Trixter - New Audio Machine
Trixter
New Audio Machine
Frontiers Records
Trixter is one of those “Oh yeah I remember them!” bands. In 1990 the band released their debut self titled album which produced the hit song “Give It To Me Good” and the video received plenty of airplay on MTV (Remember when they used to show music videos?). The future looked bright for these Jersey rockers as they embarked on nationwide tours in the 90s with Poison, Scorpions, and Warrant. Unfortunately for the band the music scene was changing as Grunge was emerging and after their second album Trixter got lost in this musical shuffle. The band tried to stay alive but in 1995 decided to call it quits.
Fast forward to 2007 all four original members reunite to play some shows and festivals. Apparently they met some success as over the past four years the band has been touring and receiving some positive feedback. In fact recently they recorded their new album “New Audio Machine” and is slated for an April 23rd release in the States on the Italian label Frontiers Records. So what does one expect when they push play on this new recording? I for one had low expectations, but almost immediately this changed with the opening track “Drag Me Down” which is a hard rockin’ acoustic based song (in the vain of “Give It To Me Good) that sounds like this band has been together for 20 years. Fortunately the album continues uphill with some great hard rock songs that let’s the listener know Trixter is back and they are takin’ names. The goal for the band was to create a “classic style Melodic Hard Rock album with catchy vocals and a huge bottom end” and they achieved this goal hands down. Some of the highlights include “Dirty Lover” which is the albums strongest track as guitarists Peter Loran and Steve Brown showcase their shredding skills. “Ride” is an anthemic hard rock that fits the “catchy vocals and huge bottom end” goal the band was trying to achieve. “Physical Attraction” brings the listener back to the late nineties with the classic “glam style” music and lyrics to fit that would have probably been a huge hit had it been 1988. There are two obligatory ballads of which I am not a fan of but it couldn’t be a classic 90s hard rock style album without them though.
Overall Trixter’s “New Audio Machine” is a strong comeback album that has all the ingredients of a solid classic early nineties hard rock album. Something that really impresses me is that all four original members are still part of the band which is a rarity in this genre. What’s even greater is the band sounds just as good, if not better than they did in their heyday. “New Audio Machine” should appeal to fans of the late 80s and 90s hard rock scene. Whether you are a fan of early Trixter or have never even heard these guys before this is a solid classic hard rock release.
