Lords of the Trident | Chains on Fire

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by Justin Gaines
Staff Writer

Chains on Fire is the second album from Wisconsin-based traditional metal crew Lords of the Trident. It’s fitting that the land of cheese would produce one of the more … colorful bands in the growing New Wave of Traditional Metal scene. With their elaborate (and ridiculous) sci-fi back story and their fantastic costumes and stage names (Fang VonKillenstein and Killus Maximus for example,) it’s obvious that image plays a huge role in Lords of the Trident’s overall style. Think Lordi, Kiss, Lost Horizon and Warlord. Ultimately though, it’s what you hear on the album that determines a band’s fate.

As it turns out, Chains on Fire is a very solid album. Good enough that the various gimmicks probably aren’t necessary (though they probably make for a very memorable live show). Lords of the Trident plays the kind of traditional metal that’s clearly inspired by Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, and isn’t too far removed from bands like Widow and Twisted Tower Dire. The band has a great twin lead guitar sound, clichéd (in a good way) metal lyrics, and knows their way around some wicked melodies. It also helps that they’ve got a vocalist with a unique sound and an impressive range. Beyond the hard-hitting, old school melodic metal songs like “Face of the Enemy” and “Chains on Fire,” the band is just as adept at delivering a straightforward melodic rock song “Fighting For Love,” a catchy pirate-inspired anthem “The Metal Sea” and even a death-infused thrasher like “Man/Machine.” It’s a good mix of sounds, and it helps keep things interesting.

It’s probably not on the same level as Twisted Tower Dire’s Make It Dark, but Chains on Fire is every bit as good as recent releases by fellow traditional metal revivalists like Split Heaven, Arctic Flame and Thunderblast. It’s just a good, solid heavy metal album from a band that doesn’t take things too seriously, which makes for a much more enjoyable listening experience. If you’re a fan of the ever-growing traditional metal scene, Lords of the Trident is a band that’s well worth checking out.

Genre: Heavy Metal

Band:
Asian Metal (g)
Killus Maximus (g)
Pontifex Mortis (b)
Fang VonKillenstein (v)
Korgoth (d)
Sergei “Drago” Mikhaylovich (k)

Track Listing:
1. Skyforce
2. Face of the Enemy
3. Chains on Fire
4. Fighting For Love
5. Legions of Hypocrisy
6. The Metal Sea
7. Foggy Harbor Town
8. Stranded
9. Beauty of the Blade
10. The Enforcer
11. Followers of Set
12. Wicked Touch
13. Man/Machine

Label: Junko Johnson Records

Website: www.lordofthetrident.com

Hardrock Haven rating: 7.5/10