ALBUM REVIEW: Opus Armada – Trident Waters

It’s an obvious statement that for a massive chunk of bands in the last couple of years, releasing music has been hard going. With setback after setback, TRIDENT WATERS have finally managed to release their debut full-length record Opus Armada, bringing in some classic rock vibes with plenty of blues swagger, that fans of their previous EP releases have been chomping at the bit to listen to.

“Love is the future”. It’s a line we can all get behind and the heart of the message in first track Change The Future. Good rock vibes are a must from the off here, with some awesome solo skills on show. Likewise, first single Control The Animal has a good amount of swagger and Chris Cornell-esque vocals. There’s some very BON JOVI style elements in there too, its chorus of voices all banding together with plenty of harmonies.

There’s a nice mix of a variety of influences throughout Opus Armada, displaying a spectrum of classic rock tropes to satisfy every whim of fans of the genre. Wings Of Love has some lazy afternoon energy, kicking back with a beer outside with friends or driving down country roads. Similarly, Seven Weeks leans into the softer pacing and the classic rise and fall of country music, while keeping this very rock and roll. There’s an Eric Clapton style confidence to the playing, and a mastery of all things blues that doesn’t come up too often in this day and age. What strikes as the best part of Opus Armada is how soulfully it’s played, giving enough room for everything to breathe, not to mention how the heart-on-your-sleeve lyrics really come across as heartfelt and honest.

If there’s a highlight it must be Wrecking Ball with its lovely little trumpet section that brings a big band feel and makes that smooth blues style really shine. The sense of fun and punch are what brings out the best in TRIDENT WATERS, and that’s where people are really going to connect to these songs.

Extended lengths beyond the radio friendly three and a half minutes can be the making or breaking of a song. Thankfully, Major League has that southern rock sense of swing and dramatic, rolling hooks that makes the five or so minutes fly by. Again, it’s all in the passion of the vocals and the playing which is very tasty in places. However, on the opposite end, Pack You Up is a little too formulaic to turn heads, and doesn’t grab with any massive sense of fun or swagger, instead plodding along inoffensively.

Overall, Opus Armada is a solid, fun album with lots of memorable licks and shout worthy choruses. It’s as much a party record as any album you’d hear, pulling repeat listens with honest musicianship that will entice classic rock fans young and old.

Rating: 7/10

Opus Armada is set for release on October 15th via Roulette Records.

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