November is Doom- Exhuming the Tunes with Trouble's "Simple Mind Condition"

This is the last Trouble album with Eric Wagner, so really the last Trouble album, though I will still review the 2013 release "the Distortion Field" where Kyle Thomas of Exhorder takes over on vocals.Eric said he could not take touring anymore ,and there was a 12 year gap between this album and "Plastic Green Head".  This album had several delays and was originally going to be called "Seven". It opens with the bass driven "Goin Home" that carries more of a darker grunge feel than their previous work. When the riff kicks in it's more aggressive, and Eric's voice sits back against the guitar to create a more fitting sound for the times. 

"Mindbender" has a riff that brings Nazereth to mind, but it works for what they are doing and pretty driving blues soaked metal, with Wagner's voice still stilling back in the mix. "Seven" which would have been the title track at one point has groove , but is not as memorable as the other songs. "Pictures of Life" is a much better song thansk to it's groove and the vocals slithering through them in a tigheter more ofcused manner. The break gave them time to adapt to the cycle that spun back around in their favor on this album. 

"After the Rain" is likea more typical ballad for them.Then  "Trouble Maker" carries a more Zeppelin swagger that slightly winks in the direction of "Kashmir's " throb, but retains hteir indentity and is one of the album's songs. The vocals melody helps make this song. The first listen to "Arthur Brown's Whiskey Bar" jsut kind of breezed by me, it creeps with more of a psychedelic feel . It gives Eric a chance to relax into his lower register for the verses giving his higher wial more of a dynamic contrast. This also gives things a doomy touch. 

The title track is not as powerful as "Ride the Sky" which is a more overt metal song that hits you with a big chug. "If Only I Had a Reaon" has less metal, but is still metal and works with strong riff and great vocals long with a darker doom touch. The album closes with some what of a power ballad. It's interestinig deviating from the tone of the album so far. More piano focused. For some reason it brings Pinal Tap to mind. Overall this is a great album I will give it a 9.5, so perhaps not afocused as they have been in the past ,but for a 12 year break they had a good grasp of where they stood .