User:Andrew Forber/sandbox

Troyen a band formed in 1981, the era of, the "New Wave Of British Heavy Metal" NWOBHM. The name coming from "Les Troyens", an opera by Hector Berlioz.

Beginnings
There were four band members in the original line-up, from the area around Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside, drummer Jeff Baddley, guitar and vocals Steve McGuire and Nick Mannion(Cookson), bassist Dave Strathearn. Troyen played the rock pubs and clubs in the North West of England. In May-June 1982 they supported Nightwing on a European tour. Prior to the tour they recruited frontman (vocals) Neil Treanor. After the tour Nick Mannion left the band to pursue his music career. They continued on the local rock circuit but despite interest from Neat Records were unsigned when they disbanded in January 1983.

The only release at the time, Troyen "the Demo" was a self-release on cassette tape. There were two releases of "the Demo", the second with Neil Treanor, as Lead Vocal. Only 500 were produced. Both sessions recorded at Amazon Recording Studios, Liverpool. The tracks list Dreams Never Lie,  Crazy Lady, Don't Send Me To War and Futures Friend.

Later years to present
As a result of interest in early NWOBHM bands, Troyen reformed in 2014. The band members being the original members, Jeff Baddley, Steve McGuire, Nick Mannion and Dave Strathearn. However, before any new dates were fulfilled, Dave Strathearn left. A new bassist Karl Altdorfer was recruited. The focus of the bands being to play NWOBHM festivals in the UK and Europe.

In 2014 Troyen returned to the studio to record the CD, "Finish What You Started", with new material Finish What You Started and Backlash plus older material, Syrian Lady and First Blood. The album also included remastered recordings of "the Demo" recovered from a cassette and an unreleased diy track Free Wheelin. A self-release on the bands own Vulcan Records, this name coming from the Vulcan Foundry, Newton-le-Willows.

In 2017 Troyen, went back to Elusive Recording Studios, this time with Andy Stephenson (Bass). They recorded the EP "Storm Child". The track list Storm Child, Flight of Fantasy, Cheating, Dreams Never Lie (2017) and Futures Friend (2017). Released on the Vulcan Records label.

Soon after this Nick Mannion and Andy Stephenson left to be replaced by Steve Haslam (Lead Guitar) and Mark Nortley (Bass). The 2019 line-up releasing two new tracks, for a new EP "New Dawn". These being Lady Evil and Nightmare along with Don't Send Me To War (2019) and Syrian Lady (2019). This was again a self-release on Vulcan Records, however it is listed on DistroKid for Spotify and iTunes.

In 2019 Interest from South America resulted in the release of a Double CD "Troyen - Anthology 1981-2019", by Classic Metal Records, Brazil, November 2019.