BLACK TRIP: "Goin' Under"

Rating: RRRR
Label: Threeman/Playground 2013
Review by: Urban "Wally" Wallstrom

Black Trip, the new Swedish hype metal band consist of guitarist Peter Stjärnvind (Entombed, Merciless, Nifelheim), vocalist Joseph Tholl (Enforcer, Corrupt), drummer Jonas Wikstrand as well as the two former Nifelheim members' Sebastian Ramstedt (guitar), Johan Bergebäck (bass). 'Goin' Under' -their debut album release at Threeman/Playground and it's all very back to basics and NWOBHM. Flat and slightly aggressive vocals in the style of Paul DiAnno (Iron Maiden) and Nicke Andersson (The Hellacopters) and the album is simply bursting with naive/blunt but energized and entertaining Heavy Metal of the very early 80s.

Oh crap. Now I'm in serious trouble. I really shouldn't do the whole comparison to the TV programmes of Channel 4 and Bad News all over again. Especially since it's merely been the silent battle cry of 'Warriors Of Ghengis Khan' or two since last. But honestly, I had no idea reality would knock down our door and hit us over the head with the debut album from Black Trip. They have been listening to all the old metal albums between the years of 1979 to 1983 and especially the likes of Iron Maiden (DiAnno era), Angelwitch, Raven, Mercyful Fate, Saxon, Tygers Of Pan Tang. Add merely the hint of Thin Lizzy and you're pretty close to the core of Black Trip.

In fact, the first single/video of "Radar" is clearly their most Lizzy inspired tune. The other seven tracks reeks of denim and leather, fish and chips, the old belt and wrist-band with pyramid studs, greasy non-poodle hairdo, and the traditional mud and urine-filled bottle barrage at any metal festival in the U.K. during the early eighties. The production is dead on and uncanny while the songs are utter, utter, utter metal. What they lack in orginallity, they make up for in energy, devotion, and sheer desperation. Final Verdict: In the famous words written in the centre of the denim jackets back panel of Vyvyan (The Young Ones: which also feat. Ade Edmondson and Rik Mayall): VERY METAL!
www.blacktrip.se