I kept hearing about these guys in press releases and watching them pop up on a variety of metal tours, including the current Road Rage tour. But for some reason I was having a hard time believing the comparisons with Metallica and describing their style as shredding metal. I say this because I look at their picture and it just doesn't appear as if that would be their style. They looked like they may be some type of Linkin Park style act or perhaps some new garage punk act. Then I put those preconceived notions aside and popped the disk in, and received a big surprise.
The sound that emanated from my car stereo, I do a lot of listening there, was heavy, driving, and subscribed to the old school sound of metal past in combination with a more modern approach to create a sound that you don't here on modern pop radio. That's a good thing too, well hopefully the radio landscape will change and we will get a better variety of metal, I'm rambling now. Back to Trivium, something else that surprised me was the youth, the lead singer is at the tender young age of 18!
The weakest point, at least at first listen, was the singer. It's not that it was bad, but the first thing I heard was what seemed be a rather generic screamer. I have found myself becoming less and less tolerant of these guys that just scream and don't offer anything else to the table. Screamers are becoming a dime a dozen, and this started out to be no different. That changed quickly enough as he mixed in some straight up signing which gave a different feel to the scream, bringing it up as a result. I still feel that is the weakest aspect of the music, but it is far from a deal breaker, this is a very impressive debut for such a young act.
Time passes. I have listened to the album many more times, and each time it gets a little bit better. This five piece are really coming into their own and gearing up for a long career. The style is at times reminiscent of Iron Maiden, Metallica, and Slayer yet as modern as Killswitch Engage, Machine Head, and Iced Earth. Featuring a two guitar attach, they have a large sound which gives their music a crunch that any metal fan is sure to love.
The primary songwriter is also the lead singer and guitar player Matthew Heafy, his guitar playing is exceptional, offering great interplay with fellow axe man Corey Beaulieu. They chug out the heavy riffs and progressions, trade solos, team up for breaks, great stuff. Drummer Travis Smith is quick, does some great double bass work and keeps the beat going. Finally there is bassist Paolo Gregoletto, getting a few lead breaks and filling out the low end. Together they combine to give us one of the better new voices on the metal landscape, and for me one of the better discoveries since I found Killswitch Engage.
Article comments
1 - ManOwaR
Trivium, to be honest are pure crap!
for amazing musical ability read 'can improvise solos'
for a start matt heafy is one of the worst frontmen ever
1. he cant sing, he cant growl he cant scream, this would be ok if he was heroically bad (barney from napalm death, tom arya) matt's vocals are just whiny and annoying
2. that could be excused if he was actually a good guitarist or had a good stage presence, he is neither hes just annoying looking kid who you just want to punch
the lead guitarist is ok i.e he can play fast, his solos may be fast and complicated but that doesnt necessarily mean they are good for example iced earth's solos arent technically briliant but they fit in well with the mood of the song, triviums solos just seem forced, like theyre there because they have to be.
and yes i would compare trivium to metallica as in compared to metallica theyre crap
metallica werent the greatest thrash band because they were better musicians that everyone else, it was because of james hetfields songwriting ability. and also metallica arent a metalcore band
future of metal my ass
i would give this album 4 out of 10
2 - astig
dont cry hahaha accept that trivium can kickass! hahaha...
3 - adam
trivium pisses me off, some talent there, but theyre crap
4 - vicci
omfg!!!! trivium are absolutley fuckin awsome. they kickass!!!! as "astig" said.
christ...!
5 - cc
omg! triviums 'ascendancy' is like, the best metal album since mettalicas 'master of puppets'!!!!
6 - Kayboots
Trivium is awesome, the new album is great, i love it! keep it up
7 - Bazza
I hate those cunts (like ManOwaR) that bag trivium cuz of Matt. How could you honestly say that his voice is crap??? I think that he has a really wide range and his voice suits his music perfectly. They're different and you cannot bag them for that because im fucking sick of all these metalcore bands that are coming up that sound the same.
8 - fuckface1
u guys are cool and some are gay. triv rulez matts voice is cool crazy solos and drums good bass singer
-peace
9 - icedeth
Trivium is tha sickest band ever. they have sick solos and matt has a sick voice so fuck off about it
10 - sum41 fucking rox
u guys are fukin retarded trivium is the best band ever.. better than ne of u will ever be in 20 years so fuck off and enjoy the music.. its not bout how well he sings its about the fucking music so go fuck yourselves...
11 - Chris Beaumont
"its not bout how well he sings its about the fucking music so go fuck yourselves..."
That made me laugh! Singing is part of the music.
12 - HellRaider
GREAT VOICE, GREAT SOLOS , GREAT MUSIC...
TriVium KIXAS
13 - matt
trivium rock!
So mush better than what some of you listen to...
I agree they do need to tone down on the screaming a bit but the guitar solos n everthing else kicks arse!
14 - Chris Beaumont
Their latest release is a bifg step down from this one. They sound so much like Metallica they should be paying royalties. It isn't bad, but it is definitely a step back from Ascendancy.
15 - metal
i think trivium is amazing but they would be one of the best bands period if there would not be so many damn scream i can't stand it I mean why scream??? is it cool?? it's cooler singing with a rock/metal voice if you ask me and you can hear the lyrics then.
16 - fistikisfiction
well this album is almost excellent not classic not excellent but better than good. i like it matts voice may not be the best but it surely doesnt disappoint. ok comparing to metallica they are not half as good. but trivium can be the metallica of the new generation! they will never be as good as them but in todays metal act trivium could be the new metallica along with disturbed. that doesnt necessarily mean they need to play music like metallica cause times have changed metal has changed and trivium CAN play good metal! anyway the album is worth a listening,surely...