rick Wartell is also some of the best lead work you will ever hear in metal.

 

With this release, Trouble reinvented themselves, and while I think it was a fantastic rebirth, those not keen on the laid-back stoner vibe they adopted may see it as a step back rather than a rejuvenation (they did go from doom and gloom to embracing their inner acid-dropping, free-love hippie, after all). But the metal remained fully intact!

 

As I've said, I think this is Trouble at their best. This is originality and innovation at its finest; supreme quality. A band leader paves the way and then steps aside to create something that serves as an example of how to improve an established formula — by doing it really damn well.