Should we trust TR/ST?

If you consider yourself a fan of TR/ST, you might be confused by their newest single. And not in the way that you would expect to be confused by an artist like TR/ST.

Robert Alfons, the face of TR/ST, has become known for his gritty and nasally vocals that sizzle below his buzzy dark electropop production. The turbulence of a processed voice moaning out indistinguishable lyrics accompanied by experimental synth makes TR/ST stand out from his darkwave aligned peers. Describing the music in words almost makes it sound unpleasant, but the complex sounds are soaked in such vulnerable emotions that the listener can’t help but feel connected to the sonic explosions. TR/ST may sound industrial, but it’s never mechanical. Alfons’ raw aesthetic seemed to have peaked with the release of the 2017 singles “Bicep” and “Destroyer,” tracks that lend well to a night of spiraling and tortured thoughts. The single led fans to believe that an album would be coming later that year, but they were met with deafening silence from Alfons and his collaborators.

Yesterday, almost two years later, it was announced that TR/ST would be dropping a two-part album titled The Destroyer — 1 on April 19th, and The Destroyer — 2 later this year. This will be the first full-length album since 2014’s Joyland. In a press release for Billboard, Alfons shared that, “after the first and second record and touring, I was really sort of depleted and I definitely needed to regroup.” Along with the announcement came the release of the new single titled “Gone.” Because fans were using “Bicep” as an insinuation to what the new record would sound like, the single received mixed reviews. TR/ST’s Facebook page was flooded with fans lamenting about the “new direction” and how it “sounds too clean and lacks the trademark TR/ST darkness.”

Within the first few seconds of the song, its intentions and vibe are straightforward. Alfons’ nasal vocals are replaced with smooth phrases, and every lyric is articulated clearly. If “Bicep” was frenzied and absorbed in its own suffering, “Gone” is its calm, collected, and self-reflective counterpart. As with everything TR/ST produces, this stark contrast is intentional. Not wanting to overwhelm listeners with a 16 song tracklist, Alfons decided to split the project down the middle. The Destroyer — 1 will be more “uptempo” and frivolous, while The Destroyer — 2 will feature more gloom-ridden sounds. Rather than taking TR/ST in a new direction, Alfons might just be taking the project into several directions, new and old. Hopefully, there will be something for everyone.

TR/ST will be in San Francisco on May 17th at Great American Music Hall. Tickets go on sale Friday, 2/8 at 10 am.

Article by Rebekah Gonzalez