TRIXTER – New Audio Machine

Frontiers 2012

Trixter, now there’s a name from the past. Formed in the late ‘80’s and releasing two what we shall term as hair-metal classics with “Trixter” (1990) and “Hear!” (1992). Both of which did reasonably well in the States with the debut reaching No.28 on the Billboard Album Chart and selling over half a million copies and “Hear!” reaching No.109 with much reduced sales of around 100K (blame those pesky Seattle bands shall we…). As an aside I actually purchased “Hear!” for the princely sum of $1 from Charleston’s finest music shop, “Monster Music” earlier this year!!

Trixter petered out in the mid-nineties but re-formed with the original line-up still intact in 2008 to play some live dates including the institution that is known as “Rocklahoma”.

“New Audio Machine” features 11 all new tracks recorded by Pete Loran (vocals), Steve Brown (guitar), PJ Farley (bass) and Mark Scott (drums). None of the players have been inactive over the intervening years with Steve Brown being in 40ft Ringo amongst others and PJ Farley popping up in US modern-rock act Ra.

The new Trixter sound is a little heavier than the old Trixter sound and has some modern twists thrown into the mix but still features that late 80’s early 90’s sound of the Sunset Strip.

Opener “Drag Me down” starts off with a cool acoustic intro before mutating into a highly enjoyable blast from the past. “Get On It” continues the vibe and features a classic sing-a-long chorus. “Machine” is a powerful rocker that could have been an AC/DC number. “Dirty Love” and “Ride” bring to mind a mix of classic Motley Crue and Def Leppard. Things slow down a bit for the first of two ballads, “Live For The Day” and for me this is where the album starts to dip a little because “Physical Attraction” and “Tattoos and Misery” do not provide that spark needed before the second ballad hits. “The Coolest Thing” sounds like one of those boy band songs that Def Leppard recorded on X – with the right audience it could be huge but I’m remain unconvinced. “Save Your Soul” brings things back to life with one of those cheesy hair-metal choruses of “Rock’n’Roll will save your soul” and “Walk With a Stranger” brings things nicely to a close.

“New Audio Machine” is a well produced highly enjoyable melodic rock album from the guys. A big welcome back to Trixter.

***1/2

Phil Berisford

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

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Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)