I figured after Grave, I’d slow it down a little but with some metal core. The band I’d take a look at is Trivium. This is a band I had first heard of in 2005 where Fuse was covering Ozzfest 2005. I was supposed to see them in July but that show has been postponed. Anyway, let’s take a look…..
Ember to Inferno- it’s hard to believe that they were only like 17 or 18 when this album was made. It’s a very good blend of hard core and thrash and for such a young band to come out the gate strong like this is impressive. I had heard people say that this sounds like a Metallica record but honestly I don’t get a Metallica vibe from this at all. I give it 8/10
Standouts: If I Could Collapse The Masses, Pillar of Serpents, Falling to Grey
Ascendency- now this is where I first heard these guys. I think Fuse was always playing the video for Gunshot to The Head of Trepidation plus there is a live version of it on the Ozzfest dvd. Anyway how’s the album itself? It’s awesome and it’s a straight up metal core album. It’s a really good album the songs seem more cohesive on here and they seem to have found a perfect balance of screaming and clean vocals. I give it 10/10
Standouts: Like Light To The Flies, Drowned and Torn Asunder, Rain
The Crusade- this album well let’s see how can I put it? Well Ascendency was great this one not so much. In fact, you could say that it’s a Metallica rip off. Now I had read that they non of the bands at the time who screamed sounded interesting to them so I guess the next option was to rip off Metallica. No seriously like it sounds like if Metallica went metalcore. All it’s missing are the yeahs that James is known for. It just seemed to me that they got a little cocky. I know Matt and Corey both got endorsed by Dean Guitars (never liked those guitars btw) and were doing bigger tours. I remember trying to go to the signing at Dean for the NAMM show but when I got closer, I was told that they didn’t want to sign anymore. Plus when I saw them with Lamb of God, they had this like emo goth look thing going. Anyway, the album just isn’t that great largely due to the blatant Hetfield vocal ripoff. If I wanted Metallica, I’ll listen to a Tallica album. I mean the guitars sound fine but I just do not like this album and couldn’t wait for it to end. I give it 0/10
Standouts: none
Shogun- ok so after that abomination from the last album, they decided to go back to what made them great and this album is so much better. Gone are the Metallica rip off songs (as well as those awful Dean guitars) and they go back to doing what they do best. Honestly I think I stopped after The Crusade because I just wasn’t interested in what they had to offer but I’m kinda sorry I didn’t check this one out sooner. It’s really good and the production on it is the best so far. I’d say that it’s a tie right now for my favorite album thus far. I give it 10/10
Standouts: Insurrection, The Calamity, Throes of Perdition
In Waves: this is a great follow up from Shogun. It’s not as much of a metal core album but more of a straight up heavy metal record. Like it’s got elements of Ascendency and Shogun but it’s done really well. It also doesn’t really emphasize Matt and Corey’s solos like previous albums have. Yes there are a lot more clean vocals but unlike Crusade, this one isn’t a ripoff of anything and it’s Trivium doing their own thing. I will say that if you are looking for another Ascendancy look elsewhere. A great album indeed I give it 8/10
Standouts: Dusk Dismantled, Black, Forsake Not the Dream
Vengeance Falls- so this one seems to continue in the same vein as In Waves as far as vocals. I did notice that Matt Heafy’s vocals seem to have almost a David Draiman (Disturbed) vibe to them and what do you know David is the producer of this album. Its really cool especially if you weren’t a fan of his vocals from previous albums. I give this album 8/10
Standouts: Brave this Storm, Strife, Vengeance Falls
Silence in the Snow- with all of their albums, they have always had clean vocals as well as harsh vocals. This album only has clean vocals and no harsh vocals. I mean they aren’t there and it seems like that this one and the last album, they were trying to experiment and see if they could go in a different direction each time. Surprisingly it works because even though the vocals do that, they still have those heavy riffs. Like I said I don’t think I would’ve imagined a clean vocal Trivium album but here we are. The metal core sound is gone but instead we get a straight ahead album. I was actually on the fence about this one but you know it’s actually a pretty solid record. I give it 8/10
Standouts: Dead and Gone, Breathe in the Flames, Rise Above The Tides
The Sin And the Sentence- well it seems like after a few experimenting on the last couple albums, they’ve decided to come back to their roots a bit here. This one has elements of I’d say the last 3 albums and blends it all nicely. This guitar work is probably the tightest and the vocals are back to being clean and harsh. I think this is the album where I started listening to them again. It’s a great record from start to finish and I even remember seeing them at Ozzfest Meets Knotfest that year. Overall, a fantastic record and I give it 9/10
Standouts: Betrayer, The Wretchedness Inside, The Sin And The Sentence
What the Dead Men Say- the newest album from them sees them continue where Sin left off only better. This is another very good album and after the last one and this, I know that they will continue to make awesome. Of all the new albums released this year, this is one of the better albums. You can definitely tell that they took all the great elements from the last three albums and put them all together to make this album. Personally, I much prefer their faster songs but even the slower songs are really good. I give this 10/10
Standouts: The Defiant, Bending the Arc to Fear, Amongst the Shadows & The Stones
At the end of the day, this is a band where you can tell have gone from a small band playing the second stage say at an Ozzfest or Mayhem Fest to one that headlines club shows. If their last album is a preview of future releases, then I’m looking forward to it. I was supposed to see them this summer but due,to the Covid thing, it’s getting postponed until next year but when I do see them [with Megadeth, Lamb of God, and In Flames] I have no doubt that they will steal the show.
Album Rankings:
- Ascendancy
- Shogun
- The Sin and The Sentence
- What The Dead Men Say
- In Waves
- Vengeance Falls
- Silence in the Snow
- Ember to Inferno
- The Crusade
Sinister Reviews 