Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Trial - Malicious Arts



For seasoned readers of Skull Fracturing Metal, Sweden’s Trial should not be an unfamiliar band. In spite of this, their newest EP, “Malicious Arts”, is my first experience with the band, and it is now quite clear why they’ve received as much praise as they have. At their core, Trial is a traditional heavy metal band that has taken some influence from the darker side of the genre. Fans of Merycful Fate and King Diamond will appreciate the speedier riffs that Trial offers, along with the general atmosphere the band manages to conjure. The biggest difference between these artists is in the vocals. While Trial’s vocal patterns certainly seem influenced by Mercyful Fate, the singer is quite a bit different. He does not make extensive use of falsetto, but instead uses an upper-mid range, melodic voice, with the occasional scream thrown in. Perhaps the biggest highlight of “Malicious Arts” is the drumming. Both tracks feature extensive use of triplets on the ride cymbal. Additionally, the drummer does use double bass in his playing, but only at the most appropriate moments. Trial also has plenty of extended sections for guitar solos. While nothing flashy, these solos always improve the atmosphere the band has built in the song. Ultimately, this EP was a welcome surprise, and despite only being two tracks, it gives a great impression of this new band out of Sweden. Fans of Mercyful Fate and King Diamond will love “Malicious Arts”!

Be sure to check out and like Trial on Facebook!

Highlights
"To Dust"

Final Rating
4.0/5 or 80%. 

Written by Scott