The band Trivax has quite a turbulent history. Originally founded in Tehran, Iran, in 2009, the group quickly ran into trouble with the authorities – hardly surprising, given that Black Metal, or Metal in general, is far from welcome there.
Their very first performance, held at a school, spiraled completely out of control when the audience set the venue on fire. Not long after, founder Shayan S decided to leave Iran behind and relocated to the United Kingdom, where he re-formed Trivax from the ground up.
Fourteen years later, the band has now delivered their third full-length album, released through the French label Osmose Productions.
That Trivax holds little regard for Islam becomes immediately apparent from the album cover. I instantly recognized the features of Ruhollah Khomeini, the former spiritual leader of Iran, staring back at me. In the background, the dome of a mosque can also be seen. Some may argue that such imagery goes too far, but the question inevitably arises: why are anti-Christian lyrics and visuals tolerated, yet when it comes to Islam, suddenly they are not?
Shayan, of course, has every right to voice his opinion on Islam in Iran, having personally experienced the weight of oppression up close. But enough of that – let’s return to what truly matters here: the music.
What we are presented with is Black Metal infused with Oriental influences, wrapped in a thick and heavy production that at times recalls the early works of Dissection. Yet this is far from one-dimensional: a darker strain of Death Metal also rears its head, and when fused with the Eastern tonalities it creates a distinctive atmosphere – different from what we’re used to, and in many ways refreshing.
The lyrics shift between Iraqi/Persian and English, and the compositions strike a balance of aggression, complexity, and technical precision. This is evident right from the opener Atash, and especially in the title track The Great Satan, which even features a chilling excerpt from Khomeini’s infamous 1979 speech.
All in all, The Great Satan is a very strong album – varied, powerful, and intriguing. It may not be raw, primitive Black Metal, but it offers something far more distinctive and thought-provoking.
90/100
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