Trouble - Manic Frustration (CD)

All Music Guide

After ten years of hard work in the face of adversity, doom metal kings Trouble had seen it all, and after releasing a respectable comeback with their self-titled fourth album in 1990, the band teamed up once again with producer (and label boss) Rick Rubin for 1992's aptly titled Manic Frustration. Picking up exactly where they had left off, the Chicago-based quintet continued to infuse their heavy-handed retro-rock with psychedelic touches, resulting in their most unique, memorable, and user-friendly work. "Come Touch the Sky" and "Mr. White" set the hallucinogenic tone, while the mock apology of "'Scuse Me" manages to vent years of frustration in under three minutes. And while less adventurous in their blatant debt to the band's greatest single inspiration, Black Sabbath, songs like "The Sleeper" and "Tragedy Man" stand out just as well thanks to their excellent songwriting. The gentle guitar melodies of "Rain" offer another pleasant twist but barely hint at the staggering majesty of... "Memory's Garden" (one of the highlights of the band's career), where singer Eric Wagner's mournful bray spins a story of loss, faith, and hope of chilling proportions. Sadly, the album's title would prove prophetic and Trouble would once again fail to receive the credit they deserved. - Ed Rivadavia, All Music Guide Read more Less