Chicago metal legends TROUBLE return with their first album since Simple Mind Condition, released in 2007. The album, entitled The Distortion Field, features 13 tracks and will be released by FRW Records in North America on July 16th, and in Europe on July 26th.

The Distortion Field makes history in the Trouble camp through the band's acquisition of a new lead vocalist, Kyle Thomas of EXHORDER and FLOODGATE fame.

Commenting on new vocalist Thomas, Trouble founder and guitarist Rick Wartell says: "Kyle is one of the most impressive singers I've ever heard, and by far the most extraordinary singer I've ever had the pleasure of working with. He's got incredible range, incredible power, and an incredible knowledge of Trouble, as he's been a fan for 20-something years. We've known him forever, and he innately understands what Trouble is about. He's like the perfect guy to come in and do this job. It's awesome."

Veteran Music Producer Bill Metoyer is once again lending his expertise, having previously worked with the band on The Skull and Trouble, both Metal Blade releases.

'Sink Or Swim'
'Paranoid Conspiracy'
'Glass Of Lies'
'The Grey Chill Of Autumn'
'When The Sky Comes Down'
'Butterflies'
'Your Reflections'
'Have I Told You'
'The Apple From The Snake'
'Hunters Of Doom'
'Sucker'
'The Broken Have Spoken'

"Musically, I think this album is a true Trouble record.", states Wartell. "In the early days, we used to just write what we felt and didn't really care about what anyone said. We just wrote heavy riffs and played our music our way. But outside influences can kind of get a hold of you and start telling you what to do. When we were writing this album, the thinking was, we don't care what anybody thinks. We're going to write what we write. So this is basically a return to our roots, while combining some reflections of our band's long history as well. With the two different music writers, Bruce and myself, we have a slight variation in our writing; Bruce has more of a '70s groove to his writing, and I'm more the old school doomy metal thing. And when you put it together, you get Trouble."

This is according to their facebook account
"Coming in June Rolling Stone India #Metal Issue. Interview with Trouble's Rick Wartell & Bruce Franklin. Trouble (band) #trouble #doom"
https://www.facebook.com/TroubleChicago ... arget_id=0
okay, okay, it's Rolling Stone India but still.....



Veteran producer Bill Metoyer (SLAYER, W.A.S.P., ARMORED SAINT, DARK ANGEL, SACRED REICH, CRYPTIC SLAUGHTER, D.R.I.) is currently mixing new album from Chicago doom-metal legends TROUBLE for a tentative summer release.

Comments the band: "We'd like to thank everyone for their enthusiasm and patience in waiting on the new album. It's definitely been a long road, but we are getting close now and a lot is going on.

"The tracks are with the legendary Bill Metoyer who worked with us on 'The Skull' and 'Trouble'. Tones are sounding killer. Vocals great. Drums rock solid.

"We're looking at a summer release date and will announce all of the details when the information is available. While that happens, work is being done on the album artwork which is looking incredible. We're also developing our new website and if that wasn't enough, some new merchandise items as well.

"So, with all of this going on, we do our best to stay in touch and apologize if we miss some questions and emails sent to us. Thanks again for all of your patience and support and know that we're working hard to deliver."

TROUBLE announced in February 2012 that it recruited Kyle Thomas as the band's new singer following the departure of the group's frontman of the previous four years, Kory Clarke (of WARRIOR SOUL fame).

Thomas, former lead vocalist for EXHORDER, FLOODGATE and ALABAMA THUNDERPUSSY, was no stranger to TROUBLE as he previously fronted the band for four live shows between 1997 and 1999, including Stoner Hands Of Doom festival in Maryland and Expo Of The Extreme in Chicago. Thomas has also collaborated on projects with members of SLIPKNOT, DOWN, OBITUARY and DEICIDE.

In an interview with Metal Kaoz, TROUBLE guitarist Bruce Franklin stated about Kyle's addition to the band, "We didn't need to change any of the [new] music [to suit Kyle's vocals]. He really knows how to sing to TROUBLE stuff because he was a fan from way back."

Added Kyle: "They had given me four songs to work on when I was jamming with them in anticipation of possibly doing the album that came to be 'Simple Mind Condition'. I did demo one song, but nothing I did ever made it to the album. Things turned out the way that they have between then and now, and here I am."

He continued, "Bruce and Rick [Wartell, guitar] have always been great to me as people and business partners. I was made to feel an equal back then, and the same goes for now. That is monumental for me — I grew up listening to these guys and now I am a member of one of my favorite bands. You can't beat that."

TROUBLE 2013 is:

Kyle Thomas: Vocals
Bruce Franklin: Guitar
Rick Wartell: Guitar
Shane Pasqualla: Bass
Mark Lira: Drums

who?

Misleading title. Who cares about Rolling Stone India?

With regards to Rolling Stone in North America, dose anyone ever read it anymore?

That's because they don't put TROUBLE in it.

Without Eric Wagner, who cares about Trouble anymore

Why not? I'm pretty sure that most of the music has always been written by Wartell and Franklin, and since this will be their first without Wagner it could easily go either way. Kyle Thomas filling in is a damn good replacement too.

EDIT: Wikipedia is telling my that their stuff follows the typical singer+both guitarists formula of song-writing. I'd imagine that he contributed more lyrically than musically, however, but maybe I'm wrong.

Indeed.
If you look at a comparable band like Candlemass you can see that they have gone through a variety of singers over the years. Some of those eras I like better than others, but Trouble is perfectly capable of making a good / great record without Eric. The same goes for Eric with the SKULL / Blackfinger bands. He's also more than talented enough to come up with something good on his own. The same for Oly with Retrograve and whatever else he does.

It must be the issue written by jesus christ our lord and saviour.

I do. Kyle Thomas is a awesome replacement. He's been a Trouble fan forever and kicked ass live when he did the shows with Trouble in the late 1990s. And Franklin and Wartell always deliver the killer riffs

I'm hoping he's better than he was on those few 90s shows he did with the band. I am not a fan of what I heard from those shows, but that was on short notice and a long time ago.

Well... if he'd ever leave The Tavern, we could ask him.

Decent voice, total lack of presence. Destined to fail

My thing is that he has sung in different styles somewhat ever the years. I liked what he did in Alabama Thunderpussy, but I'm not an Exhorder fan at all. We shall see.

Interesting that they are using both Sucker and Hunters of Doom from when Kory was in the band.

Man, I want this album to kick ass so badly.

Thanks strangeways!!!!.....It's been so long since I've had anything to say on here, but this is worthy of a mention....I hope Kyle Thomas does well!!!.......got my Sabbath tickets!!!!!.... Jeff Hanneman has left us....can't wait to buy the new Trouble album in July!!!!!......

I'm really looking forward to this. I still think Eric is the only real singer for Trouble but I'm willing to give it a chance.
I have a lot more respect for Kyle Thomas' ability than I did for Kory Clarke's.