ALBUM REVIEW: Year Of The Goat – Trivia Goddess

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I’ve said a hundred times and I’ll say it again: there must be something in the waters of Sweden that creates a magic elixir of sorts. This elixir seems to seep into the people of Sweden forcing them to create some of the greatest psychedelic/occult rock music on the planet. Psych/Occult rockers Year of the Goat are no exception.

[Photo Credit: Kim Vestbrandt]

Trivia Goddess (Napalm Records) Year of the Goat’s first album since 2019’s Novis Orbis Terrarum Ordinis. This was my first time hearing Year of the Goat, and this album was like a goulash of everything that I love about this genre of music and then some.  

 

Kicking things off with the nearly seven-minute “The Power of Eve.” Very reminiscent to the stylings of Finnish occult rockers Jess and the Ancient Ones, this song sounded like it could’ve been nothing original, but once the vocals kicked in, I was taken back.  The vocals put forth a very heavily gothic influence and reminded me of the clean timbre of King Diamond with its haunting vibrato.  

“Trivia Goddess” is reminiscent of classic Deep Purple with its Jon Lord-esque keyboards, and combined with the dualing guitars, Year of the Goat seemed to be attempting to evoke the spirits of NWOBHM.  “Met Agwe” also had elements of the classic NWOBHM Paul Di’Anno era of Iron Maiden. Year of the Goat has managed to take this classic style of hard rock/metal and created a sound that is as unique as it is rare.  

 

“Queen of the Zemargad” is without a doubt the show stopper for me. This is gothic occult rock at its finest. This song pretty much sounds like the best In Solitude as it creates the same sort of dark, cavernous vibe.  This is the song, in my opinion, that should be the first song anyone hears by Year of the Goat.  It’s damn near perfect. 

On Trivia Goddess, psych/occult rock artists such as The Devil’s Blood, Black Widow, and Aphrodite’s Child are heavily represented as well as a hearty NWOBHM and Goth influence to cap it off. Triva Goddess is an album that has enough variety for anyone who is even a casual fan of the above-listed genres.  

Trivia Goddess is an album that will definitely be making lots of Top Album lists for 2025, and rightfully so. Year of the Goat delivered a list-worthy album, and it has me anticipating what else they may have hidden up their sleeves. Hopefully, we won’t have to wait six years for the reveal.  

 

Buy the album here:
https://www.indiemerchstore.com/collections/year-of-the-goat 

 

8 / 10
DON DE LEAUMONT
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