LORDS OF THE TRIDENT
LORDS OF THE TRIDENT “V.G.E.P.”
By Theron Moore
Madison Wisconsin’s reigning overlords of fantasy-tinged power metal are gearing up to release their new EP, “V.G.E.P.” (Video Game EP) October 1. Here's the wrinkle: Every track is inspired by the band's favorite video games. OK, I can get behind that as long as you can pull it off.
Unfortunately, “V.G.E.P”. is five tracks of uneven metal. Let me clear this up right away, the EP isn’t bad music by any stretch of the imagination. The first two songs "To Kill A God" and "Master Of Speed" are good, they set the tone for what the rest of the record should sound like. Track three, "Jet Set City," is merely, “OK.” Again, not bad but it’s not what I’ve come to expect from LotT in the past. The last two songs just leave me scratching my head as to what I just listened to.
Track four is a cover of Steve Winwood's "Valerie" and the final song rounding out the record is "The Ballad Of Jon Milwaukee." The LORDS do a good job covering "Valerie," I just don't get it, it doesn't fit in from a sonic perspective. I guess it has some connection to a video game I just don’t know which one. I had the same reaction when SAXON covered "Ride Like The Wind" by CHRISTOPHER CROSS years ago. Why? The same thing holds true for "The Ballad Of Jon Milwaukee." Another song that technically isn't terrible either, it just seems out of place sporting more of an 80's glam metal vibe than power metal.
I love LORDS OF THE TRIDENT, I really do. I caught them live at Milwaukee Metalfest earlier this year (I made it a point to seem perform) and they killed it. I dig their brand of power metal and always look forward to new music by them. “V.G.E.P”. was lost on me. It wasn’t bad metal by any means, it just felt uneven and at times lacking the power and gusto I’ve become accustomed to by these guys.
2/5 Stars