(Report by Bill 2x4)
I was looking forward to the TROUBLE concert since it was announced; their first albums with those SABBATH (meets-PRIEST sometimes) riffs and Christian themes made me wonder can it be true?. Even with the release of Manic Frustration back in 1992, TROUBLE remained as one of my favorite bands in heavy music; they still remain!!! So, I arrived at the venue a few minutes before the second support act hit the stage and no more than 200 people were in...what the fuck?...One stop to the bar so as to say hello to the lady there (lady, aka beer) and then I moved close to the stage.
It was 21:20 p.m. when INFIDEL hit the stage. Having seen them a few days back in an Open Air festival, I can say that this band best suits for playing indoors. With a clear sound this time, a rhythm section full of professionalism and a frontman full of 'anger', the band tried to warm us up for what would follow. Unfortunately the crowd did not 'pay them back' (only a few headbangers); maybe their music style (progressive doom heavy Rock, with psychedelic seeds – in Metal paths though, and melodic but also featuring singer Poussios' aggressive voice!), sounds 'difficult' to the average Greek metalhead's ears.
They gave us a 40-minute set, based on their debut album, I Oathbreaker, including also a sample of their upcoming work. With songs like Dreamer Redeemer, Facing The Mirror and along with the new ones, INFIDEL showed a band full of energy and with wide musical ideas ready to offer a lot to the local Metal scene. Only thing you can do? Support them!
After a long delay - including sound check and a complete drum kit set-up (which was minimal) - everything was ready for Chicago doomsters TROUBLE. About 300+ people were in attendance now (all the ages), wearing T-shirts of BLACK SABBATH, CATHEDRAL, St. VITUS and even PENTAGRAM (fuck yeah!) waiting for the Doom machine (or should I use the 'white' Metal machine?) called TROUBLE. Having in their baggage albums-milestones for Doom Metal, TROUBLE walked in the stage. But, TROUBLE who? Hehehe, the original line-up with the exception of the first bassist. People went crazy and after a short intro Eric Wagner himself appeared wearing dark shades and smoking; a cult figure!
The sound was really loud, noisy and distorted sometimes, but hey, who cares? The duo of Bruce Franklin / Rick Wartell delivered bone-crushing riffs while Jeff Olson and Chuck Robinson were giving that unique 'doomy' uptempo TROUBLE sound. Thick and tortuous riffs met grungier sounds that night. Only TROUBLE can do that! Eric Wagner with his charismatic voice (if he had a little more "support" from the sound engineer...) was so enthusiastic with the audience; a lot of times did he share his mic with the crowd. Having their new album in stores - Simple Mind Condition - TROUBLE covered their whole discography for 1 1_2 hour but lot of people seemed to enjoy more the stuff from the '90s era and on, than the older shit; weird ah?
Overall it was a great concert; too bad for not seeing more "ghosts" from the past among the crowd, not hearing a more crystal sound and no official merchandise; satisfied though 'cos I had the chance to see TROUBLE live. While going back home, one question twisted my mind:
"Why hasn't this band become huge?"
Some of the songs performed (in order of remembrance):
Assassin (Check this shit out)
Plastic Green Head
Pray For The Dead
Endtime
At The End Of My Daze
Come Touch The Sky
Mindbender
Going Home
Psychotic Reaction
The Tempter
Bastards Will Pay
Memory's Garden
The Sleeper
P.S.: A big thanx to Manimal, we'll drink beers in some other gig pal, you rule!!!
