Group
Trouble
US doom metal
- From
- Aurora, United States
- Since
- 1979–present
- Rating
- ★ 4.5
- Releases
- 22
- doom metal
- heavy metal
- traditional doom metal
About
Trouble is an American doom metal band from Chicago, Illinois, formed in 1978. They are often considered one of the pioneers of doom metal, and have been referred to as one of the genre's "big four" alongside Candlemass, Pentagram and Saint Vitus. The band created a distinct style, taking influences of the British heavy metal bands Black Sabbath and Judas Priest, and psychedelic rock of the 1960s.
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Trouble's first two albums, Psalm 9 and The Skull, are cited as landmarks of doom metal. To date, they have released eight studio albums. Although never officially disbanded, they went inactive after original singer Eric Wagner left in 1997. He rejoined in 2000 and left again eight years later; he was first replaced by Kory Clarke and then by current vocalist Kyle Thomas, who had also filled in for Wagner during his initial absence from Trouble. Eric Wagner died in 2021.
Core members include Wagner, guitarists Rick Wartell and Bruce Franklin, and drummer Jeff Olson. Early lyrics had a spiritual nature; Metal Blade Records initially marketed Trouble as "white metal" (in contrast to the rising black metal movement) in the 1980s.
Members
-
Bruce Franklin electric guitar
-
Rick Wartell electric guitar
-
Kyle Thomas lead vocals
-
Rob Hultz bass guitar
-
Chuck Robinson electric guitar
-
Dave Snyder drums (drum set)
-
Jeff Olson membranophone
-
Eric Wagner lead vocals
-
Sean McAllister bass guitar
-
Ron Holzner membranophone
-
Daniel Long keyboard
-
Ted Kirkpatrick membranophone
-
Barry Stern membranophone
-
Kory Clarke lead vocals
Discography
Albums
Links
Official
Social
Concerts
Also known as
Trouble (Metal)
Identifiers
- MusicBrainz
- 2bfd6269-90a6-405e-8ce2-db6ad23a489c
- ISNI
- 0000000106651670
Data from MusicBrainz, saved 7 Nov 2026. Photo from Wikimedia Commons, covers from the Cover Art Archive and Apple Music.