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TRANCE - Metal Forces - 8.1/108.1/10
Summary
Metalapolis Records
Release date: August 6, 2021
[spoiler title=’Metal Express Radio – Ratings Scale’ style=’default’ collapse_link=’true’]
10.0: Cannot be improved! Perfect, instant classic! Essential in any record collection.
9.5 – 9.9: Fantastic, spectacular and outstanding!
9.0 – 9.4: Amazing release! It just lacks that little extra spice to make it perfect.
8.5 – 8.9: Exceptional release! Will likely rank among top ten albums of the year.
8.0 – 8.4: Great release! It has many different qualities.
7.5 – 7.9: Above average! It is an enjoyable release.
7.0 – 7.4: It is not brilliant, but has many strong points.
6.0 – 6.9: It has its moments, but is not that strong.
5.0 – 5.9: Slightly above average, does not stand out. Good outweighs bad by just a little.
4.0 – 4.9: Just below average, bad outweighs good by just a little.
3.0 – 3.9: Mediocre. There might be a song or a performance that is enjoyable, but that is it.
2.0 – 2.9: Very weak! There might be a light at the end of the tunnel, too many flaws.
1.0 – 1.9: This release gives the word “terrible” new meaning.
0.1 – 0.9: Awful! Avoid at all cost. There is nothing good to say about this release.
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User Review
( vote)The Backstory
Germany’s Trance formed in 1974. They are considered by some to be one Germany’s oldest Heavy Metal bands. Their first two records Break Out (1981) and Power Infusion (1982) are said to be classics that got people taking about Trance. Management and business issues fractured the group until they called it quits in 1998.
At the behest of guitarist Marcus Becker, Trance reformed in 2011 for a few live shows. Five years later they released their comeback album The Loser Strikes Back, a nod to their debut album. 2021 sees the release of Trance’s 10th album Metal Forces, featuring their new vocalist Nick Holleman (ex-Vicious Rumors).
The Album
Pounding drums and break-neck riffage dominate the album’s opening track “The Fighter.” Nick Holleman’s high range vocals compliment the brooding music well. Thomas Klein’s thumping bass dominates the mid-tempo track “Troublemaker.” From the minute long intro, to the meaty riffs, to the kick drum/dual guitar break, “Death Machine” screams all that is good about Thrash. “Deep Dance” is lead by a marching drum beat. Holleman delivers some great wails throughout.
Trance should have just made “The Horns of Jericho” the intro to “As Long As I Live,” and “The Drums of Waterloo” the outro. “As Long as I Live” packs a punch, and adding these two instrumentals would make it more epic. Who cares if it only makes the album 9 tracks instead of 11? With “Metal Forces” you can picture the heads bouncing a fists pumping when live shows are back on track.
“Ballad For a Group” has Trance mixing things up by slowing things down. This ‘ballad’ never seems sappy and still maintains the band’s power, especially in the middle section. The bonus track “Unstoppable” has a little blues riff tucked inside of it. The band mixes up the tempo here and there to make the song a fitting finale for the album.
The Verdict
If you are tired of some of the new bands in Germany describing themselves as “classic thrash with a modern twist,” then give your ears a treat with Metal Forces by Trance; Classic thrashin’ Metal without the BS.
Tracklist
- The Fighter
- Troublemaker
- Death Machine
- Deep Dance
- Believers
- The Horns Of Jericho
- As Long As I Live
- The Droms Of Waterloo
- Metal Forces
- Ballad For A Group
Trance is
Nick Holleman – Vocals
Markus Berger – Guitar
Joris Van Rooij – Guitar
Thomas Klein – Bass
Andreas Neuderth – Drums
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