It was the long foretold year of 1984 when I first picked up the debut record of Chicago's Trouble. Like most of the discs I bought in the Golden Age of Metal, I still have this precious LP, made all the more unique because it was pressed on solid white vinyl. Although I will never give it up, I am glad to see that self-same effort now re-issued in CD format, making it available to a whole new generation of fans. The original title of the disc was simply Trouble but for reasons best known to themselves, the guys put out another self-titled disc some years later (their first on Rick Rubin's Def American outfit), leading to this one being labeled as Psalm 9. By any other name, the doom smells as heavy. This was such a unique and groundbreaking record in its time. Where the speed and blasphemy of bands like Slayer and Venom was dominating in the underground, Trouble reversed speed and issued forth a lumbering, tank-like sound of slower, depressing metal that would soon come to be known as "doom metal". The early Sabbath influences were certainly noticeable, but Trouble seemed to increase the heaviness, add in unusual twin guitar melodies and an actual feeling of unpredictability to the music. As if that wasn't enough, the music was overtly Christian based and preached the virtues of compassion and love. But make no mistake, this was not sugar-coated preaching in the vein of Stryper but instead a gospel full of tribulation, where Satan lurked around every corner to tempt the unwary. The raspy, wailing vocals of Eric Wagner provided an unforgettable voice to the foreboding message of Trouble. This record could only have been made in the early 80's, before genres coalesced and solidified and became rigid. Heavier than the boots of God, Psalm 9 still stands as perhaps the best work of the cult Chicago band, although follow-up The Skull and the second self-titled disc are also extremely strong. The Skull has also been reissued and I may turn to that later. In the meantime, listen to an original and influential doom metal band in their formative stages and cast yourself joyfully into a pit of musical despair. NOTE: Also be sure to check out the accompanying DVD, which features a Trouble cable access show performance from 1982! It's rather amusing, as Wagner is clearly lip-synching, and the band's responses to the hostess' questions are not exactly articulate, but still, it's a trip to see the guys so young, playing tunes even before Psalm 9 came out!

This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2007 Volume 2 at lulu.com/strangesound.