AM I IN TROUBLE? - Album Announcement & "White" Track Premiere

Cover artwork for "White"

Written by: The Administrator
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​This year, I made the acquaintance of one Steve Wiener. An enthusiastic metal twitter hypeman and a fantastic musician to boot, Steve has a real knack for making music that matches my specific interests to a frankly uncanny degree. I've previously reviewed tracks from his doom/post-metal/etc. band Negative Bliss here and here, and more recently spent some quality time with Steve's new solo outfit. This project--the alluringly monikered Am I in Trouble?--is the subject of today's conversation.

​In my writeup of the notably excellent "Red," I said that Am I in Trouble? "reeked of potential." We are on the brink of witnessing that potential realized. On that note, I am tickled pink to officially announce the forthcoming debut album from Am I in Trouble? Entitled Spectrum, this colorful 31 minute 7 track project is a love letter to "the eclecticism and experimentation displayed in the early-to-mid 2000s avantgarde black metal explosion." Intentionally utilizing a broad sonic palette and boasting a bevy of guest collaborators, Spectrum will release Jan. 3rd of 2025.

In describing the project, Steve explicitly highlights the artists that serve as inspiration: "Spectrum is deeply influenced by the works of bands such Borknagar, Solefald, Code, Vintersorg, Arcturus, Dødheimsgard, and Thy Catafalque." That said, an encyclopedic knowledge of this particular era and sound is not required--I, for one, am certainly no expert. Am I in Trouble? has created a sonic playground that allows for a wide range of expression, and from what I have heard of the album, this flexibility is a great strength. If any of this sounds interesting, a pre-order opens today exclusively over on the freshly launched Ampwall, a very cool platform that we slumbering scribes shall be discussing in greater depth in good time. This is a prime opportunity to both check out a spiffy new platform and nab a pre-order for an album that will inevitably set a high bar very early next year.

But that's not all! Along with this announcement comes--as with all quality announcements--an absolutely bangin' single. "White," presented below, is an incredible track that marries progressive tendencies with a sun-bathed warmth. Give it a listen! As always, we'll be waiting on the other side.

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From the jump, this track sounds stellar. Some airy flutes courtesy of Ember Belladonna set the stage for the delightfully triumphant guitar and subsequent clean vocals. Across the breadth, every acoustic flourish is crisp and dazzling; a genuine sonic delight. There's a dramatic sense of grandeur that weaves through the track, affording the 6 minute runtime a distinctly narrative quality. In this sense, both the flute and the melodic choir that appear throughout take on a de facto role of narrator, a consistent voice that works to center the track as it moves from idea to idea. As with every song I've heard that Steve is attached to, there exists a deliberate ebb and flow pulling the listener through the track. "White" features distinct chapters, and it's clear that significant thought has been put into the transitions between acts. 

​"White" is bright and cheery, and even the sparse blackened vocals feel sunny. Ember Belladonna's aforementioned flute is a highlight, complimenting the subtle synths while both establishing and maintaining a breezy vibe. As a self-avowed flute fanboy, I'm very happy to see the instrument get some time in the limelight--it feels elegant in a nonchalant way. 

​Some songs are simply a joy to listen to, and "White" is very much so one such song. But by this point, I've listened on repeat like 15 times in a row, so it may be time to sum things up. On the basis of this track and "Red," which will appear in a remastered and revised form on the album, color me very excited for ​Spectrum.

​I have nothing left to say but to encourage you to A. mark your calendars for Jan. 3rd, B. enjoy "White" above, and C. check out that pre-order!

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The track list for Spectrum is as follows:

1) Yellow (ft. Ember Belladonna)
2) White (ft. Ember Belladonna)
3) Red (Spectrum edition)
4) Pink (ft. Jonathan Hernandez of Negative Bliss)
5) Blue (ft. Paul Shryock of Negative Bliss)
6) Black (ft. Alex Loach of Ashenheart)
7) Green (ft. Ember Belladonna)

Am I in Trouble - Spectrum will be released Jan 3rd, 2025.

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Am I in Trouble? can be found:
Bandcamp
Twitter
Instagram
Ampwall