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TRIXTER
Human Era

Frontiers (2015)
Rating: 7.5/10

I recall picking up Trixter’s 1990 self-titled debut on cassette, much to the derision of my metalhead friends who though that as we were “thrashers” that surely “those sort of purchases are surely behind us”. Of course, I scoffed at their dismissive attitude ad I’d always having a penchant for American hard rock. However, I was baffled as to why it had taken Trixter so long to put out their debut; after all, they had formed in 1983.

Anyway, I always enjoyed that debut Trixter album, even if it came too late; especially when one considers that a couple of years later metal was pretty much dead on its feet with the arrival of not just grunge but acts like Faith No More, having already injected a wild dose of “alternative” colour into the genre.

As Beatle George Harrison once said mind, “All things must pass”, although he should’ve added that “such things tend to come around again too”. And so we come to Trixter’s new album, their fourth full-length overall and the band’s second of their “new era” since reforming in 2007; following on from 2012’s New Audio Machine.

Trixter consists of Peter Loran (lead vocals / rhythm guitar), Steve Brown (lead guitar / backing vocals), P. J. Farley (bass / backing vocals) and Mark “Gus” Scott (drums / backing vocals), and Human Era is another good ol’ slab of melodic rockin’ music; the band still able to coat our ears with a style of rock that brings to mind the more accessible climes of Def Leppard, Van Halen and at times tinged with a 70s rock feel. There’s nothing more to it, and we wouldn’t want it any other way, but Trixter has always known that in spite of their success, it takes good solid writing and musicianship to create decent albums. While they always remained on the cusp, so to speak, back in their heyday, the fact they’ve re-emerged from the shadows and once again grabbed the bull by the horns is testament to their talent.

Human Era comes armed with 11 tracks that boast enough power, passion and persuasion to match their early records, which at the time enabled the New Jersey band to share the stage with such esteemed bands as Kiss, Cinderella, Poison, Dokken and Scorpions. However, this time round Trixter has upped the ante; recording this album as if it were their last few days on Earth, and it has given me the same excited tingles I first experienced on that debut tape all those years ago.

The band has always had that ability to cavort with the glammier side of the genre as well as fleck their sound with effective keyboards, but what people need to know is that Trixter has always had the ability to rock too and this record features some excellent riffs and solos, killer percussion and of course Peter Loran’s bright, breezy and powerful vocal melodies. These positives most certainly come to the fore with the likes of ‘Midnight In Your Eyes’, which has that hint of Def Leppard in its vocal style and yet there’s a sizzling solo, a catchy weighty riff and that ability to simmer initially before coming out with all guns blazing and taking the track up a notch.

As with most Trixter material, these sort of tracks are instant on the ears – opener ‘Rockin’ To The Edge Of The Night’ makes a bold statement with its hard-hitting drums and sassy riff which transports us back to that late 80s pomp. Okay, so lyrically there’s always been that layer of cheese as Loran delivers, “Here comes the weekend, I’m all worked up and ready to go”, but hell, we might as well go along for the ride, and when we open the door to Human Era we are blessed with a mighty fine menu of tracks, some of which have an AC/DC styled strut musically while at more subtle climes there’s that fluent Bon Jovi air of bubble-gum rock.

This is music we don’t necessarily have to take too serious; it’s hard rock music to blow our troubles away and get us nodding, and the slices of cherry pie charm just keep on comin’. ‘Crash That Party’ is another ballsy rocker featuring a killer riff and driving drum and certainly one of Loran’s best vocal performances. It’s a straight up rocker full of cliché lyrically, but we knew what we were in for anyway, although this sort of edgy drama is contradicted by the fluffier side of the band. ‘Not Like All The Rest’ is a tad too corny and, dare I say it, “modern pop” by design. Indeed, it may be the sort of accidental hit Trixter needs, but for me it doesn’t paint a true picture of the band.

Thankfully though, these dips are not that frequent; ‘For You’, ‘Every Second Counts’ – with its nicely threaded bass – ‘Beats Me Up’ – a breezy semi-ballad – and ‘Soul Of A Lovin’ Man’ all showcase the variety Trixter can express within their standard framework. The latter is a fiery rocker, again featuring a devilish, worming bass, but for me it’s the closing title track which sums up that nifty, airy Trixter sound because it’s a rather low-key but soulful croon, although I thought the guys might have rounded the album off with something a touch edgier.

Still, there’s not much to criticize within Trixter’s latest, but it is a record very much fitting in with the times rather than being all too eager to soak up days gone by. And so Trixter are adapting well, and acting more like the controlled adult at the party rather than the bratty teenager. Trixter have always been a band able to offer more than what just appears on the surface however, and with Human Era there’s enough meat and melody to please the old fans and newcomers alike.

Neil Arnold

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