REVIEW: VALET PARN – Riddle Figure

 

VALET PARN – Riddle Figure

Independent

The Greek metal press — especially its mainstream outlets — continues to elevate domestic bands that successfully emulate already established international acts, often presenting them as groundbreaking contributors to our scene. This tendency reflects a persistent undervaluation of originality within Greek metal, and VALET PARN are almost certainly going to be framed in that same flattering but misleading narrative.

VALET PARN’s debut aligns with the current trend dominating modern heavy music: a blend of groove‑metal riffing, metalcore breakdowns, and the familiar alternation between clean and harsh vocals. The problem is not the execution — the band clearly possesses technical skill, and the production is polished, full-bodied, and professionally handled. The issue lies in the creative direction. The album follows the genre’s established formula so closely that, at times, the only distinguishing feature seems to be the band name printed on the cover.

As composers, VALET PARN struggle to imprint a personal identity on their material. Several ideas throughout the record show promise, yet they rarely evolve into something that sets the band apart from the countless similar releases flooding the scene. The songs are competently structured, but they lack the defining element — the signature touch — that transforms solid musicianship into memorable artistry.

In essence, VALET PARN have clearly invested time in honing their performance and production standards. What they now need is to channel that discipline into developing a compositional voice that reflects who they are rather than what the market currently rewards. Until then, Riddle Figure Independent remains another release that plays well enough while it lasts, but fades from memory the moment it ends.

Nick Parastatidis

REVIEW: TROUBLE, The Skull

 

TROUBLE, The Skull (1985)

Metal Blade Records

Απόγνωση σε ηλεκτρικές νότες

Μετά το Psalm 9, που τότε ακόμη ήταν το ομώνυμο άλμπουμ τους (έχουμε αναφερθεί στην κυκλοφορία κατά την ακρόαση εκείνου του δίσκου), οι Trouble από το Σικάγο δεν αργούν να επανέλθουν· και η συνέχεια, με τον χαρακτηριστικό τίτλο The Skull, είναι ακριβώς αυτή που προμηνύει το όνομα.

Η ατμόσφαιρα γίνεται ακόμη πιο στενάχωρη από το πρώτο κιόλας κομμάτι, το Pray for the Dead, πάντα στο γνώριμο — και θα έλεγα ακόμη πιο βαρύ, χαριτολογώντας — ύφος του Doom Heavy Metal, στο οποίο υπήρξαν από τους πρωτοπόρους. Για μένα, ίσως να είναι και λίγο καλύτερο από το θρυλικό ντεμπούτο τους, έστω και με μία… τρίχα διαφορά.

Το αφύσικα ταχύ Fear No Evil ακολουθεί, και ύστερα έρχεται το δεκάλεπτο έπος The Wish. Τα Truth Is What Is, Wickedness of Man (κι αυτό έπος, πραγματικός ύμνος), Gideon και το ομότιτλο The Skull σε αρπάζουν και δεν σε αφήνουν στιγμή.

Έχοντας πλέον λιγότερα κοινά με τους μεγάλους πατέρες Black Sabbath, οι Trouble αποκτούν πιο αυτόνομο ύφος, κάτι που θα εξελιχθεί ακόμη περισσότερο στη συνέχεια της πορείας τους.

Ένα άλμπουμ που, αν δεν το ακούσεις, δύσκολα πιστεύεις πόσο καλό είναι.

English:

Despair in Electric Notes

After Psalm 9, which at the time was still their self‑titled debut (we’ve already referred to that release during the listening session of that record), Trouble from Chicago didn’t take long to return — and the follow‑up, bearing the telling title The Skull, is exactly what that name promises.

The atmosphere becomes even gloomier from the very first track, Pray for the Dead, always within the familiar — and I’d jokingly say even heavier — Doom Heavy Metal style in which they were among the pioneers. For me, it might even be slightly better than their legendary debut, if only by a… hair’s breadth.

The unnaturally fast Fear No Evil follows, and then comes the ten‑minute epic The Wish. Truth Is What Is, Wickedness of Man (another epic, a true anthem), Gideon, and the title track The Skull grab hold of you and never let go.

Having now fewer direct similarities with the great forefathers Black Sabbath, Trouble shape a more autonomous identity — something that would evolve even further in the years to come.

An album that, unless you actually listen to it, you can hardly believe just how good it is.

Τάκης "Ε-Μortal One" Γιώτης!