Triangle of the Lost

This band appeared at around the same time as other Dutch thrash metal pioneers like Mandator, Vulture, Usurper, and Thanatos. Their early efforts showed an obvious fascination with the US speed/thrash heroes at the time with both an eventful and speedy approach akin to Fordidden, Agent Steel, and Aftermath. The transformation witnessed on the album reviewed here wasn’t exactly expected as although there were signs of more complex arrangements, nothing exhibited at that stage suggested this multi-layered, mind-stimulating musical tapestry.

“Triangle of the Lost”” is a progressive power/speed/thrash metal masterpiece that can be rightfully placed alongside high achievements in the genre like Toxik’s “Think This”, Sieges Even’s “Life Cycle”, Watchtower’s “Control & Resistance”, and Sacrosanct’s “Recession for the Depraved”. It was a natural response to the more demanding tastes on the scene at the beginning of the 90’s when technical/progressive thrash grew into a formidable movement with a great boost received from the Dutch metal field (Sacrosanct again, Decision D, Altered Moves Two, Osiris, Genetic Wisdom, Creepmime, Paralysis, etc.). Donor played a major role for a while, and it couldn’t have been any other way having in mind the encompassing feel exuded by “Relatives of the Dreamtime”, a diverse composition which builds up tension gradually without rushing it, with dramatic heavy riffs and excellent emotional clean high-strung vocals, the progressive arrangements at this stage reminiscent of Fates Warning’s “Awaken the Guardian” with a few speedy surprises arriving in the second half. “Crimerian Darkness” is a short more immediate outburst, but expect melodic decorations, more perplexing riff-salads, and some seriously aggressive shreds.

“Triumph Fires” retains the intensity from its predecessor, but acquires a more intricate progressive flair with frequently changing tempos, slow burning doomy interludes, and portions of sweeping epic melodies. “When the Valkyries Ride” retains the epic flavour, but enriches it with choppier, more hectic riff-formulas that gel well with the constant melodic supplies the achieved surreal symbiosis later elaborated on the works of the new wave of US power/speed metal practitioners like Cauldron Born and Spirit Web. The title-track spends quite a bit of time in nearly doomy dramatism with both technical thrashy and peaceful balladic motifs intercepting the heavy idyll later, the latter creating busy feverish atmosphere towards the end. “The Pendulum” is more dynamic, almost headbangable, but this doesn’t become the dominant tendency although great seismic gallops keep the proceedings within the up-tempo parametres with more aggressive riffage provided again later. “An Invasion Somewhere” is a cool epic speedster with nice vocal histrionics the guys keeping it direct and simple here or somewhere, leaving the more inaccessible decisions for “Siren Voices”, a speed/thrashing masterpiece ala Sieges Even’s “Life Cycle” with a breath-taking tranquil moment served mid-way. The accumulated inertia isn’t lost on “They Ride by Night”, another furious speedy proposition with sharp lashing guitars and piercing screamy leads, the band spicing the venomous delivery with bits and pieces of elephantine, steam-rolling heaviness. “In the Hours of Tragedy” is the final hyper-active speed/thrash nail in the coffin the intriguing melee topped by a few hellish screams and loads of intriguing riff-formulas that disappear towards the end to give more room to pensive balladic serenities and a couple of impressive lead pyrotechnics.

The mixing of four genres together wasn’t exactly something unique, but wasn’t the most common phenomenon on the field, either, and our Dutch friends have managed to squeeze the best out of such a blend. Incidentally, the overall delivery strangely recalls another effort from the Dutch scene released the same year, the one-album-wonder “Shifter of Minds” courtesy of Altered Moves Two who had “cooked” something quite similar strong resemblances in the vocal department as well. Well, I guess the time was ripe for such concoctions although nothing else followed suit in exactly the same vein: Paralysis became more progressive and less aggressive on “Visions” (1994), Creepmime were as doomy as they were technical as evident from “Chiaroscuro” (1995); and Decision D voted to preserve their death metal roots (“Moratoria”, 1993). Others like Sacrosanct were looking askance at the groovy/post-thrashy vogues, and gave it a try, albeit from a deeply doomy perspective, on “Tragic Intense” (1993). Donor thought that this might be an option for them as well, and released “Release” two years later which was one of the more successful adaptation recordings of the 90’s seeing the band producing quite cool brooding, minimalistic progressive thrash/post-thrash which seemed like the right approach at the time.

This happened without the participation of the vocalist Ard van Bers, though, who departed earlier to found Rhadamantys in league with former Creepmime members, which only spell “Labyrinth of Thoughts” (1995) was a great progressive/technical thrash/death amalgam which had more in common with the Creepmime exploits than with the album reviewed here. For the guy’s ex-colleagues this “Release” was the last temptation, too, as they split up soon after with some of them re-emerging under the name Frozen Sun just a year later for the creation of two modern progressive metal recordings which tried to follow the cool standards set by Donor’s last opus. Not bad, but not really striking, this partnership also came to an end… the guys were lost again in triangles, rectangles and other geometrical figures from the music arena some of which of their own making. Until the next release…

Never heard of these guys? Neither had I when I bought this CD. What does it sound like you say? Well, it's kinda progressive, a little thrashy, the singer has more than a passing resemblance to Geddy Lee, and it sounds like they're singing in French sometimes. I'm gonna admit that I really didn't like this when I first got it. The songs are kinda unorthodox and not immediately catchy, but like the CDs of Anacrusis or the Flaming Lips, something catches your attention on the 4th or 5th listen that makes you smile a little. This CD isn't great, but it just has a certain charm, whether it be the cool chorus of "Triumph Fires", the cozy little slow-down part of "When the Valkyries Ride", or the jagged thrashiness and mispronunciation of "three" in "The Pendulum". The riffs are the drawing point as are the vocals (if you think a less screechy Geddy Lee is a good thing), and the tempo is varied both throughout the album and each song, so overall this is an enjoyable listen. I'm not sure how easy it is to get this CD, but if you're a fan of slightly off-kilter progressive thrash I don't think you'll be disappointed.