| The Skull | ||
|---|---|---|
 | ||
| Studio album by Trouble | ||
| Released | March 1985 | |
| Recorded | 1985 at Preferred Studios, Woodland Hills and Track Record Studios in Los Angeles, California | |
| Genre | Doom Metal | |
| Length | 43:05 | |
| Label | Metal Blade Records | |
| Producer | Trouble, Bill Metoyer, Brian Slagel | |
| Trouble chronology | ||
| Psalm 9 (1984) |
The Skull (1985) |
Run To The Light (1987) |
The Skull is the second studio album by American doom metal band Trouble, released in 1985. It was the follow-up to their highly influential 1984 debut Psalm 9.
Trouble gained critical recognition for The Skull and a successful tour followed. However, the album reflected singer Eric Wagner's struggles with substance abuse as well as growing turmoil within the group. This led to the departure of bassist Sean McAllister; he was replaced by Ron Holzner, who would remain with the band until their 2002 reunion. In early 1986, shortly after The Skull tour began, drummer Jeff Olson would also leave to attend college and the band regrouped with a new lineup later that year. Olson would reunite with Trouble in 1993 and play on the Plastic Green Head album, which was released two years later.
While reviews of the album at the time are somewhat scarce, the album has received further recognition in light of it's reissues. Notably Sea of Tranquility (5 Stars)[1] and Metal Kingdom (9.5/10)[2] would actually prefer the album to Psalm 9. Other notable reviews include the likes of Rock n World (9/10),[3] The Metal Crypt (4.25/5)[4] and We Are Metalheads.[5]
Like Psalm 9, The SKull would see a CD issue for the first time in 1991, then remastered using the original master tapes and reissued again by Metal Blade in 1994. On 26 October 2006, Escapi Music would reissue Psalm 9 with a bonus DVD. FRW Music would reissue the album in 2010 and 2013. Hammerheart Records would reissue the album (Along with several other Trouble releases) on 22 May 2020, in CD, Cassette and Vinyl formats.
Tracklist[]
All songs written by Trouble.
- 1. Pray For The Dead (5:54)
- 2. Fear No Evil (4:12)
- 3. The Wish (11:35)
- 4. The Truth Is, What Is (4:37)
- 5. Wickedness of Man (5:46)
- 6. Gideon (5:10)
- 7. The Skull (5:50)
Personnel[]
- Eric Wagner - Vocals
- Bruce Franklin - Guitar
- Rick Wartell - Guitar
- Sean McAllister - Bass
- Jeff Olson - Drums
- Bill Metoyer - Producer, Engineer
- Eddie Schreyer - Mastering
- Brian Slagel - Producer
- Gary Docken - Artwork
- Joe LaRosa - Logo Concept
External Links[]
References[]
| V·T·E Trouble | |
|---|---|
| Current Members | Rick Wartell • Bruce Franklin • Kyle Thomas • Rob Hultz • Mark Lira |
| Past Members | Eric Wagner • Jeff Olson • Sean McAllister • Ron Holzner • Dennis Lesh • Ted Kirkpatrick • Barry Stern • Chuck Robinson • Kory Clarke • Shane Pasquila |
| Studio Albums | Psalm 9 • The Skull • Run To The Light • Trouble • Manic Frustration • Plastic Green Head • Simple Mind Condition • The Distortion Field |
| Live Albums | Trouble Live• Live in Stockholm • Live in L.A. • Live Palatine 1989 • Live Schaumburg 1993 • Black Shapes of Doom |
| Other Releases | One For The Road • Unplugged • Revelations (Life or Death) • Victim of The Insane |
| Associated Bands, Artists, Etc. | Lid • Wet Animal • Supershine • Retro Grave • Earthen Grave • Debris Inc. • The Skull • Blackfinger • Probot • Godspeed • Cathedral |