On Spectrum, the debut album from Am I in Trouble?, multi-instrumentalist Steve Wiener channels the restless creativity of early 2000s avant-garde black metal while carving a path uniquely his own. Releasing digitally on January 3, 2025, Spectrum thrives on its daring embrace of contrasts, melding chaos and precision, ferocity and melody, the experimental and the visceral.
Far from a mere homage, Spectrum distills the genre-defying spirit of its influences into something fresh. By incorporating collaborative guest performances into a fundamentally solo vision, Steve showcases not just his versatility but the unexpected magic that collaboration can bring. From the relentless drumming of Chris Barber to the haunting flute contributions by Ember Belladonna, Spectrum offers a vivid musical tapestry.
Opening with “Yellow”, Ember Belladonna brings a folk-metal twist that leans into her flute arrangements. The song offers a soft and delicate start to Spectrum before “White” with its ethereal flute melody, also performed by Ember, weaves through a sparse yet ominous mood. The track serves as an unsettling overture, foreshadowing the album’s wide tonal shifts.
Inspired by the synth-driven works of Lars Nedland, the juxtaposition of acoustic textures with heavy, distorted riffs adds a refreshing depth to the album’s sonic palette. Whether it be tracks like “Pink” that fuse hardcore aggression with avant-garde arrangements and lyrics from Ася Плавскина to “Red” where Jonathan Hernandez’s vocals add visceral weight with Chris’ rhythmic dynamism pushing the boundaries of intensity.
With the blistering guitar work from Paul Shryrock in “Blue”, Alex Loach’s venomous shrieks in “Black” and the contemplative tone of “Green”, each song oscillates between scorching riffs and unexpected melodic undercurrents that reflect the album’s deliberately disparate ethos. There’s a cinematic edge of building tension before erupting into a cathartic release.
While Spectrum is a solo project at its core, its strength lies in its collaborative spirit of blending raw power with technical intricacy. The creative synergy gives Spectrum an organic richness that is rarely achieved by a party of one. The album is a cohesive yet unpredictable journey that is as colourful as its title suggests.
Art by Eva Darron (Factotum Design Co.)
