TRIALS - Witness To The Downfall CD Review

ARTIST: Trials
TITLE: Witness To The Downfall
YEAR: 2011
LABEL: Self-Released
REVIEWED BY: Caroline Restiaux

Debut releases are always fun to dive in to because they consistently offer something fresh. You never really know what to expect and with no previous albums to compare the new ones too your ears are wide open. Wether the band has been around palying local shows for years or have gone through the recording process right from the beginning, the results are always going to be the same. It's something new for us as well as them.

Trials is a promising Chicago metal quartet that is set to release it's fury on to the world. "Witness To The Downfall" is their debut self-released album which proves that you don't need the big bucks to make a decent one these days. It was mixed and mastered by Lasse Lammert (Alestorm) so there is no doubt that even before listening to this piece the music will be well put together. To top it off the production quality brings out the multiple layers of guitar work and vocals that you will find on the album.

The first track 'Praise' starts off heavy and brings you in for the kill. The pulsation continues through to 'Powerless' and then follows with 'This Is Starvation' (which happens to be one of my faves of the album). It takes a bit of a melodic twist with the next one 'Declaration' that starts off big and mean then gets a bit softer, picks back up to punch you, throws in a tiny little breakdown, beefs up and then mellows down. I guess you could compare this song to most releationships now days, only the 'beef heads' don't care to mellow out once in a while. The next song 'Hammer' is also one of my faves starting off with killer drums followed up with some sweet riffage. Heck the drumming on the album is probably the highlight for me, former member Sasha Horn (Novembers Doom) (who has since been replaced by Adam Kopecky)is responsible for laying down that bed of death on this release. Dude never misses a beat, heels up to you Sasha! The rest of the album follows pretty much the same criteria as the opening tunes. There is a fair share of clean vocals on this release which blend in perfectly with the grunts and growls here and there. There are some moments when you can hear a bit of a Machine Head and Pantera influence coming through in the guitar work. Overall great musicianship from each of the members. The album will leave you bruised and beaten !

I will be looking out for their second release which is already nearing the final writing stages. It's been said that it will be more thought provoking, heavier and faster than their first. This cd is a great debut and although the guys and gal may not be making my top 10 list this year, they will be making my bands to be on the look out for list!

TRACKLISTING:

01. Praise
02. Powerless
03. This Is Starvation
04. Declaration
05. Hammer
06. Shadows And Traps
07. Kingdom
08. And Still I Breathe
09. Take This From Me