Musical Style: Heavy Metal	Produced By: Trytan, Joe Bader & Jerry Mikulich
Record Label: R.E.X. / Retroactive	Country Of Origin: USA
Year Released: 1990 / 2020	Artist Website:
Tracks: 11	Rating: 75%
Running Time: 58:43

Celestial Messenger, the 1987 R.E.X. Records debut full length of Chicago, Illinois based Trytan, was a surprise hit with critics and fans alike with its uncanny Rush influenced sound.  No small part of this attributes to the striking resemblance of high-end vocalist Lary Dean with Rush front man Geddy Lee not to mention the technical rhythm section of bassist Steve Robinson and drummer Scotty Blackman.  It was songwriting, however, that put Celestial Messenger over the top from featuring several monster cuts in the intricate but accessible sounds of “It’s War” and “Mr. Electric” along with the seven-minute progressiveness to “Genesis”.  A pair of power metal infused tracks in “Getting’ Ready” and “Nowhere To Run” in addition the enticing keyboard laced “Rip Van Winkle” provide solid support of near equal quality.

As one might imagine, there was significant fan fair not to mention exceedingly high expectations (perhaps unrealistically so) as it pertains to the Trytan 1990 sophomore effort Sylentiger.  Hence, the manner in which the album received a disappointing reception, at least as it pertains to this reviewer.  I found Sylentiger to take a step back musically in that opposed to the host of great cuts making up Celestial Messenger, it encompassed material mostly in the above average to very good range with a couple clunkers thrown in.  Production also failed to measure up with a sound on the thin to muddy side of things.  The group might have recruited a capable timekeeper in Jim Dobbs to replace the departed Blackman, but shortcomings to production prevented his abilities from standing out as they should. 

Where does this lead us?  To the February of 2020 Retroactive Records 30th Anniversary re-issue (On Gold Disc Edition CD and vinyl) to Sylentiger, which with its Rob Colwell re-mastering allows for a significant upgrade in terms of production.  Bereft in the process is a good measure of the muddiness to the original, replaced with a fuller sound manifesting in the more pronounced low end (providing greater bass and drum separation), brighter keyboards and added edge to rhythm guitar.  Song which previously came across on the plain side come to life with stronger hooks and riffs, with the upshot an album that might have graded in the 60% to 65% range, now receives the more commendable 75% score.

One of those songs to reveal said improvement is opener “Take Cover”, with its starting radio voice over depiction to the rapture (in similar fashion to Barren Cross’ “Out Of Time”).  Moving forward, it breaks out in a crescendo of driving riffs and persuasive drum aptitude within an up-tempo framework, the forceful impetus only decelerating for a palatial refrain in which the groups layered vocal melodies hold sway.  Lyric snippet:

All hell is breaking loose, they're working overtime
The systems crumbled
Are you scared and running blind?
The moon will turn to blood, all the stars will fall
Then you'll remember that night
When you heard the final call

Standing out in the open
What will your heroes do for you?
There's one place you can hide
Will you make your move in time?

“Deadly Masquerade” takes the more melodic heading - do I dare say AOR tinged? - with its slower tempo and flowing harmonies.  Keyboards according play the greater role as do the groups pleasing vocal melodies.  In the end, this one is less Rush influenced progressive rock and more eighties based melodic hard rock to commercial metal but is still good all the same.

The Trytan progressive side better reveals on the seven minute “Beyond The Night”.  One of this reviewers choice cuts, it opens its first two minutes instrumentally to a keyboard solo and burnished guitars that give way to a stretch of fusion-like soloing.  Once rhythm guitar cut in, the song maintains a deliberate form its remaining distance, with Dean’s soaring voice rising above a stately if not somber scene.  Of note is how at the halfway point “Beyond The Night” settles down in atmospheric fashion only to pick up pace to another of the groups choice instrumental runs.  Lyric snippet:

Lately i've been thinking that there is a better way
Listen old friend to what I'm sayin, to what i've got to say
I know you're on the edge and the walls are closin' in
It's not to late to turn it around and walk in the light

I crawled over and I pulled him out of the flames
Then he whispered in my ear, he said he knew that I was right
And I held him close to me, you see I knew there wasn't time
Then we took our very first steps
We went into the light
Beyond the Night

Straight on hard rocker “Star Bound” revisits up-tempo territory.  Featuring by far the albums catchiest guitar riff, the song comes across near mesmerizing with layers of melodic guitars and flowing groove combining for a beguiling tone.  This one potentially benefits most from re-mastering in light of how Robinson’s bass breathes in the low end and Dobbs’s drum rolls projects a commanding tone.

“Make Your Move” is first of what I consider two skip worthy tracks.  Not terrible but not memorable either, it touches upon melodic hard rock with its generous keyboard mix and corresponding understated guitars.  In the end, with its restrained and a bit too basic feel for my taste, “Make Your Move” struggles to capture my imagination.  Betters songs exist in the Trytan repertoire.  Lyric snippet:

You can't hide and you can't run away
Your weapons fail, there's nothing you can do
You want to strike but he's fighting inside of you

Make Your Move
His love's surrounded you
You Won't lose
He's fought and died for you
Make Your Move
His love's surrounded you
Nothing left to do
But surrender tonight

Such as albums title track, with its fade in to spacey keyboards ahead of thunderous riffs and drums crashing in to approach power metal territory.  An anthem-like feel reveals the remaining distance to “Sylentiger”, as Dean stretches and reveals the full breadth to his voice, particularly for the stately feel to the heartfelt refrain.  He also shines soloing wise with another intricate lead guitar stretch.

Second progressive based piece ensues in the seven minute “Here To Stay”.  The keyboards at the start maintain an airy presence throughout the opening verse sections, not stepping back until imperative guitars power in to propel momentum through the moving refrain advancing at a more forward tempo.  Another extended instrumental stretch again finds Trytan stretching musicianship wise.  Lyric snippet:

Now it's time for you to see, love's deepest mystery
Hear the whispers of the heart of the one who loves you as you are

I am here to dry your tears
And you know it's time to cross the line
I am here, to calm your fears
Don't turn away, I am here to stay

Your abandoned heart won't ever feel the same
If you'll reach and finally take his hand
He's been waiting through tears and pain
To let his love pour down like falling rain

“Playing With Fire” is another favorite.  Also coming in at seven minutes, it explodes at once to an outburst of guitars and keyboards in not letting up its length, revealing some of the albums heavier riffs (to draw upon a similar form as “Mr. Electric”) in addition to one of its stronger melodies (forthright in aligning with the songs aggression).  Overall, this one succeeds in capturing the brilliance to the better Celestial Messenger material.

“Life Goes On”, unfortunately, does not own up to the same standard as albums second skip worthy track.  Similar to “Make Your Move”, it might not fall flat on its face but does not draw me in either as a melodic hard rock to AOR-ish piece with a bit too heavy keyboard mix for my taste.

“Waking The Giant” in contrast stands alongside albums best.  Mauling its way from the start, it integrates reverberating bass and offbeat keyboards (in a flattering sense) with an abundance of the group’s slick vocal melodies, particularly for the sophisticated ‘waking the giant, the dark one’s defiant’ refrain.  All the while, a literal clinic is put on in terms of shred lead guitar.  Lyric snippet:

Now you see through hard times
That Life Goes On
Life Goes On just like a never ending song
Now you see through hard times
That Life Goes On
In time we'll see how much
He has done

Sometimes this life can get you down
It's never easy to lose someone you love
Someone has died to turn your heart around
Some say goodbye, but Life Goes On

Closing Sylentiger is catchy cover to the worship song “By My Spirit”.

Whereas it might be a stretch to suggest Trytan experienced a proverbial ‘sophomore slump’ on Sylentiger, it would also not be out of line to conclude the album does not quite reach the heights of Celestial Messenger either.  A good measure of this attributes to production, which potentially prevents individual songs and band performance from reaching their full potential.  This changes, however, with the Retroactive re-mastering in allowing either area to better stand out and allow for the better-rounded product in the process.  If not familiar with Trytan, then the Retroactive re-issue is a good place to start, noting the long out of print status to Celestial Messenger.  If you own the R.E.X. original, then the re-issue also comes strongly recommended due to the as noted areas of improvement.    

Review by Andrew Rockwell

Track Listing: “Take Cover” (5:53), “Deadly Masquerade” (4:44), “Beyond The Night” (6:48), “Star Bound” (5:24), “Make Your Move” (5:29), “Sylentiger” (4:36), “Here To Stay” (6:50), “Playing With Fire” (6:44), “Life Goes On” (4:35), “Waking The Giant” (4:06), “By My Spirit” (3:35)

Musicians
Lary Dean - Lead Vocals & Guitars
Steve Robinson - Bass & Keyboards
Jim Dobbs - Drums