Troublegum is the second major label studio album by the Northern Irish rock band Therapy?, released on February 7, 1994, via A&M Records. Produced by Chris Sheldon, the album is widely considered the band's commercial and critical breakthrough, peaking at number five on the UK Albums Chart and receiving a nomination for the 1994 Mercury Music Prize.
The album is musically characterized as a fusion of alternative metal, punk rock, and grunge. It is noted for its combination of aggressive, distorted guitar riffs and dark lyrical themes with pop-oriented melodic structures. The record was recorded primarily at Chipping Norton Recording Studios in Oxfordshire and Maison Rouge in London. The personnel involved in the recording included the band's original lineup: Andy Cairns (vocals, guitar), Fyfe Ewing (drums, percussion), and Michael McKeegan (bass).
Troublegum produced several successful singles, most notably "Screamager" (which originally appeared on the Shortsharpshock EP), "Nowhere," "Die Laughing," and "Trigger Inside." It also featured a cover version of Joy Division's "Isolation." The album was certified Gold in the United Kingdom by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for sales exceeding 100,000 copies.
In the years following its release, Troublegum has been frequently cited in music journalism as a definitive rock album of the 1990s. It has appeared on numerous retrospective lists, including those published by Kerrang! and Metal Hammer, and is often credited with helping to bridge the gap between underground metal and mainstream alternative rock during that era.
