Formed in 1982, Tröjan went through several significant changes before releasing their album "Chasing the Storm" in 1985. During the first few years, the original lineup, which included Pete Wadeson on guitar, faced member replacements and challenges in producing demos. However, these difficulties did not prevent the band from gaining notoriety in the underground heavy metal scene, especially after the inclusion of one of their tracks on the historic compilation "Metal for Maniaxe".

From 1983 onwards, drastic changes in the lineup led Pete to reform the band with new members, which resulted in a renewed and acclaimed sound on "Chasing the Storm". After the initial success of the album, the band faced problems with management and the record label, which led to a new name change to Taliön and the continuation of their musical projects.

Recently, "Chasing the Storm" was re-released by Hellion Records Brazil, accompanied by a bonus disc with a live show at the Dynamo Club in 1986. In the interview you are about to read, Pete shared his satisfaction in revisiting this material and revealed that the band is working on new songs for an upcoming album.

Marcelo Vieira

I'd like to start by asking you to talk a bit about Tröjan's journey since its formation in 1982 until the release of "Chasing the Storm" in 1985. The band went through several lineup changes before recording the album. Also, the band's experience in producing demos over those three years?

Obviously before forming Tröjan, I had been playing guitar a while so as soon as I could play good enough – well when I thought it sounded good enough – I got together with friends that played other instruments.

In fact. like so many other bands of the time we simply got together as a bunch of teenage friends who were fans of rock and metal music and just decided to 'give it a go' and even from their earliest rehearsals, we began writing our own material.

Now, the original line-up of Tröjan comprised me on guitar, Dave 'Kenny' Kenyon (vocals), Andy Halliwell (guitar), Brian 'Benny' Bentham (bass) and Mick Taylor (drums). However, during this fledgling period, Mick was soon to be replaced by Carl Bretherton on the drum stool.

It wasn't long before we had enough original songs to do our first demo tracks. Amazingly out of what was the band's first time in a recording studio became what went onto become known as "The Official 5-Track Cassette EP" that is so sought after on the metal underground even to this day.

The music was raw, catchy, and heavily riff driven and due to us sending the tape to as many fanzines and magazines as possible we soon became noticed on the heavy metal underground scene both at home and abroad.

Incidentally, for fact fiends - The tape also brought the band to the attention of Ebony Records which resulted in us re-recording 'Premonition' which was featured on the compilation album "Metal for Maniaxe" released in '82. So, you could say, initial interest in us happened quite fast.

By mid-1983 the 'Cassette EP' had sold 3000 copies, during which time the band had gigged extensively throughout the UK including supporting major bands. So, it's not surprisingly that at this point the word on Tröjan really did begin to spread.

By late '83 the band had a drastic lineup change can you tell me more about that and what happened. How did this influence Tröjan's sound and style for the album's release?

Yeah, things I thought were going well but by the end of 1983 a lack of positive record company interest, coupled with the yearning by various members of the band to pursue other musical directions or careers outside of music resulted in the band virtually dissolving overnight.

This left only myself to carry on – however due to the considerable interest that had been shown towards the band from fans and press throughout Europe and beyond I was totally determined the name and musical style we'd created would carry on.

I first met the bassist Eddie Martin, who was someone who was known and respected on the local rock scene at the time. Then it was because he knew and recommended vocalist Graeme Wyatt and drummer Sam Hall. They'd all played in bands together prior to me meeting them and thankfully on our first rehearsal of some old tracks we just gelled. This is where Tröjan became the beast most are familiar with as in Graeme, I found not only a great vocalist but a songwriting partner. That's why there's so much difference between the original 5-piece line-up and the one that wrote and recorded 'Chasing the Storm'.

Is there an interesting story behind the band's name and the choice to add a diaeresis over the "O" in "Tröjan"?

Unfortunately, not! When we first began, I just thought the name was ideal for a metal band so that was that. The double 'dots' over the O in the name just made it look more metal. It was basically nicked from Motorhead who as everyone will know used it first and again it looks cool and looked metal (laughs).

"Chasing the Storm" features melodic elements amidst the speed and power of the songs. How did you balance these elements during the composition and recording process of the album?

Nothing was a conscious decision, Due to the massive lineup change obviously a lot of dynamics changed. Especially the vocals because as Graeme has a much larger vocal range than our previous singer it allowed us to explore avenues of metal music we couldn't before. That's how the songs had more melody in them or maybe I should say the vocal sections. However, riff wise I was still writing fast yet catchy riffs.

As for the songs themselves, the riffs just came out the way they did, which was basically influenced by the true NWOBHM bands such as Saxon, Tygers Of Pan Tang and a host of others yet with more speed and power than most plus my own individual style of playing.

There're even some punk influences in there. But even so, we had and still have a sound of our own that's for sure.

In fact, as time had passed, it was just a natural progression of my songwriting, and obviously again due to Graeme's voice the power really kicked in plus we had a very solid rhythm section in Eddie Martin and Sam Hall.

The album "Chasing the Storm" is praised for its title track. What inspired this specific song and how did it stand out during the composition and recording process?

Strangely enough it was one of the last tracks we wrote and recorded for the album. Basically, it's inspired by the ethos of never giving up and staying strong and basically chasing your dream until you achieve it. Sounds deeper an analysis than the process of writing it. Also, in that respect I think it showed we were in the speed metal category and during recording it didn't particularly stand out as all the tracks on the album have their own merit. But thanks for the kind words on that song. To this day it's still a live favourite. On the festivals we've been doing since reforming such as Keep It True in Germany and Muskelrock in Sweden in 2023 it's been amazing to see lots of kids and of course the diehard older metalheads singing along to every word.

Is there any connection between the album title and the cover featuring elements like bats, gallows, and references to Satan?

Well, we gave our ideas to Roadrunner, which were all totally ignored. There are no references to Satan, the gallows - so in actuality the album cover doesn't really reflect the music on the album.

Back then they weren't the label they are today. In fact, we only first saw the album cover when it was released. It bears no association with the title, does it?

However, a lot of people especially now consider it to be a classic cover. At the time we weren't that happy with it, but obviously it was too late to change anything! I don't know the name of the artist, but I've been told quite recently it was a piece of artwork done by a person who worked doing the covers for books on horror stories. But looking at it now, it's got the look of an old 60's horror film poster about it don't you think?

"Chasing the Storm" was well received, especially in continental Europe. How was the band's experience at the time of the album's release?

We knew we'd created a strong and individual sounding album but didn't expect the number of great reviews it got and the praise it receives to this very day. You could say we got it right with the very first roll of the dice and man are we thankful.

After the relative success of the album "Chasing the Storm," the band faced some significant changes. Is there any specific reason behind the decision to disband after the release of the album "Chasing the Storm," and how was the transition process to individual projects?

Everything went haywire with the business side of things or to be more specific we had bad management and a label who gave us no financial support to tour so to continue we had to part ways with them which back then meant a change of name. It wasn't something we wanted or ever intended to do but these things unfortunately happen.

As you mention individual projects, I think you refer to my instrumental guitar work that I'd demo'd in the past and it finally got remastered and put out on CD. The album's entitled 'Metallic Savage' and any shred head would be advised to check it out. That came out last year on Sonic Age Records/Cult Metal Classics.

In fact, both 'Chasing the Storm' and 'Killing the World' were remastered and reissued on CD and vinyl by that label before it got picked up under license to be released in South America by Hellion Records.

After reemerging as Taliön in 1988, you released the album "Killing the World" through Major Records in 1989. What led to the name change and how did this album differ from Tröjan's previous work?

Basically, what happened is this. The band (Tröjan) at the time were in flux, we'd left Roadrunner and went into Twilight Sound Studios in Manchester to record a two-track demo – obviously to try to get label interest. We'd thought of a few new names for the band but within a matter of a few weeks - we firmly decided on the name Taliön. We did that due to the similarity with the previous band name Tröjan because we were most known and as musicians associated with that band.

Anyway, as Taliön we went on to record another three tracks, put them with the two tracks previously recorded and began to distribute a 5-Track demo in the hope of securing a deal and hopefully still appealing to the fan base as Tröjan we'd fought long and hard to build up.

The music is rightly seen more as power/thrash metal with melody rather than the more straight down the road speed metal-based music of the previous band.

This was very much due to the addition of Johnny Lee Jackson due to his incredible double bass drum work which really drives the riffs.

We did well. even earning we album of the month in Metal Hammer UK and played in Eastern Europe many times.

How would you describe Tröjan's legacy within the NWOBHM scene, and what do you believe is the lasting impact of the album "Chasing the Storm"?

The word legacy is a very powerful one – but I'd say that many know this. We had so much originality, potential and were terribly overlooked due to being unfairly treated by label and management. As for the lasting impact – I think that speaks for itself as the tracks on the album sound as relevant now as they did when first recorded. And even to this day people hail it as a classic.

Something we feel is an honour!

"Chasing the Storm" has been reissued by Hellion Records Brazil with a bonus disc of the band's show at the Dynamo Club in Eindhoven in 1986. How was it revisiting this material after all these years?

It's been a great experience. The songs have certainly stood the test of time, and we couldn't be happier with how things have happened, and due to Hellion Records were now able to have our product available in South America.

The live show at the Dynamo Club in Eindhoven was captured shortly before the band's breakup. How was that performance, and what does it mean for you in terms of the band's legacy?

The gig at the Dynamo was only our second gig in mainland Europe.

But thankfully we got a tape straight off the sound desk. No way did we think all these years later it'd end up being released on CD. As for what it means to us in terms of legacy – well everybody who was anybody as a metal band played the Dynamo Club back in the day, so it's an honour, we have a piece of metal history recorded for all to hear.

Hellion Records Brazil has been praised for rescuing "lost" bands from the NWOBHM era and re-releasing their albums in a special way. How was it working with the label during the reissue process of "Chasing the Storm," and what do you think of the result?

Hellion are a great label and working with them was a great pleasure. And very much we're pleased with the result as besides the twin disc you get a comprehensive booklet including lyrics plus a mini poster. In fact, I'm sure you must also know they also reissued Taliön's debut album 'Killing the World' which also came out with a live CD (recorded at the Plovdiv Amphitheatre in Bulgaria), comprehensive booklet including lyrics and as with Chasing the Storm – a mini-poster.

With the reissue of "Chasing the Storm" and the re-release of live material, do you have plans to do reunion shows or new musical projects as Tröjan?

Yes, and we've already done quite a few European festivals with more confirmed for later this year. This is not a nostalgia trip for us so I'm proud to confirm we're currently writing and rehearsing new material for another Tröjan album. I think people are going to be very surprised. In fact, there's only myself and Graeme left from the last line up.

Completing the band now are Ste Anks on bass and Dave Edwards on drums. An amazing drummer and backbone for the band once again.

As for future tours we'd love to be able to get over to South America to play, especially Brazil that has always been a country that has musically accepted us.

For fans wanting to purchase a copy of the "Chasing the Storm" reissue, do you have any final message or consideration you'd like to share?

Well, the Hellion release is a limited edition, so I'd say grab one while stocks last as they won't be disappointed. Also, I'd personally like to thank the fans in Brazil and the whole of South America. We have a lot who follow the band page on Facebook from your country.

Also, many thanks for taking the time and effort to interview me and I must add I've very fond memories of Rock Brigade from wat back because they not only always took an interest in us but I eventually for a time began doing band interviews and album reviews as I became their UK correspondent at the time after Taliön broke up.

So, I thank you once again and say stay metal our friends, keep following us on Facebook and wait for the new chapter of the band because it's only just begun.

Footnote:

Since doing this interview with Pete, the band have played the Helicon Festival in Poland to rave reviews and are playing the Headbangers Open Air Festival in Germany in July. They'll be playing the Old Grave festival in Romania in October, the Metalcova Festival in Spain in November and as Pete said previously there's plenty more to come.

Also, of note and of great importance, the highly respected UK independent label Cherry Red Records/Dissonance Records have just released a 5-disc box set containing special remastered versions of the Tröjan and Taliön albums plus the live recordings but one of the discs contains previously unreleased and some rare demo material which is available now internationally.

Also, collectors take note as the original tracks that appeared on 'Chasing the Storm' will be released this year in the same format as the original album for the very first time as a very limited edition on cassette in Sweden via Jawbreaker Records.