Troyen - Unfinished Business

Rock

​

Review by: Sam Loughlan

​

Band members:     Paul Ward (Vocals)

                          Steve McGuire (Guitar)

                          Simon Lind (Guitar)

                          Mark Nortley (Bass)

                          Jaff Badley (Drums)

​

Track list:              The Man I Used To Be

                          Twist of Fate

                          Hoax

                          On The Outside (Don’t Go!)

                          (recurring) Nightmare

                          Darkness Within

                          It Wasn’t Just Me

                          No Resistance At All

                          Bourbon & Shame

                          Hold On

                          Into The Fire

​

Hi to all of you crazy people out there. I hope you’ve all had a great weekend. We would like to kick start your week for you with a review from one of the bands that Heads up North Manchester hold very close and dear.

​

Originally established in 1981. Troyen, the five-piece rock band from Merseyside have really hit the mark. Their new album ‘Unfinished Business’ was released 6th July 2024 and comprises of eleven phenomenal tracks. Now, as most of you may know, I love my classic rock music, so this album was instantly a dream for me to listen to.

​

The opening track entitled ‘Man I Used To Be’, is a well thought out choice to introduce the album. At three minutes and forty seconds in length, this piece showcases superbly how the lads effortlessly create catchy rock tunes that the audience are guaranteed to be jumping out of their seats and bopping along to.

​

Track three, ‘Hoax’ really caught my attention with its enthralling, bouncy drum beats. The highlight of this piece cannot be overlooked. At one minute and thirty-seven seconds in we are blown away by a breath-taking of what I initially thought to be a guitar solo… No. This is in fact a dual guitar piece, seamlessly created to give the impression of a solo. Pure talent by Simon Lind and Steve McGuire.

​

Now, the fifth track on the album really peeked my curiosity with its Metallica type starting tempos. I was instantly invested in this track and had to see where it was going to take me musically. I was not disappointed! In complete contrast to ‘Hoax’, ‘(recurring) Nightmare’ demonstrates Troyen’s flexibility to adapt to various audiences and incorporate all moods and ranges of styles. The focal point of this piece has to be at three minutes and thirty-nine seconds in with another enrapturing guitar piece. Tremendous talent throughout!

​

So there you have it, an absolute cracker of an album from the rocking Merseyside quintet Troyen. In the words of co-founder and co-ordinator Nicky Covill, “With a new singer and fresh face Paul Ward, the boys are rockin’ out fiercer than ever and never fail to amaze me".