Trojan’s sole album – Chasing the Storm – from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal days gets the Cult Metal Classics treatment reissued on CD together with a superb bonus disc of the band’s show at the Dynamo Club in Eindhoven from 1986.
So good that Cult Metal Classics continue to somehow find “lost” NWOBHM-era bands and put together the re-releases in the way that they do – often with bonus stuff as we have here with the live disc.
Trojan were full on “in yer face” NWOBHM. Speed metal almost. Full on bludgeon riffola. Shortish songs played at a fast and furious pace. Riffs slashing and cutting aplenty from everywhere. Scorching, brutal, frenetic solos, a solid rhythm section able to keep up with the guitar and powerful vocals.
All works so well together and whist there is a feeling of sameyness here and there, Chasing the Storm is a fine listen and should be enjoyed by old folk like me who grew up on NWOBHM or anybody who likes their heavy stuff short, sharp and to the point.
There’s some melody in amongst the speed and power too. Think Raven – the styles are similar. Or perhaps say Helloween’s debut for the speed metal aspects.
Right from the opener and title track the pace kicks in and does not relent banging along with one of the biggest riffs you’ll hear anywhere and charging along like a stampeding heard of elephants. Have a listen:
https://youtu.be/qHcUrRT-iEk
Of the other nine songs (well, ten as there is a bonus track of a demo of Bring on the Night) check out in particular Hypnotized, Backstabber, Icehouse and Take No Prisoners. As fast and heavy as anything you’d care to mention.
All breathless stuff from first note to last.
Chasing the Storm went down well enough though seemingly better in mainland Europe than the UK. The second disc here of that performance from 1986 at the Eindhoven Dynamo Club capturing Trojan just before they split shortly afterwards and it’s a treat to have it with this re-issue.
Top marks to Cult Metal Classics for pulling another one out from yet another “lost” NWOBHM-era band who didn’t make it though not for want of trying.
As is usual with the label, it’s a limited edition run of 500 and where they’re gone, they’re gone. So don’t hang about if you’d like a copy.
Here’s the link to Sonic Age Records, which is where I got mine from:
https://www.sonicagerecords.com/_shop/
As I post this up (23 May 2022) they show availability.