The Skull (W/ Bonus DVD) [Enhanced, Import, Original recording remastered]

Trouble | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 23, 2006)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Enhanced, Import, Original recording remastered
• Label: Escapi
• ASIN: B000JJS65S
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #623,399 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Pray For The Dead

2. Fear No Evil

3. Wish

4. Truth Is What Is

5. Wickedness Of Man

6. Gideon

7. Skull

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you like early Black Sabbath . . ., May 4, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Skull (Audio CD)

then this is for you. This album was originally released in 1985, and it is one of my favorites! A typical Trouble album: slow, solemn, and bonecrushingly heavy. Songs like 'The Skull' and 'The Wish' are extremely dire, even gut wrenching. Sometimes I think that has to be one of the most emotional rock records I have ever heard, from both a lyrical and musical stadpoint. The band was dubbed a christian group, referring to the lyrics, but in reality they are inspirational in nature, much different that the satanic/death themes that were prevelant with speed metal bands at the time. The songs don't grab you right away, but after a while they begin to grow on you. If you are looking for something trendy, hip, easy to listen to, and cool to show your friends don't bother. This record deals with emotions that as humans we wished we never would experience.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How do you follow up a masterpiece?, March 8, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Skull (Audio CD)

It was going to take a lot to follow up Psalm 9. I bought Psalm 9 and The Skull when they first came out. Psalm 9 was just jaw-droppingly unique. Definitely in the top 3 metal albums of the 80's. The crying guitars just pulled your guts out. Back then it was the heaviest thing I'd ever heard. I swore I'd never hear anything heavier. Of course the next year Celtic Frost came out with Morbid Tales, but that's another story. Anyway The Skull was a complete success. I didn't think they had any shot but they came very close to matching the brilliance of Psalm 9. Crushingly heavy (for the time) with the same feel, but the songs were unique and not copies of Psalm 9. If you liked Psalm 9 you'll like The Skull ... and probably Trouble's 1990 self-titled release. Those are the three best.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a true all-time doom classic, July 10, 2006

By 

the eclectic extrovert (PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Skull (Audio CD)

Let me begin by saying, I am in a minority in rating this Trouble's best album, or even among their best two or three. I was drawn to this album immediately, first by its cover, and secondly by its dead-serious notes of melancholy. There is no question that later works show greater musicianship, diversity and innovation of songwriting, and "branching out" in themes and styles. At the same time, if you are looking for doom more than straight up heavy rock, this is superb.

I bought it in 1986 and I have never tired of listening to it pretty regularly, outlasting even most of my early Sabbath loves. Its excesses are also its excellences. 12 minute long songs about contemplating suicide, 6 minute long songs about the crucifixion, songs about praying for the dead. For those who like the tone-down on religion Trouble, avoid this. However, they have always been able to tackle religious themes as a matter of expression rather than proselytization, and this exemplifies that.

While this is still flat-out permeated with Sabbath, they do show more breaks and guitar runs from their first outing (Psalm 9), and one can see approaches to a doomy version of Iron Maiden here (though definitely gloomy and depressive rather than majestic).

In all, the seriousness of the songs wears one down, and while that may detract from the creativity of the work, it is designed to leave one exhausted rather than exhilarated. However, like all old Trouble, it ventures into themes of depression and condemnation, but always leaves a little room for light at the end of the tunnel. Things are dire, but not necessarily hopeless. One even finds moments approach liturgy here--litany-sorts of moanings at the end of the title song (and album closer), and similar "prayerish" moments at the end of Pray for the Dead. Two or three songs hint at being upbeat (a relative term)--Fear No Evil, Gideon, and Truth is, What is.

These lighten the mood only slightly, however, and the oppressive

air never dissipates.

Production improves on later albums. The sophomore effort shows in that regard. However, as singer Eric Wagner once said himself, while that was a great album at the time, he could never replicate it, and even had a hard time performing it later, as he simnply couldn't put himself into the pscychological place he was in when he wrote this. Simply put, it is unpolished in places, but it pulsates with a conviction that cannot be faked.