Tröjan — The Complete Tröjan & Taliön Recordings 84 – 92
Here we have a five-disc set bringing together all the studio/ live recordings/ demos of NWOBHM band Tröjan- who were one of the first bands to be labelled as speed metal. The set takes in material from between the years 1984 and 1990.
The set appears on Dissonance Productions- one of the Cherry Red family that focuses on reissuing old metal from the past. The five discs are presented in a thick & glossy flip-side card box. Each of the discs comes in their own colour card slips. The set is finished with a thirty-page glossy inlay booklet- this a new twelve-page write-up about the band, a two-page piece about the band's demo, press clippings, reviews, pictures, and lyrics- so clearly a good bit of research/ digging done with this booklet.
Tröjan started in the year 1982 in Wigan, Manchester. Their first five-track cassette EP from 82 had a line-up of Pete Wadeson-Guitars, Brian Bentham-Bass, Mick Taylor-Drums, Andy Halliwell-Guitars, and Dave Kenyon-Vocals. Between 83 and 85 the band recorded five demos, then in 1985, they recorded their debut album Chasing The Storm. In 1988 they switched their name to Taliön- releasing both a five-track demo and a studio album in 1989. Around 2019, the band regrouped and has seemingly been on & off since, though no new material has appeared thus far.
On the first disc, we have the band's 1985 debut Chasing The Storm- this appeared in June of that year on Roadrunner Records. It’s a ten-track affair, and this disc takes in just the album- no bonus tracks. The album kicks off with the title track, which after a brooding and rising synth-tone intro finds nicely speedily galloping verses and slightly vocally harmonic touched choruses- the lead riff reminded me very much of something you might find of Metallica’s Kill Em All. As we move through the first half of the album we have a speedily bounding ‘n’ baying lead riff of “Back Stabber” which features Halford-like repeated word choruses, and a harmonic breakdown & leads. Moving on to the second side we have “ Hot ‘n’ Ready” with its bashing drum kit pelt, locked riff churn, and careering solo runs. The album plays out with “Aggressor” which opens up with clean/ clear guitar lines, before roaring into pacing riff-bound and sail-wailing vocals. As debuts go Chasing The Storm is a wonderful brisk & raw affair, though there are moments of both harmonics & melody too.
Disc two is Capturing The Storm- Live At The Dynamo Club. This as its title suggested a live recording of the first album's track, though in slightly different running order. It’s from the 19th of January 1986. This is a live in-the-crowd recording- meaning that the instruments rather bled & blended into one another, with the vocals being quite difficult to make out- there’s also a fair mix of feedback too. The band are certainly fired right up, and giving it their all. I’m just not the biggest live album fan, and really this didn't really change my mind.
Disc three features the studio album Killing The World which appeared in 1989 on Major Records. It found the band shifting their name to Talion, and offering up seven tracks. The sound here is a little more polished and technically proficient with power metal touches brought into the band‘s sound. We go from the chugging ‘n’ slamming riff mattering, and soaring vocals of “Sanctuary”. There’s the instrumental “Speed Thriller” which opens with stop/ start reverbed guitar tones chops, before rolling into bounding ‘n’ soloing metal craft. In the second half, we have the clean guitars/ soling rolling into bounding speeding ‘n’ solo forked of “Screaming’ For Mercy”. With the album playing out with bound riff galloping, searing lead tones, and touches of vocal effects that is “Premonition”. Killing The World certainly shows the band sounding more polished and proficient, and if you enjoy mixes of speed & power metal I think you’ll like what you hear.
Disc four is entitled Live In Bulgaria & Demos- it takes in nine tracks. Five are live tracks from 1990, and four are demos. The live tracks sound better than those on the previous live album- with a better mixing/ balance of sound. And the demo version of album tracks are OK I guess, though they are a little redundant as they are not too removed from the ones on the Killing The World album.
Finally, on disc five we have Tröjan Demos- it takes in thirteen tracks in total. It dates back to the band's origins before it became a four-piece. There is a wonderful feel of rawness to the material here- full of youthful fire & passion, so once you’ve become familiar with the Chasing The Storm material this is great to hear.
If you enjoy where NWOBHM moves meet speed & Power metal then this boxset will appeal. And it certainly is impressive to see all the passion put into this set- with the great booklet, demo/ live recordings.