Trouble

Trouble is a US doom metal band from Aurora, Illinois, active from 1979 to the present. The group forms in Chicago in 1979 and is known for a style rooted in heavy, traditional doom metal, with slow, down-tuned riffs, strong Black Sabbath influence, and lyrics that often draw on spiritual and religious themes.

Early years and sound

The original line-up includes vocalist Eric Wagner, guitarists Bruce Franklin and Rick Wartell, bassist Sean McAllister, and drummer Jeff Olson, who is also referred to as Jeff Oly Olson. The band tours the Midwest in the early 1980s before signing to Metal Blade Records. Their early material combines classic metal with occasional psychedelic elements from the late 1960s, and the group becomes associated with the label “white metal” because of its religious imagery, although its music remains heavy and gloomy rather than devotional in a simple sense.

Albums and line-up changes

Trouble’s debut album appears in 1984 and is later referred to as Psalm 9. The Skull follows in 1985, and its darker material reflects Eric Wagner’s substance abuse and internal tensions in the band. After that period, Sean McAllister leaves and is replaced by Ron Holzner, while Jeff Olson departs and Dennis Lesh becomes the drummer for Run to the Light in 1987. A three-year break follows.

The group later signs with Rick Rubin’s Def American Recordings and releases another self-titled album, Trouble, in 1990, with Barry Stern on drums. That record pushes further into psychedelic territory while keeping the band’s heavy guitar sound. Manic Frustration follows in 1992 and expands those ideas further. After being dropped by their label, Trouble issues Plastic Green Head in 1995 through Music for Nations. Jeff Olson returns on that album, but Eric Wagner leaves soon afterwards and later forms Lid. The band then breaks up in 1996.

Return and later activity

Trouble reform in 2002 for a show in Chicago featuring Eric Wagner, Bruce Franklin, Rick Wartell, Ron Holzner, and Jeff Olson. They continue to play one-off shows in the greater Chicago area and at metal festivals. In 2004, Wagner appears on Dave Grohl’s Probot project, singing on “My Tortured Soul”. Ron Holzner leaves in 2005 and is replaced by Chuck Robinson. Barry Stern dies in 2006.

The live DVD Trouble - Live in Stockholm, recorded in 2005, is released in 2006. The album Simple Mind Condition follows, along with reissues of earlier material with extra content. In 2008, Eric Wagner leaves and Kory Clarke replaces him, while Jeff Olson also departs and is replaced by Mark Lira for touring. By late 2008, the band is writing material for another album.

Members

Past and present members include Jeff Olson, Eric Wagner, Bruce Franklin, Rick Wartell, Sean McAllister, Ron Holzner, Daniel Long, Ted Kirkpatrick, Barry Stern, Kyle Thomas, Kory Clarke, Rob Hultz, Chuck Robinson, Spillage, and Dave Snyder.

Labels and genre

Trouble releases music through Metal Blade Records and Def American Recordings, and is identified with doom metal, heavy metal, and traditional doom metal.