For whatever reason, blackened death metal has become something of a go to for me this year. Blame it on being a melodeath fan who doesn’t like modern melodeath and needs something to fill the void, or on Sulphur Aeon, or on the stars aligning and the powers of darkness infesting my brain. Whatever the reason, Trivax‘s The Great Satan was a must check for me. So now we’re here, what’s there to be said about Trivax‘s gentle critique of Ayatollah Khomeini‘s policies through the medium of equally gentle music?
The first thing to be said about The Great Satan is that Trivax want your attention. Their take on the genre is accessible, melodic, and, at times, even a bit black n’ roll. They have a punchy production that really showcases the instruments, even Sully‘s bass. Yes, there is aggression and speed here, but Trivax aren’t aiming for hell sounds or impenetrable kvltness, not even when at their most black metal as on “To Liberation and Beyond”. This is headbanging at the metal gig that goes for the throat and doesn’t let go. That remains true even when moving away from the thrashy riffs and pounding rhythms, and showing the expansive side of their sound. It’s true with the Middle Eastern-accented “Atash”, and the melancholic “Lawless Eternal”, and Trivax‘s excursion into atmospheric, epic realms with standout track “Operation Ramadan”.
The Great Satan ends with an orchestral, spoken word piece, a reminder that Trivax‘s lyrics are rooted in something far more concrete and personal than many metal bands. Now, I’m not qualified to speak as to the state of Iran, so I’ll stick to the metal. The Great Satan is an engaging, razor sharp album that sits in the spot between nasty and melodic. It’s cohesive and strong in its identity without ever getting dull. It is exactly what the doctor had ordered and, as such, I’ll keep spinning Trivax a while longer.
