Trepid are a four piece band from across the pond. Louisiana, United States to be exact. Taken from the bands Facebook page, High Energy Hard Rock\/Alternative......powerful guitars, awesome vocals and songs that will leave you begging for more!!! Sounds like fight talk to me! Here’s what I thought of the guys stuff.
Devil girl was the first track I listened to. This made me think of a few ex-girlfriends but that’s another story! A dark, menacing guitar riff wakes you up aptly accompanied by a thunderous drum beat. The vocals soon kick in and I was pleasantly surprised to hear a fresh, smooth female voice penetrating my ear drum. The contrasting styles between the fairly soft voice and the heavy riffs work really well, and it’s a little bit of the unexpected.
A familiar heavy opening starts off Kiss The Devil Goodbye. With the introduction of the vocals to proceedings, the pace seems to slow slightly. The riffs aren’t as heavy as the previous track. The tempo does vary throughout the song, this works well as I wasn't quite sure what was coming next. The vocals are again very solid and they do sound great. However they don't push the track along or take it to the next level, they just do enough.
Most Evil was the third track on the list. A stinging distorted guitar lights up the dark to begin the song. This was my favourite track of the lot as I made to eat my words regarding the vocals not taking things to the next level. They pick up in this track and come across as a lot darker and devilish giving things a new dimension and cutting edge. The riffs are powerful just like the band promised and vary in different parts of the track. Add the ever present pounding drums and you're onto a winner.
The final track I listened to was Unchanged. A completely different start compared to the previous three tracks was a slight relief and also nice to see. I liked this as it shows that the band is able to adapt to new things and show a bit of variation. The tempo is very melodic, the riffs are chilled and the thunderous drums are nowhere to be seen. The pace picks up mid-way through and there’s an awesome guitar solo that really does need to be applauded. If I’m honest I think the vocals suit this type of track down to a tee.
I enjoyed listening to this band. It was a little different to many of the bands that I have listened to previously; however, I can appreciate what’s going on here. There's a lot of talent flying around the band and see a bright future for them.
TREPID - And They Call it Revolution
(S/|R - 2011)
Not every single girl fronted metal-machine exports from European shores, still as hard as we find it to believe.
One or two from the good old US of A get their foot through the door and when we leave it open for such fantastic talent such as Trepid do we really care? About these guys certainly, a fair bit. Despite some annoying distortion to the solo element, they do a lovely line in trad metal/alternative fusion and fire through each number of the eleven so fast, you even remember actually pressing the play. Frontwoman, Lana Rothsberger began her childhood roots in country so it would be an unexpected transition to witness in today’s weighty creen that couples onto all styles, wetter Seattle or San Franscisco oriented- what counts it that she’s bloody digit-slobbering good behind that microphone.
Whether it’s punk, metal, southern rock, blues or whatever else they give you to tick on the list, ‘Devil Girl’, ‘Rip It Away’, ‘Kiss The Devil Goodbye’ ‘Sick’, ‘Revolt’, ‘Sin and Pie’ and ‘Are You My Vampire’ rock solid in a strongly modern accent. Alice in Chains and Metallica amongst their listed inspirations attack one another headlong and leave one to wallow in all the shit that makes it out through this side of the musical fan.
Great one.
8/10
By Dave Attrill
RECOMMENDED IF YOU LIKE: My Ruin, Skunk Anansie, Siouxie and The Banshee, Girlschool, Nirvana & Black Sabbath
Trepid of Shreveport, La are quickly building a name and following as they offer something different and unique to the scene. The band recently released a second self-produced CD, "And They Call It Revolution.”
Keeping with the tradition of their metal style lyrics coupled with their rock n roll sound, the band said they got in-touch with their feminine side to write the new CD.
Since Trepid’s lead singer is a woman, Lana Rothlisberger the band worked to write songs geared a little more toward Lana.
“Rip It Away was because I wanted to write an ‘I hate a man song’,” Brian Young, lead guitarist said. “I don’t know? I just wanted to write a pissed off woman song.”
The band has had a lineup change since their last CD, “Show Down at the Double D Ranch.” The new drummer is Larry Blevins. David Gorman is Trepid’s bassist, completing the four piece ensemble.
“Usually I’ll start off writing something, then write lyrics for it and give them to Lana,” Young said. “She usually ends up scrapping them and writing her own anyway, but it gives her something to start with.”
The band is gearing up for a summer tour of Louisiana to play several different festivals and cities, including the 2nd Annual Suckerpunch Sally Rally & Music Festival , The Blue Goose Festival, The Hotter Than Hell Festival and more. Trepid will be spreading the word about their new CD.
“The first song is called Devil Girl,” Young said with a grin. “I was trying to think of some lyrics and I thought, ‘What if Lana was evil?’ Of course that’s the opposite of how she really is. We have a video for it on Youtube and it’s been getting a lot of hits.”
The song “Sick” is going to be on The Rockband Network for those who like video games.
Other songs include "Kiss The Devil Goodbye," "Another Day," "Revolt," "Sin And Pie," "Would I," "Are You My Vampire?," and "Another Day – Reprised."
The new CD is available on iTunes, Amazon, Rhapsody and CD Baby.
“Trepid has a sound that is all their own and completely original.”
When Trepid took the stage, I really didn’t know what to expect. This was a band I had never met or seen anywhere, other than on Myspace. Instantly Lana joined in with rest of the band and they all came to life. There they were old style rock with metal style lyrics. It made quite an interesting marriage in music.
There are a lot of rock and metal bands out there right now, but Trepid brings something unique to the music scene. I cover several music scenes, because I am a southern, four states area writer. The SOUTH, is MY music scene and I always love being surprised.
