Though they've been around for nearly a decade, Step Inside is basically the first official release from Sweden's Troubled Horse. Rise Above Records, in association with Metal Blade, has been giving Transubstans Records a run for their money this past year as far as Scandinavian retro hard rock releases go, and Step Inside is another fine gem. Troubled Horse are Martin Heppich (Guitar / Vocals), Jens Henriksson (Drums / Percussion), Ola Henriksson (Bass / Back-up vocals), and John Hoyles (Guitar / Back-up vocals), and some of you might recognize a few of them as being former and current members of Swedish doom/hard rock sensations Witchcraft. Though there are some obvious similarities with both bands, Troubled Horse also draw influence from '60s acts like The Doors, MC5, and The Animals as well as Black Sabbath, Pentagram, Dust, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, and Grand Funk Railroad.
Plenty of melodic guitar textures here as well as heavy riffs on tunes like "Sleep In Your Head", "Tainted Water", and "Bring My Horses Home", while "Another Man's Name" is a groove laden thumper that boils and toils just like classic Thin Lizzy and UFO, complete with sizzling lead guitar work. "Shirleen" is another rampaging beast, which reminds me of early Pentagram, and "Don't Lie" and "I've Been Losing" both channel those late '60s psychedelic hard rock sounds, dripping with tasty guitar licks and haunting organ.
Step Inside is another great new retro hard rock release for all those who have feasted on recent albums from Witchcraft, Graveyard, Horisont, Captain Crimson, and Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell. It would have easily made my Best of 2012 had I not heard it so late in the year.
Track Listing
1. Tainted Water
2. Bring My Horses Home
3. Sleep in Your Head
4. Another Man's Name
5. All Your Fears
6. One Step Closer to My Grave
7. Shirleen
8. As You Sow
9. Don't Lie
10. I've Been Losing
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