Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Psalm 9

When I was 15, Black Flag was in town and Henry Rollins was doing an in-store reading at Open Books & Records in Miami. Afterwards he took some questions from the dozen or so people there. I was so baffled by the direction that Black Flag had taken with My War that I used the opportunity to ask Mr. Rollins what records he had been really into lately. Without hesitation he mentioned Trouble's debut released one year earlier. He likened it to the sky just before a terrible storm. Open didn't carry much metal, so I would have to wait and pick this up at Vibrations, which was like a head shop that sold a few random punk records and Metalblade releases. After the reading Henry, browsed around the store a bit and then bought a stack of Blowfly cassettes, which further confused me. Anyways, Rollins was 100 percent, absolutely correct about Trouble. Psalm 9 was so heavy, so completely menacing and foreboding I didn't even care that they were christians. In a way, it almost added to the mystique. It wasn't nicey-nice, smiley face Ned Flanders christianity, this was serious, cataclysmic, Asa Hawks type shit. To this day I still listen to this album weekly, and I still get chills.


I gotta add that I just got back from seeing Harvey Milk in Oakland. They were so good that I teared up, lamenting dead friends that weren't there to see such a great, cathartic, and beautiful band. So deep, so natural. It's been years since a band moved me so. Goddamn!

44 comments:

Anonymous said...

Brilliant album indeed... And them being christian surely added to their mystique! At the time all those satanic (or so-called) bands like Venom, Mercyful Fate, Slayer etc... were cool. But Trouble kinda made you feel uneasy and a bit puzzled... After all, wouldn't a christian rock band be more or less like Stryper? ;)

Devil Dick said...

own this first pressing on white vinyl....

it helped shape my musical direction in life....

one of the 1st wave of sab worshippers after they dropped the ball....

witchfinder general a close 2nd.

Anonymous said...

yeah, yeah, early trouble ruled... break out the skull once a week also.

i didn't listen much to the later release so...

i'm thinking psalm 9/ the skull are all ya need.

-jeff

Anonymous said...

you can't go wrong with this album.words can't describe its greatness.and you're definitely right about their christian faith adding to this album's mystique.what do you think of their later more 70s hardrock inspired stuff?

Unknown said...

whoah wierd i posted the demos collection the other night, before seeing harvey milk at the great american. This album rocks too, but after this they went way downhill.

Unknown said...

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Aesop said...

John, I don't see your blog? Were you absolutely crushed by how fantastic Harvey Milk were? I know I was, almost wept.

Children's Prison said...

Excellent post Aesop. I will definitely be revisiting this gem of an album tonight.

Talking about Trouble and Harvey Milk together is unlikely - but somehow makes sense. Why is that?

I saw Harvey Milk on Saturday in Los Angeles. They switched venues last minute and the gig got moved to a private loft. That was probably the best performance I've seen from anyone. Hands down. Plaster was falling from the ceiling. Blood came out of my ears. A truly heartbreaking band.

Aesop said...

Pretty much the same experience I had. Truly moving and profound.

Children's Prison said...

The other thing that really struck me was Joe's presence. Harvey Milk were already the complete package...but Joe just fortified everything.

Steven Tanner summed it up best: After the opening song he asked the crowd "Have you guys ever done anything you've been ashamed of?"

Anonymous said...

Harvey Milk in Austin last week. They are crushing, and also super nice guys.

Trouble the week before and it was a little sad. Their new vocalist is a total clown. When they played instrumental they still had it. This album and 'The Skull' are top notch.

Slobodan Burgher said...

No way. I only just tracked down some old upload of this the other day, along with Death Angle's the ultraviolent (both on the recommendation of some internet thrash-head or other).

Christian? I had no clue about that...but whatever, this may be an album I will be listening to a lot, on my 2nd run-through of it ever...like what I hear...

Also, since I am a forever "keep returning to Black Sabbath fan" as far as music listening goes I've been trying to find out if there's anyone who ever came close to their shit...not much luck so far...

And just to add a bit more to this already too long and probably pointless "so what" comment, for me to understand where the origins of Amebix it was very revealing to read Rob the Baron saying that he was trying with the music to reach something approaching not only that tribal beat of early Killing Joke but also what Black Sabbath's tried to do with Warpigs...you know, the political thing...

Finally, something to inflame the masses- Trouble sounds to my freshman's ear like how early Saxon would have sounded if they started in 1986-87, and if they had not been such obvious poseurs...or whatever...

Aesop said...

Phantom, new Trouble singer is Corey Clarke or Warrior Soul who always sucked. Corey Clarke is also the same Corey Clarke that owns the dude ranch mentioned in The Meatmen classic "Tooling For Anus."

Slobo, perhaps you need to check out Pentagram. US doom band from DC, Sabbathy but completely their own thing. Tom Lyle of Government Issue produced their debut album and it is a crusher.

And speaking of Amebix, have you had a chance to check out my own hometown's Stormcrow? Fucking devastating.

Slobodan Burgher said...

Ok thanks for the tip, will check Pentagram (I read about them somewhere this week I think...they were quite early weren't they....hm, will check them out straight away).

I tried St Vitus awhile back, they kinda rule, Sleep is good too (until you realize that, actually, what you wanted to listen was good ol' Black Sabbath hahaha)

Anonymous said...

great blog..Trouble are awesome!!
check this out...
http://buginthecity.blogspot.com/search/label/Lid

Slobodan Burgher said...

DAMN! Just from the opening 30 seconds of PENTAGRAM's Relentless LP, I am well hooked. Such a cool singer too! Thanks for the headsup on that one Aesop. I am going to grow my hair and cut my sleeves of my denim jackie...well...Seriously, this shit is really really good.

Tim said...

I recently bought "The Skull" and it has been on my playlist for months now. Been looking forward to getting this ever since. Thanks again!

Aesop said...

Yeah, Slobo. Relentless is the one. I had a short-ived Pentagram cover band with Russ from Noothgrush. The second album "Day of Reckoning" is pretty great too. The singer Bobby Leibling is a real character.

THRIPS said...

huh, i don't know why. try this link. here

Aesop said...

Ahhhh, that worked. Okay, I'll be reading. Looks good.

Ambassador MAGMA said...

Pentagram is second only to Sabbath in my book. I actually like them more in some ways, because they sounded so good for SO long, unlike the waxing and waning of Sabbath post-Ozzy and definitely post-RJD.

I recently got the Bedemon CD, which is a collection that is heartbreakingly good for me. I've never heard Harvey Milk, but if you guys like 'em it must be good.

Chris said...

I heard of Trouble convincing a girl to take her top off when they supported Danzig. They never really stated that they were a Christian band. Still, there's no denying the lyrics leaned that way.

The later albums seem to cover drug experiences lyrically. Last year's Simple Condition was great.

I don't mind Warrior Soul but the choice confuses me as much as the Ugly Kid Joe guy fronting Life Of Agony as the vocals are such an important part of the overall sound.

bullfeathers said...

sweet, i just heard this for the first time about a week ago and have been harassing my friends to listen to it since. even with the obvious title i had no idea they were a christian band. cheers

Aesop said...

Pretty cool how many comments this received. Going to have to post 'The Skull' at some point.

Slobodan Burgher said...

Also checked out the 2 boxset or 2CDs covering Pentagram's 1970s stuff (before first Lp) - pretty good shit there too, possibly better than first Lp. Will def look out for the Bedemon, but just now I wanna hang on to the virgin's aura of having discovered in Pentagram a very cool band...I know they're the virtually the same band but one record at a time...

Aesop said...

http://cosmichearse.blogspot.com/2008/04/bedemon.html

Anonymous said...

Yeah, 'The Skull' is great as well... And I also picked up Bedemon when I was getting into Pentagram (Bobby Liebling is a character indeed...)

Jake Thee Pope said...

Already got a Pentagram bootleg in the pipeline for when I make my Triumphant Return in thee next coupla daze... so, y'know, stay tuned and shit.

Korey Clarke is a purveyor of False Metal! Nearly exploded with rage when I first heard he was Eric's replacement... what a fucking horrible idea.

Anonymous said...

Corey Clarke is Trouble's new singer?wow,i didn't know that and it sucks!definitely not agood choice,though i liked Warrior Soul back in the day (haven't listened to them in ages).

Anonymous said...

Slobodan, as a Black Sabbath junkie, I guess you're already familiar with the japanese group Flower Travellin' Band. If not, you'd better check them out - especially Satori! If you don't just love the song "Satori pt.II" for example, well... then... I don't know.

Coven's album Witchcraft could also be something. It was released in 1968 or 69, with one song called Black Sabbath and one of the bandmembers named Oss Osbourne (if I'm not misinformed). Intriguing, eh?

Anonymous said...

I know that I'm adding this a few days too late, but... HOLY SHIT! I just saw Harvey Milk and Sex Vid at Old School Pizzaria (!!!!) in Olympia, Washington, and yes, HM lives up to all expectations. I've waited years and years to see them, and all I can say is "Wow". No plaster falling off the ceiling, but crushing none the less. And to think that I almost missed the show due to a last-minute venue change...

Aesop said...

Dag, FTB is a Hearse staple and amazing. Coven, always wish they lived up to the name and image musically but they were always a bit twee for my tastes.

homeboyalone said...

This is by far the best heaven metal album to date. I think one of the guys from exhorder was in this band for a spell but I'm not sure... None the less I would really like to see a fight between Eric Wagner and Messiah Marcolin.

Aesop said...

I'd put my money on Wagner. I think a pothead from Chicago trumps a monk from Stockholm any day.

Anonymous said...

i still listen tho this and The Skull all the time. Fucking awesome.

Anonymous said...

Nice one!

MM.

Anonymous said...

I never gave Trouble a chance when this came out cause of the whole christian thing and now regret not having had this for all those years...on the up side it's not everyday you find something this fucking awesome....it's kinda like...uh...Christmas! I need a "thank you CosmicHearse/Aesop...I can't believe how great this is and that I never listened to it before ...etc etc." hot button for comments. Any chance you have/can post Kilslugs "Answer the Call"?

chickenandeggs said...

a little late with a comment...absolutely love this band, even Run to the Light and the 1st Def America. Managed to see them a bunch of times late 80's/early 90's, usually opening for Danzig or Pantera or some kind of shame fest. Favorite show was @ Roseland in Portland, barely announced free show, maybe 40 people showed up, they took requests! and of course they were all for stuff off the first couple records. It snowed that night, made for a contemplative bike ride home. This band has always delivered the goods live for me despite what wankery they may have been recording. Walsby has a great story about seeing them with Mercyful Fate supporting Psalm 9. Thanks Aesop!

Aesop said...

It's never too late to comment. I asume by the nick that you are Joe.

Anonymous said...

Jeez, thanks for this post. Firstly, my tape of this album sort of crapped out a while back and I'd forgotten how good it was. Secondly, you got me to check out Harvey Milk. Really good stuff. I'm understating things a bit.

Anonymous said...

^that was me

Anonymous said...

Thanks for this. Heard it a couple of times in the mid 80's and look forward to diving back in.
Jdb

leibstandarte said...

Hey Man

Can I twist your arm into re-uploading this one (psalm 9) and the iron maiden in your classic metal section.

Z-Share is all to fuck they used to be good but it all gone tits-up recently and it wont have it no matter what.

Fanx

harry cloud said...

harvey milk is the greatest goddamn band in the land!! southernshelter.com