Since we had here a bigger coverage on the last official release of the legendary German Dark-Electro-cult-project Trial and their epic 30-years-anniversary-release "Für Zwei" (3CD + DVD), here: https://chaindlk.com/reviews/11676 , I guess it is almost unnecessary to delve deeper into any small detail out of this project's bio with respect to this new Trilogy release called "Forced Perspective". It's the long-awaited official full-length debut album by this duo from Germany as Trilogy is simply the project established out of the ashes of Trial after the sudden split of the musician Erick Miotke with the vocalist Torsten Schröder. Side by side with his new vocalist Jens Müller, Erick has never thought about to quit, no, he always worked hard to push forward the things around his and now their mutual music career under the new pseudonym Trilogy.

After spending some studio time to check out mutual interests, skills and to come to satisfying results for them both, they already started to release mostly smaller limited, self-produced EP's since 2013. Also several well-perceived live gigs at highly recognized events like the WGT Warm-up, Familientreffen, or the E-only- / NCN-festivals this duo has already performed with the expected euphoric reactions by their audience. It has always been a good idea to perform new interpretations of some Trial-classics like "Blut und Eisen" or "Is it Worth It?" combined with the new Trilogy compositions. Additionally they could hire the former Oomph!-drummer Christian "Leo" Leonhardt to add a massive punch- and pressure-impact to their live performances. Leo has to be seen as being the third official band-member of Trilogy.

As this is once again a quite typical release format from EAR (= Electro Aggression Records) also this Trilogy-release comes out as a jam-packed 2CD release filled on both CDs with almost 80 minutes of playing time each. CD1 - the "Forced Perspective"-side, features the main album which collects on one hand the already released EP-tracks back since 2013 with such club smasher-tracks like "Combat Surfer", "Entombed Love", "Seeking", or "Someone Inside", but also some newer and undiscovered tracks like the title track, "Tension", "Waves" or "Conclusion". Especially the rather older tracks are representing the leading scenario and general tone of this album. Trilogy are about to pick up a rather modern sounding path which reminds a bit that style which the often underrated second Trial-album "Secret Pain" (1994) has left for good.

It is lesser the mystic, deep-dark haunting mood of the early Trial-days at best performed on "Zero Feeling", "Forced Perspective" instead rather tends to speed the things up and especially the more club-friendly tracks offer a raw EBM-inspired impression to the general sound outfit. The organic pressure can be also pretty much recognized with the "live" drumming, even with respect to the fact, that Erick has programmed himself, looped and sampled from various real drum set resources - also this reminds stylistically on several tracks already discovered on "Secret Pain". This real-drumming-influence combined with the angry and raging vocal performance of Jens Müller stands for the charme and diversity of this album. Thanks to Jens and his impact these fast-paced, pretty much old-school-EBM-influenced tracks are sounding fresh, energetic and intense enough produced to leave out the often expected "darkness" in the term of a Dark Electro-band. If you're on the hunt for another highly Puppy-inspired follow-up album often perceived with the back-catalogue of the EAR-label, then Trilogy won't feed you well.

As for highlights presented on this album, "Combat Surfer" does pretty well with its militaristic attitude, well chosen voice-samples, and the well-perceived programming routine, although it's one of the oldest tracks produced by this duo. "Conclusion" with its highly remarkable programmed synthesizer-pads services you well if you're looking for a more layered and relaxed sound expression - to me this is the most outstanding tune on here.

Relatively compareable with that more layered sound-outfit we have the ominous sounding tracks like "Swamp" or "Waves", while that moody tune "Surface Scan" surprises with the guest vocal performance provided by the legendary German radio moderator Ecki Stieg (Grenzwellen). "Scherben" with its shattered-glass-samples then comes up with German lyrics. Also worth to mention is the brooding "Seeking" with its electric-guitar-inserts into the whole track.

The second CD called "Alternative Perspective" then offers the same track list again with the difference that Trilogy could make it possible to get remix-collaborations done by foreign band projects. Some well-sounding names out of the international EBM- / Dark Electro-/ Industrial-scene have been invited (for example Project Pitchfork, Mildreda, AD Key, Digital Factor, Second Disease, etc.) side by side with the expected protagonists of the EAR roster like R010R, Pyrroline, Serpents, or T.A.N.K.. They are all united here just to offer their best abilities to provide... well... alternative perspectives on the Trilogy-tracks.

Although to consume the pure mass of almost 80 minutes playing time on both CD's each can become challenging, I find myself quite often starting to compare if the original composition or the remix does fit better with me and my personal taste. The french project Brain Leisure earns a lot of agreeing nodding with their much darker, almost FLA-sounding remix on "Alienized". Terminal State had the one of the hardest jobs on here with the pretty well produced "Conclusion" - but what they've worked out of a fantastic hypnotic-, dark-space-sounding tune of thisclassy track leaves the listener deeply impressed.

R010R is another winner here and Michael Renfield gives us again that punchy and noisy vibe discovered on the last album "Total Disinformation Awareness" with the remix on "Masked". A rather softer interpretation with some calm and catchy underlaying piano drops comes from Project Pitchfork on "Waves" - and this one does really well here. "Waves" isn't for sure the hardest Trilogy-tune in its original - but this skilful produced remix is a real gem on here and slows down the mood. Mildreda are doing some nice things in the Dark Electro-field with their last releases signed to the German Dependent and offer a solid interpretation of the raw sounding "Tension", although this time without unexpected surprises. Finally Villaborghese - and here we have Erick Miotke's side-project with his partner Friedhelm Kranz (we had them on here with a few reviews...) - give us a pretty dense, sample-based filmic outro tune with "Turmoil Over".

It was indeed about time to collect the last years active under the Trilogy moniker and this professional pressed DCD set impresses in all categories regarding quality. The main album has enough food to offer for the club- and dancefloor-fetishists, while the listening connoisseur won't be left unimpressed too. The remix companion sums it up perfectly and has the one or another surprising sound-pearl to offer. Full force - full force ahead, go and get it.