28th January 2022

Review: “Self Titled” by Triskelyon

As a creative person and a musician, you may find yourself writing music that doesn’t necessarily fit the work of your main squeeze. Maybe because it’s inspired by something more left field or not in concept or keeping with the style that you’re known for but you don’t want those songs to sit on the shelf. So the side project is born and for Artach and Category VI guitarist Geoff Waye that project is Triskelyon. The Canadian Thrash Metal musician had a burning desire to create something more melodic and in doing so reached out to friends and is ably assisted with contributions from vocalists Pete Healey and Marlee Ryley (Hyperia), along with drum programming by Raul Marques (Burning Torment). Michael Small handled mixing and mastering while also being credited with co-production, meaning that Waye himself recorded these cuts, playing guitars and bass as well as writing the lyrics.

What does Melodic Thrash sound like? Well in the eyes (and ears) of Geoff Waye it sounds like Thrash with influences of Traditional Metal, so you have plenty of heavy chugging Thrash riffs, separated by Traditional Metal bridges and big choruses. Opening cut “Hunger” sounds like a classic Anthrax cut from the “Spreading The Disease” era, with Iron Maiden influences all over it and Pete Healey’s higher pitched vocals only enhancing that nostalgic feel. The lyrics would actually work well for a snotty nosed Punk band with thinly veiled social and political awareness worn on the sleeve. “Find A Way” keeps that narrative engine running on a longer cut with a tasteful solo as Marlee Ryley of Hyperia takes over the vocals with some Ronnie James Dio inspired moments, even if there are a few points where he steps off the groove and goes slightly out of sync, not quite marrying up to the flow of the guitar work as perfectly as you would hope. It’s a minor indiscretion but given the quality of what surrounds it, it stands out before the amusing lyrics of “Odyssey” offer up references to Duran Duran and Billy Idol during the headrush of frenetic riffage and that throws caution to the wind with breakneck speed to finish on a high for what is one of those classic Metal anthems about the love of Metal. Horns Up! [7/10]

Track listing