Trident was formed in 2007 by a few of Swedish black/death metal’s luminaries including Johan Norman (Dissection, Sacramentum), Tobias Sidgård (Necrophobic, jail) and Jonas Blum (Runemagick). Their 2010 debut album ‘World Destruction’ was definitely one that I was looking forward to at the time but when I checked out a couple of tracks online, found it to be quite underwhelming. From the heavy weight line-up behind that effort though, just two remain for this four track ‘Shadow’ EP: namely, the legendary Johan Norman aka Reaper on rhythm guitar and Ulv on lead. As it happens, the batch of fresh (and less renowned) faces in the band have seemingly turned Trident into a far more intense and visceral beast than I would have suspected.
‘Aftermath’ immediately showcases the weight of production on here as coruscating guitar work, drums and venom spitting vocals crash out. When the composition takes off, blasts pound and riffs hack violently over one another before we are transported to frostbitten realms. This tendency, along with the six string asides and drum work, is reminiscent of the best that the ’90s had to offer just with an updated hammering death metal vibe. The disorientating solo is also particularly cool and once the seven minutes of the opener are up, I’m surprised each time as it feels far shorter. Granted, Trident’s music is nothing we haven’t heard before but it packs enough of a punch to eclipse a lot of contemporary black/death. This line of thought is furthered with ‘Dark Nordic Rage’ as blasting and layers of bellowing black riff work clamber all over the place before the occasional riff scythes through to inspire a real sense of insecurity.
The track which resonates most though and stands out due to its emphatically dark, distinct atmosphere is ‘Shadows’ itself. Odd, haunting riffs and measured drum patterns evoke its subject well, on top of which are some great touches like Samhain’s hateful vocals interplaying excellently with those lingering guitar lines. As we go along, the track is added further scope via some nice melodious dual guitar touches and an equally effective closing passage in which the bass breathes heavily like a labouring beast. In fact, it’s this ability on the part of the musicians to create scenes that come to life which stands out through the entire EP. It shouldn’t come as a revelation given the driving force behind the band but even so, it still comes as one – like when the beautiful, schizoid melodic solos on ‘Thy Kingdom’ are driven home to perfection with thundering bass drums and accompanying bursts of machine gun fretwork.
If there’s any justice in this world, the ‘Shadows’ EP will put Trident on the map in a big way. Their level of conviction is undeniable: from every tight-as-fuck riff, acidic melody and finely conceived piece of drum work. As acknowledged at the start, the impact of getting new and vigorously pumping blood in the band surely cannot be underestimated in terms of the band’s sound progressing as it has. With the same attention to finely honed song writing and this level of aggression it’s fair to say that album number two – whenever it arrives – has the potential to send heads rolling.
(8.5/10 Jamie)
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