Troyen become yet another New Wave of British Heavy Metal era band to release a most fine new album in 2024. It’s titled Unfinished Business and it’s a firecracker.
The band were around briefly for a couple of years or so in the early 1980s as NWOBHM was taking off – though back then Troyen didn’t quite make it to the end of the runway unfortunately.
Fast forward three decades and they reformed in 2014 starting to play live and record again. I did get my grubby paws on a copy of their Finish What You Started E.P which was released shortly after their reformation though since then Troyen had dropped off my radar.
That was until couple of weeks or so ago when I was tipped off about the impending release of Unfinished Business. On tracking down Troyen’s march page to order a copy, I discovered that they’d released Falling off the Edge of Forever in 2019 so I picked up a copy of that also.
Unfinished Business first…..
The Man I Used to Be starts the album off with much vigour and energy as it speeds along. Twist of Fate follows in similar style.
Here’s The Man I Used to Be:
Hoax has a bit of a new wave tinge to it. Upbeat and jaunty with an angry spitting vocal style. Quite infectious. Gets under the skin.
On The Outside starts off rather melancholy quickly kicking off in to a huge riff-based number with some blinding guitar breaks and a monster chorus.
Nightmare mixes the style up again being a darkly brooding, atmospheric and slightly spooky song building the tension gradually over the seven minutes.
Darkness Within big and bouncy then It Wasn’t Just Me is quite an engaging “power ballad”.
Bourbon and Shame sort of a heavy blues number about….well, you can guess I’m sure – then Hold On and Into the Fire close out a very fine album in more traditional style.
Turing to Falling off the Edge of Forever. This one’s a cracker also. Probably slightly heavier overall than Unfinished Business though filled with all good stuff.
In particular Hubris Running Wild as that one bounces along, The huge slashing and cutting riff of the hypnotic All That Glitters, the hard and catchy Your War Ain’t My Fault and the fast and furious closers of Storm Child and Come On.
Check out All That Glitters:
There are three bonus tracks from various live performances back in 2019 demonstrating what a force Troyen must be on stage.
Both albums are first class from a band with NWOBHM roots cranking out the good stuff today. Well crafted, varied heaviness with intelligence and maturity. Plenty of finesse and melodic elements also giving much to enjoy.
Pick up Unfinished Business and Falling off the Edge of Forever from Troyen’s merch page:
https://officialtroyenmerchandise.bigcartel.com
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