TROUBLE - Simple Mind Condition

Twelve years from the previous album is quite something, isn’t it, so I had expected a come-back to rock my world from the American doom, or “white” doom band. This wasn’t exactly the case. Simple Mind Condition is not a killer album, nevertheless it is still worthy of attention. Why? Because of its compact, heavy, oppressive sound, never quite reaching the edge of depression. It is not an album to cut your wrists to, but a meditative and introspective piece, made by artists who know their instruments well. On After the Rain, the solo is simply hypnotic, and Arthur Brown's Whiskey Bar and Simple Mind Condition, with their psychedelic touch, are surprising presences. At the edge of hippy we encounter Ride the Sky, and Mindbender is a Trouble trademark, resembling the old productions the most. In places, the album sounds antiquated, while in other places it becomes a bit monotonous, but overall Simple Mind Condition is a mature album of a mature band, who hasn’t forgotten how to say things – along the doom line that started with Black Sabbath, but parting ways with them a long time ago. And, don’t forget: hell is only a state of mind.
(+) a solid, mature album with heavy riff, fitting bass lines and a voice that grabs you
(-) for fans, maybe this isn’t exactly the come-back they had been hoping for; some of the song seem a bit dusty

Mad Nota: 8