18th November 2024

Review: “Blood For The Crown” by Trendkill

The release of new material from any band should be a celebration, a moment to cherish as they grandly unveil what they have been cooking up for the World to hear. The arrival of EP “Blood for the Crown” from much loved Newcastle Groove Metal overlords Trendkill is however like biting into a piece of 82% cocoa dark chocolate. Bittersweet. Rewind the clock back little over a month before the arrival and then band announced on social media that they would be taking a hiatus following a home town EP release show. The reason? They cite burnout in a competitive and oversaturated underground music scene and a need to rediscover the passion and drive that gives their music the bite and attitude it deserves. We paraphrase of course but you get the picture. A review without looking back with through rose tinted spectacles in a nostalgic way is on the cards as we ask does “Blood for the crown” live up to the brilliance of its predecessor “Dissociate“?

Blast beats and a bloodcurdling roar get “Step Inside” underway with a little Death Metal flair as Trendkill go for the jugular from the very start of the record, influences from Pantera, Metallica and Chimaira bleeding through thr bandages. The almost Traditional Heavy Metal chorus is a wonderful tip of the hat to the bands of yesterday including an almost Dio esq higher pitched moment. They’ve nailed the blend of old and new Metal sounds on this one, everything having that satisfying crunch and heavier edge as well as some glorious melodic passages. The solo will melt your face off too, which is always welcome. Dimebag Darrell’s influence is heard in the guitar work of “A Rare Serenity” with some delicious licks as the band play out what is a nightmarish lyrical vision, seemingly of a more personal nature. The darker atmospheric is masterfully conjured with the band sliding seamlessly into some more flamboyant moments as the track reaches a grand finale. Vocally Alistair Lisle is arguably at his best on this record, offering more diversity in his range than he has ever done before. His old school touches so great maturity and his willingness to use them enhances what the band have done in bringing out some Traditional Heavy Metal riffs to add something different to their sound.

“Scratch the Surface” isn’t a cover of the Sick Of It All classic in New York Hardcore, Trendkill instead inking a powerhouse cut of their own with the same title. There are flavours of Sylosis in this one as it bounces along nicely with the odd almost tribal drum fill and riffs galore. It’s a headbangers delight, a gift that keeps giving with longer instrumental passages allowing the band to show off their skills without being overshadowed by the vocals. Painting a picture that has it’s roots in the kind of Thrash that came out of the Traditional Heavy Metal, it’s no surprise that there is another higher pitched scream in the finale of this one and it’s an absolute joy. Closing a title track always seems like an odd move but “Blood for the Crown” is a match for the earlier material on an all killer no filler record. There are a few hints at a Machine Head influence on this skull battering affair, the band effectively delivering a cut which feels like a career tour from force in one single easy to swallow tune to help you breathe more easily. The bass being heavier in the mix helps drive the cut forward rhythmically acting as a second guitar would, the fleeting solo a nice touch. Is it as good as “Dissociate“? It’s a continuation of that record with an injection of fresh ideas that bolster the sound and expand upon it, showcasing some different influences while maintaining a vice grip on their love of Groove orientated Metal. A truly underrated band who we hope will return soon because the quality of what they have been able to produce together has been remarkable [9/10]

Track Listing