Triggerfinger – Colossus

Belgian rockers Triggerfinger have been making waves across Europe recently in support of Muse; a trait they hope to hammer home with the release of Colossus, the Lier originated band’s sixth – and arguably most diverse – album. If you’re expecting more of the same from this constantly evolving act – IE: blues-rock delivered in an edgier style than that provided by most – then look away now.

Experimentation is all well and good when it works and, for the most part, Colossus does. The anthemic opening of the title track segues nicely into a raw, riffing Flesh Tight with barely a blink: Ruben Block’s range and richness of voice, along with his blistering guitar work, coming to the fore, all guns blazing.

With Candy Killer, it’s all about Paul van Bruystegem’s immaculately controlled bass and Mario Goossens somewhat restrained drums that give this track a sense of danger and ethereal dominance.

As strong as these three openers are, though, unfortunately it’s the mid-section that sees the experiment falter. Upstairs Box is more 80s Electro Pop of the kind Kraftwerk would be proud, whereas the soiree into pseudo-Prog with Afterglow is, at best, insipid.

Breathlessness begins the revival. A song of finely constructed orchestration, here is a band doing what it does best; unpretentious, echo infused rock laced with catchy infectiousness. That’ll Be The Day too has a toughness – an almost unrefined, demo-like quality – which punches through to the gut.

When followed up with Bring Me Back A Wild One, then once more we’re back in the familiar land of Triggerfinger’s previous outing and feel all the better for it; its a tub thumping, stomping, pulse racing joy!

Yet no sooner do we think we’re safe than we’re off into the woods once more, with Steady Me and the closing Wollensak Walk. The former of which smacks of moodiness and sultry angst, guitar twanging like so many melodic wires in a stiff breeze which serves only to exemplify the loss and loneliness the track conjures up. The latter sees the band at their finest; all blues zip and zing that’ll have the blood flowing at full pelt.

Overall, Colossus marks Triggerfinger as a band willing to experiment out of their comfort zone and all power to them for it. Some focus and direction, however, may well have made Colossus more of a significant step forward.

Triggerfinger

Colossus

Audio CD

Label: Mascot Records

25 August, 2017

Tracklist

Colossus

Flesh Tight

Candy Killer

Upstairs Box

Afterglow

Breathlessness

That’ll Be The Day

Bring Me Back A Live One

Steady Me

Wollensak Walk