Trank - 2024 - The Maze

(44:38; M&O Music)

Track list:
1. Adrenalin 3:25
2. Twenty First Century Slave 4:10
3. Queen of the Broken 3:50
4. Evolution 4:03
5. Chameleon 4:13
6. Pray for Rain 3:38
7. Hey You 4:28
8. Miracle Cure 4:49
9. Boys (Eyes on the Road) 3:51
10. Seven Veils 3:34
11. The Morning After 4:37

Line-up:
Arnaud Bled - bass
Johann Evanno - drums, programming, vocals
Michel André Jouveaux - vocals, keyboards, programming
Nicolas Raymond - guitars
David Spatola - guitars, keyboards, programming, vocals
with:
Julien Boucq - guitars


Multinational band Trank appear to have been formed sometime around 2016, and came to some prominence back in 2021 when they released their debut album "The Ropes", which was later reissued in a deluxe edition too. Now in the late fall of 2024 the band has returned with their second album "The Maze", which was released through French label M&O Music.

I see that the label has chosen the heavy alternative rock designation in order to classify the musical landscapes explored on this album, and as a general description I'd say that this one gives the right ideal. That the band is versatile and diversified in their excursions inside of such a context probably merits mentioning too though, as this isn't a band that sticks to any singular type of approach and execution.

One vital aspect of the album as a whole is how the band will make tasteful use of electronic effects and keyboards in just about all of the songs here, where the former in particular does add a contemporary and occasionally futuristic sounding vibe to the landscapes explored. In most cases these electronic components are a bit of an understated presence though, so rather than being electronic rock or electronic hard rock the electronic sounds function more as flavor enhancements. Details that add to the identity of the music without defining the music itself if you like.

The band know their way around establishing a good and strong groove when needed and required, and are well aware of impact riffs and impact passages too. Staccato excursions with a tiny little bit of a punkier edge are present, and songs that ebb and flow between gentler passages and more hard hitting ones are very much present too, typically with a more careful verse and a more powerful chorus section. In many cases with the songs being a bit divided in these cases, with the first half revolving around the ebb and flow motion while the second half has a stronger emphasis on the harder hitting sections. Some clever use of marching rhythms and understated details is a part of this band's repertoire too, used to good effect in one song in particular, but a song that in itself expand the canvas explored quite a bit as well as providing a tasteful variation for the album experience. That we get a song that combine the ballad tradition with the crowd pleasing anthem chorus section being another detail of note.

Besides classic era hard rock and possibly grunge being inspirational for the sounds explored here, I'd add nu metal and industrial rock as likely sources of inspiration for the landscapes explored on this album. Possibly with a little bit of influx from post-punk too, as a couple of the songs by plan or chance struck me as featuring some impulses from that part of the rock universe.

Just after the middle of this album, Trank decides to put in a cover version of Pink Floyd's evergreen classic 'Hey You', and besides the slightly unusual choice of placing a cover song in the middle of an album I do get the notion that this was done with intent, as the compositions that appear after this cover tune all strike me as being a bit more atmospheric laden in general nature. With this cover song, which is explored in a suitably compelling manner, functions as a sort of a transition in mood for the album experience. If this is a planned role for this song I don't know of course, but at least I got the association of this being the case. And for this album, I did find this placement of that song to function really well too.

Those with a taste for a more contemporary sounding variety of hard rock with a liberal inclusion of elements that hard rock fans typically will describe as alternative in nature should find this production to be quite the compelling one I suspect. The songs are well made, developed and executed throughout, the mix and production gets the best out of the compositions too, and while none of the songs really manage to match the smashing opener 'Adrenalin' the rest of this album comes across as a compelling production too. With the tasteful cover version of 'Hey You' another album highlight. A solid example of contemporary hard rock explored with a bit of an alternative streak.

Olav M. Björnsen, December 2024

Links:
https://www.trankmusic.com/
https://www.m-o-music.com/