In 1991, a young electro duo consisting of Torsten Schröder (vocals, drums) and Erick Miotke (keyboards) burst onto the burgeoning EBM scene and drew immediate attention from the press. After a self-released tape titled “Conflict,” TRIAL got signed to the highly regarded German electro label Hypnobeat. In Summer 1992, the band’s lead single “Blut Und Eisen” took the EBM scene by storm and catapulted them to instant stardom! The maxi was followed a few months later by the highly-acclaimed debut album “Zero Feeling.”

Managed by the famous booking agent Kai Lotze, TRIAL put on great shows and shared the stage with the likes of Project Pitchfork on numerous occasions. Erick’s electronic wizardry and Torsten’s electrifying stage presence and charisma resonated greatly with the audience and they quickly became crowd favourites throughout Germany. In 1994, the duo released their sophomore album “Secret Pain” on Electric Blue/Ausfahrt Records. “Secret Pain” picked up where “Zero Feeling” left off and quenched TRIAL fans’ thirst for new tunes.

Soon afterwards, the duo chose different career paths and gradually drifted apart. Erick studied Arts and English, while Torsten decided to become a barber. They briefly reunited in 1997 to record “No Fate” EP featuring 9 mixes of the title track, but it was deemed “not commercial enough” by Ausfahrt Records and TRIAL were subsequently dropped from the label’s roster. Despite the setbacks, the duo remained confident in their abilities. They teamed up again at WGT 2001 and delivered an unforgettable performance. The memorable gig proved beyond the shadow of a doubt that TRIAL were still a force to be reckoned with.

In late 2008, TRIAL finally released their third album “No Fate” on their own label Maxsoniq Recordings. The double disc featured a bunch of new songs as well as new takes on the duo’s classics. Sadly enough, “No Fate” did not get the attention it deserves and TRIAL were disheartened by the lack of media coverage. In April 2011, Torsten decided it was time to leave the band and focus on his career. Shortly thereafter, TRIAL offered an exclusive track “Brothers in Arms-Old School Mission” to Electro Aggression Records’ star-studded compilation “Old School Electrology” 4-CD box (2011). It was a fitting end to the duo’s 20-year collaboration.

In August 2021, Electro Aggression Records (EAR) will proudly unleash the long-awaited TRIAL “Für Zwei” 3CD+DVD. The meticulously assembled collector’s set includes a 16-panel booklet showcasing vintage photo archives along with the band’s biography, a best of album, a live CD that captures the very essence of the duo’s energy, an exclusive album featuring loads of unreleased and newly produced material by Erick, and a DVD that shows TRIAL at their performance peak. In short, “Für Zwei” 3CD+DVD (ltd to 500 units only) will unquestionably cement the duo’s Dark Electro/EBM legacy. Grab your copy while you can!

PS; FÜR ZWEI IS AVAILABLE IN HARD COPY ONLY!

Release Date August 12, 2021


Trial Für Zwei [EAR 014]


CD1 FÜR ZWEI

Für Zwei (Extended Single Mix)
Alles
Brothers In Arms (Check Up Mix)
Feels Like
God Is Dead (Extended Rework)
Deeper (Under Zero Mix)
War Bitter (Synthetic Mix)
Defect (Rework)
Für Zwei (Montana Mix)
Blut Und Eisen (Torfeuer Mix)
Beat Back
Für Zwei (Styler Mix)
Living The Dream
I Speak To You (Finished Mix)
You Want It
Sleeping Dogs (Fury Pack Mix)
No Fate (Shifter Mix)
White Odyssee

CD2 LIVE

Dont You
Für Zwei (Bunker Mix)
Is It Worth It
Obey
Brothers In Arms
Dreamstalker
No Fate
Deeper (Under Zero Mix)
Feels Like
Blut Und Eisen
Snow
Prisoner
Drumsection
Aids
Too Late
Limiter
Für Zwei
War Bitter
Deeper

CD3 CLASSIC ANTHOLOGY

Zero
Strange II
No More
Diabolic
Blut Und Eisen
Aids
Prisoner (Edit)
Star
Circles
Sin
Hunter
Secret Pain
Is It Worth It
Obey
Fear
Sleeping dogs
Suicide 2
Fly My Soul

DVD

No Fate
Is It Worth It
Prisoner
Dreamstalker
Hunter
Sin
Diabolic
Secret Pain
Fear
Snow
Für Zwei
War Bitter
Deeper
Don´t You
Obey
Brothers In Arms
Feels Like
Blut Und Eisen
Drumsection
Too Late