In 2022 Canada’s Comeback Kid released the sensational “Heavy Steps”. A record that when I reviewed it, I said: “Bands who are 20 years into their career aren’t supposed to sound this angry, or downright menacing…. with “Heavy Steps”, Comeback Kid have produced arguably the record of their careers.”
Now, the world is an even worse spot than it was then, but they’ve decided a line is to be drawn in the sand. With “Trouble”, the band reckon they set out to create an almost palette cleanser from past material, leaning more upbeat, but still carrying the hard-hitting aggression they’re known for.
It’s a good job they added in the last bit, because these four songs are moshpit-ready from the Off, “Trouble In The Winners Circle” is everything that Comeback Kid have been. This is a gang. You don’t want to cross them. Trouble happily follows them about.
“Disruption” is three minutes exactly. That’s where similarities with pop songs end. There’s so much going on here, that honestly, it shouldn’t work. That it does is a testament to the skill on show.
They’ve always had a heavier edge than most of their more obvious peers – they’ve still got it. “Chompin’ At The Bit” (which is one song longer than its predecessor as if to prove a point) makes it plain, walking the fine line between metal and punk adeptly, as well as having tinges of The Bronx about them.
While this four-song journey ends with “Breaking And Bruised” a more mellifluous journey, but with scant regard for rules of usual engagement.
It’ll be interesting to see whether this is a bridge or a line in the sand and whether what comes next is markedly different. Either way as a 12-minute knee trembler “Trouble” will do just fine.
Rating 8/10
