Album review overview: Triggerfinger, Tom Morello and more
Dozens of new albums arrive at Maxazine’s editorial staff every week. There are way too many to listen to them all, let alone review them. It ensures that too many albums are left behind. And that’s a shame. That is why today we post an overview of albums that arrive at the editors in short reviews.
Aborym – Metachaos
The Italian formation Aborym was founded in 1992 by multi-instrumentalist and frontman Malfeitor Fabban. Aborym has undergone many line-up changes with well-known names such as Attilla Csihar and Faust. The style is also constantly evolving. After excursions into industrial rock and electronic experiments on the albums “Shifting.Negative” and “Hostile”, Fabban decides to return to the brutally hard mix of industrial black metal, grindcore and extreme cyber-metal as heard on the band’s first four albums. To reproduce this sound, Malfeitor Fabban makes use of drummer Atum and guitarist Munholy. Fabban has also opened up a whole host of guest musicians, with Patrick Mameli (Pestilence), Tommy Talamanca (Sadist) and Chris Cannella (Malevolent Creation) featured throughout the entire album. They appear at various points to add solos, additional guitar work or vocal accents. Guitarist Noralf Venås (Helheim), Tapio Wilska (former singer of Finntroll) and Brisen, a musician who is part of the underground black metal band Dungeon, also play on “Metachaos”. For people who like the first four Aborym albums, and by that I particularly mean “With No Human Intervention” (2003), “Metachaos” is a fine addition to the record collection. I also recommend this album to fans of Mysticum, Anaal Nakrath, Thorns and Dødheimsgard (DHG). (Ad Keepers) (7/10) (Avantgarde Music)
Rachel Spencer – The Next Right Thing
A dissertation for her studies. That is the reason for this debut album by American trumpeter and composer Rachel Spencer. For her Doctor of Musical Arts, she immersed herself in trumpeter Blue Mitchell, a legend in hard bop. His style, his influence cannot be missed in the seven compositions Spencer recorded for “The Next Right Thing”. “Steamrollin” in particular can be seen as a tribute to Mitchell. Spencer lets her trumpet duel with an alto saxophone and a trombone, causing the piece to literally roll over you. There could have been more tracks like this on the album. Spencer, however, regularly takes things down a notch. “Liminal Spaces” and “Essential Company” may be top pieces in terms of composition, yet we still miss conviction. That is because Spencer’s playing is technically perfect. Perhaps even too perfect. The American stays within the lines, also in the solos. And then this album goes out like a damp squib. The good news, however, is that this is a debut. A promising and skilful debut. Perhaps less studying and simply playing? (Jeroen Mulder) (6/10) (Rachel Spencer)
Bloodstain – Bloodstain
Swedish band Bloodstain pleasantly surprises me with their self-titled debut album. Bloodstain was founded in Stockholm at the end of 2023. They took part in the local music competition Lidingö Rock, where they immediately secured second place and the prize for best guitarist. In March 2024, Bloodstain independently released their debut EP “I Am Death”. This EP earned Bloodstain a place on The Rising Four Tour. During their show at the well-known Debaser club in Stockholm, Bloodstain caught the attention of Alex Hellid, guitarist of Entombed. Hellid signed Bloodstain to his record label Threeman Recordings. After the release of “I Am Death”, singer/guitarist Linus Lindin left the band. Tobias Lindström was recruited as the new guitarist and guitarist Oskar Lindroos took on vocals alongside guitar. It is difficult to put a label on Bloodstain’s music. It is a mix of traditional heavy metal, thrash and classic hard rock. For the undersigned, this is not disturbing, but I can imagine that some readers may find it too diverse. The wheel is not reinvented, but the execution and credibility are top-notch. (Ad Keepers) (8/10) (Threeman Recordings)
Triggerfinger – Tarmac
More than nine years separate “Colossus” and this latest album by Triggerfinger. In the meantime, the band has also had to say goodbye to bassist Paul Van Bruystegem, who died in 2025. “Lange Polle” left the band in 2023 to focus on his own project Mr. Paul & The Lowriders, which unfortunately was only able to produce one album. Back to “Tarmac”, which, judging by the energy of the songs, is a well-chosen name. Like asphalt, this album seems to be built from stone, gravel and sand in terms of sound, with a sticky substance serving as the binding agent. “Tarmac” still sounds as you would expect from Triggerfinger: compact, raw and to the point. Yet despite the relatively short playing time, the album lacks some open space, which would allow the songs to breathe more. The sound sometimes feels plastered over, which may have something to do with the urge to experiment and the use of drum machines, loops and other electronic gadgets. The organic playing of drummer Mario Goossens is consequently pushed somewhat further into the background, as is the contribution that Mr. Paul always brings with him. At the same time, it is to the duo’s credit that they want to reinvent their sound. This undoubtedly produces a rediscovered drive and energy. Whether this will convince everyone remains the question. Live, however, they will undoubtedly still play the roof off the place. (Bart van de Sande) (7/10) (Sony)
Tom Morello – Everyone Gets Everything They Want
Tom Morello calls “Everyone Gets Everything They Want” his first real solo album in rock, and you immediately feel that when the record kicks off. The former Rage Against the Machine guitarist goes straight for his target, with explosive riffs and lyrics aimed directly at injustice, racism and political lies. Opener “Beth From Electronics” steadily builds towards the title track, where Morello’s guitar work and a half-spoken, half-shouted lyric merge into a powerful opener. On “Adjourn It”, Serj Tankian joins in, while his son Roman Morello plays guitar, and together they deliver a pounding statement against xenophobia. Irish rap duo Kneecap make a guest appearance on “Unconquered”, and Beartooth appears on the forceful “Everything Burns”. Quieter moments such as “They Can’t Kill Us All” and the piano ballad “I Am Not Yours To Command” show that Morello can also make an impact without going full throttle. The whole thing sometimes feels somewhat messy because of the many styles and guests, but the energy and conviction fly out of the speakers. For fans of protest rock, this is exactly what they have been waiting for. (Daniel Harris) (7/10) (Mom + Pop Music)
