Combining eighties melodic heavy metal and progressive rock with Geddy Lee (Rush) influenced lead vocals, Trytan has been a mainstay in the Christian hard music scene since the late eighties. Group traces to the first part of the decade when founded by bassist Jon Adame, guitarist and vocalist Lary Dean and drummer Scotty Blackman, whom put together the initial two Trytan demos from 1983 and 1984 of which details are obscure. With Steve Robinson supplanting Adame on bass, Trytan signed with R.E.X. Records prior to recording its 1987 debut full length Celestial Messenger, while further turnover manifested in form of Jim Dobbs supplanting Blackman on drums ahead of 1990 sophomore effort Sylentiger (also R.E.X.). Trytan went on extended hiatus until 2021 when Dean joined forces with bassist Jim LaVerde (Barren Cross) and drummer Eric Gillette (The Neal Morse Band) for its Retroactive Records third full-length album Blood Of Kings.
Trytan returns on Retroactive Records in September of 2025 with Alliance: The Best Of Trytan, a ‘greatest hits’ package compiling four songs off each the first three albums. Specifically, Dean hand-selected the track listing with the goal of ‘(reflecting) the spiritual and musical essence of Trytan, offering fans a profound look into the heart of their work’ in order to represent a ‘deeply personal journey through the legacy of a band that helped shape the sound of faith-infused progressive rock’ (quoting the groups press material).
Detailed liner notes composed by Dean ‘dive into the inspiration, history, and spiritual impact behind the songs, offering rare insight into the band's creative process and message’ (again, the Trytan press material). The 12-page CD booklet (noting the work of Scott Waters of No Life Til Metal Graphics) further includes a collage of photos pulled from Dean’s persona archives that ‘(give) fans a rare visual window into the band's history, studio moments, and brotherhood’. Re-mastering attributes to Rob Colwell (Bombworks Sound).
Temptation is to label Trytan ‘Rush influenced progressive rock”, and while that indicator is by no means a misnomer, there us much more to the group. No doubt, Trytan - its name standing for To Reach Youth Through the Almighty Nazarene - is progressive when factoring its at times lengthy, sophisticated and technically intricate songwriting. However, replaced Dean with another vocalist and the Rush influence becomes less apparent, with point being Trytan is its own band with a unique sound. As noted in my 85% review of Celestial Messenger: ‘I identify with Trytan less as artsy Rush style progressive rock and more as eighties metal reflective of trends at the time but with a decided progressive edge’.
I favor Celestial Messenger of the two eighties releases from including many of my favorite Trytan songs, which encompass the first four Alliance tracks. It is an ambitious move on Dean’s part to open the compiling with seven-minute magnum opus ”Genesis” but also brilliant in light of not just its dramatic creation story themes but also music with a scintillating keyboard and restive guitar coalescing of choice melody and complex structuring.
Five-minute follow up cuts “Mr. Electric” and “It’s War” musically are on similar level but not quite as progressive. Former is heavier of the two with a power metal bent - the Robinson and Blackman rhythm section shines in terms of its technical abilities - and catchy guitar riff for all the ages. Spiritual warfare themed latter might not be quite as guitar intent but proves equally accomplished with a metal anthem mentality and symphonic keyboard arrangements.
Speaking of which, final Celestial Messenger selection “Rip Van Winkle” is potentially the most Rush inspired with its leading keyboard arrangements and complex Neal Peart-like drum roll and fill emphasizing. It would not be out of line to suggest the song (speaking figuratively) is Trytan’s “Tom Sawyer”.
Sylentiger finds Trytan backing (even if somewhat) from the early Rush influences for a more power metal aligned sound but without forsaking the progressive basis. When placed alongside, I think highly of Sylentiger but not to quite the extent as Celestial Messenger. Referencing my 75% review: ‘(the album takes) a step back musically in that opposed to the host of great cuts making up Celestial Messenger, it encompasses material mostly in the above average to very good range instead’.
That said Dean does a choice job selecting what in my opinion are several of the better Sylentiger tracks. You cannot go wrong, for instance, with “Deadly Masquerade”, a melodically driven eighties style borderline metal and hard rock cut in which keyboards skillfully play a central role. I take further to catchy anti-suicide song “Beyond The Night” as one of the Sylentiger more progressive at seven minutes in brandishing Trytan’s generous instrumental sound- when firing on all cylinders group is literally off the charts musicianship wise!
Also of high form is “Sylentiger”, with meaning to its title ‘parabolic and metaphoric in identifying the Lord and who He is and what He’s done for us’ (as taken from albums liner notes). Musically, albums title track is fantastic in manifesting said Trytan power metal aligning with its puissant drum sound and equally unabashed guitars. Refrain roars with the best of them as Dean vocally reaches for the sky.
Lone song to come into question is “Make Your Move”. Certainly not from a lyrical standpoint with themes of redemption but rather musically in while far from bad - I find it a keyboard driven melodic hard rocker - in my opinion there are better songs in the Sylentiger repertoire. How about instead the catchy riff driven “Star Bound”, sophisticated AOR of “Waking The Giant” and companion seven-minute progressive numbers “Here To Stay” and “Playing With Fire”?
Trytan hits its artistic and creative stride on the unparalleled Blood Of Kings, which in my opinion ranks with Veni Domine’s Fall Babylon Fall and Material Sanctuary and Affector debut Harmageddon as one of the better Christian progressive metal albums. If in doubt, Blood Of Kings sees Trytan going full bore progressive in featuring 11 cuts and close to 80 minutes of music, resulting in an average track time of seven minutes. As taken from my 95% review of the Angelic Warlord album of the year recipient: ‘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’.
Similar to Celestial Messenger, Dean achieves perfection in terms of song selection. Second coming inspired anthem “The Descender” is an obvious choice with its voice over montage opening from the 9/11 attacks, impeccable guitar harmonies and masterful instrumental moments. Likewise, “A Million Hearts”, lyrically an appeal to share God’s love but musically limber and lithe with a commercial edge, and “Ricochet”, which reinforces a similar stance lyrically but reinforcing elegant melody and equally lustrous guitar harmonies.
Final Blood Of Kings cut “Revelation Song” is another show stopper as seven minutes of worship minded progressive rock on the AOR side (somewhat akin to Shadow Gallery) but with brilliant guest vocal appearances from John Elefante and Rey Parra (Sacred Warrior). Since I am so excited about the music and in no way fault their exclusion, I feel compelled to put in a good word for songs that did not make the cut such as albums Kansas inspired title track, Symphony X like “Monster” and melodic “Centrifuge”. So many great songs, Blood Of Kings is almost a greatest hits package in its own right!
Best manner in which to sum up would be to state if you do not have a previous history with Trytan, Alliance is a good place to start- and from there branch out into Blood Of Kings (if a progressive music fan), Celestial Messenger (for those into Rush) and finally Sylentiger (a good choice for power/prog devotees). Note that Retroactive re-mastered and reissued the respective final two, so they are relatively easy to find. For those already familiar with Trytan, Allianceis still a necessary choice from the liner notes in which Dean goes into fine detail behind each album and song selected. Either way, one cannot deny the superior Trytan musicianship and songwriting abilities. Moving forward I avidly look forward to Trytan follow up effort Heart Of The Dragon.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “Genesis” (7:08), “Mr. Electric” (5:16), “It’s War” (5:22), “Rip Van Winkle” (4:22), “Deadly Masquerade” (4:43), “Beyond The Night” (6:47), “Make Your Move” (5:29), “Sylentiger” (4:36), “The Descender” (7:35), “A Million Hearts” (6:05), “Ricochet” (7:45), “Revelation Song” (6:49)
Musicians (Celestial Messenger)
Lary Dean - Lead Vocals & Guitars
Steve Robinson - Bass & Keyboards
Scotty Blackman - Drums
Musicians (Sylentiger)
Lary Dean - Lead Vocals & Guitars
Steve Robinson - Bass & Keyboards
Jim Dobbs - Drums
Musicians (Blood Of Kings)
Lary Dean - Lead Vocals & Guitars
Jim LaVerde - Bass
Eric Gillette - Drums, Keyboards & Lead Vocals
John Elefante & Rey Parra - Lead Vocals
