TRIAL – Vessel

Trial is a relatively new band from Sweden that plays what can be termed Traditional Metal, but with a bit of a haunting flare in the vein of Mercyful Fate and Candlemass. Their latest album is entitled Vessel, containing 7 tracks varying from 3 to 13 minutes. Vessel is an album that you’ll find yourself “pulling for” as you listen to it – wanting it to get “over the hump” from being a mediocre album into a great album. There’s good musical interludes, but the vocal style and melodies tend to mesh poorly, making for a cumbersome and overall “bland” listen.