Trytan: Alliance: The Best Of Trytan | An Alliance To Rediscover
(2025 – Retroactive Records)
No, don’t worry. We’re not talking about “La Alianza” (an old coalition of political parties in Argentina that nearly brought the country to its knees in 2001), but rather the alliance behind the name Trytan—an old, largely forgotten band that was active in the late ’80s and early ’90s, along with a reunion in 2021. In any case, we’re talking about an alliance that truly worked and left us with several musical gems that can be summed up in three impeccable albums, from which this compilation—aptly titled “Alliance: The Best Of Trytan”—draws its material.
Just because it’s a compilation doesn’t mean it’s one of those albums where they simply throw in the tracks that work best or were “big hits” at the time; rather, each track was personally selected by Lary Dean himself—the driving force behind the band and the project, as well as Trytan’s primary songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist.
In that sense, “Alliance: The Best Of Trytan” is a great opportunity to explore the work of a band that, at the time, perhaps didn’t enjoy the spotlight of the White Metal scene, despite having impeccable material in terms of both composition and technical and sonic execution.
Trytan’s sound was a sort of fusion between ’70s and ’80s Hard Rock and Melodic Metal. This combination is tinged with progressive and technical elements, resulting in song after song that showcases a truly dazzling musical virtuosity—one that will appeal to those seeking that “spatial” sound of the late ’70s, reminiscent of Rush, Rainbow, or even Queensrÿche.
Of course, beyond the inevitable comparisons, Trytan gradually developed its own style with its own distinct personality, quite distinct from the mainstream musical trends of the era in which the band was active.
As one might expect, “Genesis” is the album’s opening track. Taken from their debut album (“Celestial Messenger”), it’s a lovely introduction that showcases Trytan in all their glory, with a highly orchestral and experimental vibe, a strong emphasis on guitars, smooth yet steady rhythms, and that distinctive background orchestration that ties the song’s various elements together.
“Mr. Electric” may well be one of Trytan’s classics, as it has everything it takes to be one. A hypnotic riff and a rock-driven, relentless march, paired with melodies and harmonies that truly move you; meanwhile, “It’s War” showcases a side much closer to traditional Heavy Metal with strong, direct guitar riffs that set the pace throughout.
But it’s with “Rip Van Winkle” that Trytan’s inclusion in the so-called progressive scene is most justified, while “Deadly Masquerade” once again demonstrates that Lary Dean carries traditional and Classic Metal deep within his essence, showcasing a polished combination of solid foundations and harmonious melodies.
“Beyond The Night” seems like a sort of ballad—slow, utterly atmospheric, and progressive, at least in its introduction—but it reveals the best Trytan has to offer: a song that moves the listener with its anthem-like quality, rooted in the most traditional elements of Heavy Metal and Hard Rock, and in the same vein, we should also mention “Make Your Move”, which, with its style and melody, takes us deep into the ’80s.
Next up is “Sylentiger”, with a much more progressive feel in its structure, though it maintains—both in its foundation and its drive—that connection to metal that makes Trytan a must-listen due to its distinctive sound.
With “The Descender”, we can see Trytan’s evolution toward something much more progressive and technical—part of the band’s latest material to be released—where they essentially maintain their familiar style while delving much deeper into the progressive vein. In fact, according to Lary Dean, this track is part of a trilogy that is completed by the songs “Take Cover” (from the album “Sylentiger”) and “Omega Storm”, which will be featured on an upcoming album.
“A Million Hearts” has that classic ’80s hook, with riffs and harmonies built in the style of that era, along with tremendous work on the guitar scales and solos it features, Next up is “Richochet”, which has a strong classic vibe and revolves around riffs that are fast and solid enough, interweaving with the meticulously crafted guitar melodies.
Finally, the album closes with “Revelation Song”, a sort of ballad and “worship” song that features Eric Gillette, Rey Parra (Sacred Warrior), and John Elefante as guest vocalists, giving the album a fitting and high-quality finale.
Compilations aren’t the best way to draw conclusions. Among other reasons, this is because we’re talking about songs recorded at different times and in different eras. They’re useful for getting a general sense of a band you’ve never heard of before (in this case, Trytan), and in that sense, we believe the selection is spot-on and offers a glimpse into perhaps the band’s best work. It serves as a sort of springboard and invitation to delve much deeper into Trytan’s discography.
Naturally, the album’s sound is drawn from the various productions that make up the collection, but—as much as possible—Lary Dean himself, in collaboration with Matthew B. Hunt, has produced a studio mix to give the entire collection a cohesive sound. It has also been mastered by Rob Colwell, a true specialist in this type of historical material.
The cover art is distinctive enough to catch the eye. Yes, it can be interpreted in many ways, and that’s part of the “magic” of the album’s illustration, adding positively to Trytan’s legacy of having consistently produced excellent album covers. Furthermore, the physical edition comes with a very comprehensive booklet. Instead of song lyrics, it features notes written by Lary Dean, providing in-depth commentary on each track included on this album, along with vintage photographs and an excellent overall design. It’s worth noting that the version we have is a limited edition, so by now it may be difficult to find in physical format.
Clearly, Trytan’s story will continue, according to Lary Dean, so we can expect much more from the band and the project, but it’s worth taking a moment to look back at their discography—and “Alliance: The Best Of Trytan” certainly fulfills that purpose.
To get your hands on this album, we’ve included the label’s link below, along with Trytan’s social media accounts so you can stay updated on their news, and the lyric video for “Mr. Electric”, one of the band’s classics included on this album.
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564201450581
https://www.instagram.com/trytan_music_official
