| Musical Style: Progressive Metal | Produced By: Lary Dean & Eric Gillette |
| Record Label: Retroactive | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 2021 | Artist Website: |
| Tracks: 11 | Rating: 95% |
| Running Time: 79:23 |
Credit where it’s due: on its April of 2021 Retroactive Records third album Blood Of Kings, Trytan has created a class-leading progressive metal album to rival the genres best in terms of technical arrangements, complex time signatures, epic length songwriting and extended instrumental passages. That said, Blood Of Kings also took a fair amount of time to reach fruition, over thirty years to be exact. Its beginnings trace to inaugural Trytan offerings Celestial Messenger (85% Angelic Warlord review) and Sylentiger (75% review) from 1987 and 1990, respectively, which serve to introduce the groups critically acclaimed ‘Rush influenced progressive metal’ sound.
Fast forward to 2021 and Trytan remains the brainchild of founding member and vocalist/guitarist Lary Dean, whom with a vocal range uncannily similar to Geddy Lee helps invite the groups comparison to Rush. It is not all Dean, however, noting uber talented rhythm section of drummer Scotty Blackman and bassist Steve Robinson to grace the Celestial Messenger lineup (new timekeeper Jim Dobbs joined Robinson on Sylentiger). Whereas Blackman and Robinson might be out of the picture for Blood Of Kings, they are replaced by every bit capable veteran musicians in bassist Jim LaVerde (Barren Cross) and drummer Eric Gillette (The Neal Morse Band).
Trytan has upped its progressiveness over time. In my Celestial Messenger review I describe Trytan as ‘eighties metal with a progressive edge’, referencing standout cuts “Mr. Electric” and “It’s War” (a pair of technical marvels) and “Genesis” (an awesome seven minute epic). Trytan further built upon its progressive repertoire on Sylentiger by including a trio of standout seven minute cuts in “Beyond The Night”, “Here To Stay” and “Playing With Fire”. Blood Of Kings, on the other hand, finds Trytan going full bore progressive metal from featuring 11 cuts and close to eighty minutes of music, which translates to an average track time of seven minutes!
One such seven-minute song is opener “The Descender”. It begins to a minute news voice over montage from the 9/11 attacks, as ambient keyboards and radiant guitar harmonies carry forward the affecting momentum throughout the mid-paced verse sections and monumental refrain underlined by airy backing vocals. Song sets the stage for the Trytan extended instrumental proclivity to help define the album. Lyric snippet:
Kings and demons cried
The grave was in His cross-heirs
Never to survive in this God-storm
Yes He came here to die
Death’s grip could not hold Him
He stole the crown, it’s going down
He’s the Descender
He’s comin’ down
Time to surrender your life right now
“A Million Hearts” proves lighter, faster and more upbeat in comparison, revealing a commercial (do I dare say AOR?) essence to speak of forwardly focused melodic hard rock but with a progressive edge. The underrated Trytan vocal melodies continue to impress. As does the group’s instrumental focus, including a mid-point break and blinding lead guitar run to close.
Albums nine minute title track ranks among its best. “Blood Of Kings” opens its first minute and half to acoustic guitar and violin to speak of Kansas, not elevating until guitars cut in to power through the commanding verse sections at the more forward tempo. Pointed and curtly woven refrain speaks of the absolute. Again, Trytan delves into another awesome instrumental run as Dean’s guitar trades off with Gillette’s keyboards. Lyric snippet:
Down through the ages they came in His name
Layer their lives down the same with no shame
Across all the seas in the scariest lands, they’re still
Tortured and making a stand with their lives
They sang to Him, while giving their lives
He stood for them, hearing their cries
And bringing them home
“Monster”, of near equal span at eight and half minutes, represents one of albums fastest. It takes an expeditious form, with relentless rhythms and Gillette’s hyper-drumming carrying the frenetic initiative but within a power meets progressive metal context. Added darker vestiges not to mention austere keyboards lend a Symphony X sheen.
One of the shorter Blood Of Kings cuts at five minutes, “Last Night In Dubai” takes a more conservative tone musically in backing from the progressive leanings and appointing ample doses of melodic low-end groove (LaVerde particularly stands out on this one). Quality is no less albeit on the truncated side, as plentiful catchy rhythms and vocal melodies point to the accessible.
“Ricochet” returns to an added progressive heading. Difference from “Monster” is it tempers to mid-paced territory while upping melody with its richly done guitar melodies and subtly punchy hooks but also decisive in light of the understated muscle driving its distance. The easygoing environment aligns with Dean’s classic tenor croon. Lyric snippet:
Do you think you’ll head into the Son?
You’re on your way
Your works won’t get it done
You’ll hit the wall with your own good
And carom by grace to life all by His Word!
You say to me I’ll be just fine, but you don’t know
That we’re running out of time
Our life here’s just a glancing stay
Second epic in a row, “Centrifuge” maintains the mid-paced focus from buffeting to its churning low end and elevated rhythm guitar impact. Catchy hooks are not overlooked in the process, as refrain draws in with its prodigious allure, and neither the Trytan instrumental proclivity, with another extended run only interrupted by a montage news voice over depicting various shooting incidents.
One of my favorites is aptly entitled “Shadow Racer”. A forwardly pointed energy burst, it takes pleasure in the precipitated for the effervescent verse sections and every bit intense refrain to repeat songs title in tempestuous fashion. Gillette’s technical drumming brings to mind the work of Blackman off Celestial Messenger. Lyric snippet:
Under the shadow of His wings
We’ll always find a way to win
Shadow Racer you can light the way
Through the darkness, shining as you can
Under cover you can take em on
Touchin’ lives with His love till the day is done
His light shines out through your way
To the perfect day
“Yesterday” is a song of two parts. First impresses of a ballad as acoustic guitar and gentle harmonies cover the first two minutes and second an upbeat hard rocker kicking up a storm to some of albums heaviest guitars and most impetuous momentum. Dean’s extended blazing lead guitar hints of things to come on next song…
…”The Godstorm”, which proves an incredible instrumental home to all the open air guitar pyro-techniques you could ask as Dean unleashes his full repertoire of licks and chops. This one is worth the price of admission alone.
As is closer “Revelation Song”, a worship-minded progressive rocker that unveils a lighter but no less exemplary side to Trytan. The high melody basis brings to mind AOR influenced progressive rock act Time Horizon, as does manner in which keyboards play a forward role alongside periodic lively guitar appearances. Adding to its value are guest vocalists John Elefante (Mastedon), Rey Parra (Sacred Warrior) and Eric Gillette. Lyric snippet:
You gave Your life to conquer death
Paid for our sins and set us free
The lost and least are now made kings
In awe we offer you everything
Filled with wonder, awestruck wonder
At the mention of Your name
Jesus Your name is power, breath and living water
Such a marvelous mystery
It might be somewhat presumptuous at the time of this writing (March of 2021) to use the phrase ‘album of the year’ but it applies in light of the quality that is Blood Of Kings. If anything, the album is worth the thirty-year wait when factoring not just accomplished musicianship but also choice songwriting to see nine consecutive equally good progressive metal songs ensued by a guitar instrumental and progressive worship rocker. The Blood Of Kings value further separates in what is a sparsely populated Christian progressive metal scene when noting top acts Affector, Biogenesis and Veni Domine. If into Celestial Messenger and Sylentiger or all forms of progressive music, then make Blood Of Kings an immediate purchase.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “The Descender” (7:36), “A Million Hearts” (6:06), “Blood Of Kings” (9:16), “Monster” (8:28), “Last Night In Dubai” (5:17), “Ricochet” (7:44), “Centrifuge” (7:42), “Shadow Racer” (6:32), “Yesterday” (6:21), “The Godstorm” (7:08), “The Revelation Song” (7:03)
Musicians
Lary Dean - Lead Vocals & Guitars
Jim LaVerde - Bass
Eric Gillette – Drums, Keyboards & Lead Vocals
Additional Musicians
John Elefante & Rey Parra - Lead Vocals
