TRIVAX
TRIVAX "Eloah Burns Out"
By Dr. Abner Mality
As I write this, the Middle East has exploded into war again and the threat of something even greater looms on the horizon. From such a forge was TRIVAX hammered out. This band is one of the happiest discoveries of the year for me and has revealed a band that could be a major force in years to come. That is, if religious fanatics in Iran and Syria don't get to them first.
Bassist Sultan has already done time in a Syrian jail for the crime of being a metalhead and Shayan, the chief mind behind TRIVAX, hails from Iran, where it is more than likely he would be put to death for the anti-Allah death-worshipping metal he purveys on "Eloah Burns Out". So these guys know something of oppression, war and darkness. The band is rounded out by British drummer Croton.
What a killer album this is. It strikes like a thunderbolt in spots, grinds away slowly in others and even has a significant amount of haunting melody. The entire record is in praise of death the final friend and is as morbid as anything out there. TRIVAX play a mixture of black and thrash metal with Middle Eastern elements and they've mastered this form of attack. Album opener "Azrael" is a withering blast of thrashing black mayhem, reminding me of mighty MELECHESH at their hardest. The "Persian" feel is baked right into the song and there's an awesome "marching riff" in the middle that forces you to bow in submission.
They follow that up with a similar but even more complex crusher "Alpha Predator", where Shayan sounds like he's ready to slit your mother's throat. That makes the contrast with "Silent Contemplation" all the more surprising...the song is an eerie mellow croon. But it fits in the overall scheme of the album perfectly. From there, we get a near 10 minute epic "The Serpent's Gaze", which is doomier and moodier but which builds spectacularly and features amazing guitar solos.
The album continues with a variety of tracks that are all excellently produced and played, ending with a massive tune whose title is completely in Farsi. Shayan really bares his soul on this album, showing an astounding range of singing and guitar styles. When TRIVAX slams, they slam hard...but they can do much more than that. This album is a total revelation and completely recommended to fans of thoughtful black metal.