Trivium | In Waves
September 1, 2011 by Publisher
Filed under arcrvws2011
by Mark Allen
Staff Writer
To claim that the modern thrash/metalcore world would not be the same without Trivium’s presence would be to give them way more credit than they deserve. But to dismiss them as a pox that should be purged from the heavy music community is an unfair trivialization of their accomplishments. While hardly the first band to merge murderous metalcore ferocity with marketable melodic overtones, Trivium nonetheless ranks among the upper echelon at dealing out death metal growls and throat-rupturing screams while simultaneously incorporating clean singing and hooky choruses.
In Waves, their latest studio offering, finds the band sticking to the sound and style that has served them so well for so long, seeing no reason to muddy up the waters, content to give their legions of fans exactly what they want without pushing any boundaries; in other words, this is exactly what you want to hear from Trivium. It doesn’t shatter the high expectations set by the band’s last album, Shogun, but neither does it leave those expectations a crushed, bloody, mangled mess of roadkill. About the only people who will feel like pouting after hearing In Waves are those with zero tolerance for screams/growls in metal (and really, if you’re that person, why are you even bothering with Trivium?) and those who consider radio-friendly hooks from a heavy metal band to be an unholy abomination about on par with the Devil himself strolling into the Vatican and pissing on the nearest crucifix. All others are cordially invited to partake of this impressive melodic metalcore banquet and should not go away hungry.
Musically, this is unmistakably Trivium. Even their detractors have never been able to call them technically deficient. The ripping riffs, slaying guitar solos, and new drummer Nick Augusto’s powerhouse percussive performance prove that, for all their wooing of the mainstream, Trivium is a band who know how play. Granted, the playing on In Waves is a little tighter, focused, and less intricate than on Shogun, as this is a slightly more commercial release, but be it with guitar, bass, drumstick, or microphone, these guys are no slouches.
As already stated, Trivium likes to have one foot planted on mass-market turf and the other planted in a metal maelstrom. The former is exemplified by “Watch the World Burn” and “Black,” which are served straight up with less screams and growls than a Sesame Street episode, while the latter is given its righteous due with songs like “Dusk Dismantled” and “Chaos Reigns” in which clean vocals are as unwelcome as barnyard porn at a Bible Baptist convention. It’s no easy task—some might even say ill-advised—to satisfy both the Hot Topic teens and the serious headbangers at the same time and the fact that Trivium pulls it off with such ease is testimony to their skill. Some waggle-fingers may accuse them of selling out, but if this is what sellout sounds like, let us pray that selling out is the next big trend in modern metal. Somebody send the mosh pit a memo: a little melody is okay.
In the end, what In Waves does is merge melodic marketability with full-throated metal aggression. It is intensity and catchiness wrapped up in the same cocoon and happy to be bed mates. Roaring rhythms coexist with studio polish that is slicker than cold rain on a hot-waxed car. Piercing screams perch alongside lengthy sections of clean singing. Neck-snapping riffs reside next to hellacious hooks sharp enough to be stored in a tackle box. If bands like All That Remains, Demon Hunter, In Flames, and Killswitch Engage are part of your collection, then Trivium belongs there too. This is one of the best modern heavy/thrash albums of 2011 and if Trivium can keep up this level of quality, they stand a good chance of making major waves in the metal world for years to come.
Genre: Thrash / Metalcore
Band:
Matt Heafy (lead vocals/guitar)
Corey Beaulieu (guitar)
Paolo Gregoletto (bass)
Nick Augusto (drums)
Track Listing
1. Capsizing the Sea
2. In Waves
3. Inception of the End
4. Dusk Dismantled
5. Watch the World Burn
6. Black
7. A Skyline’s Severance
8. Built to Fall
9. Caustic are the Ties That Bind
10. Forsake Not the Dream
11. Chaos Reigns
12. Of All These Yesterdays
13. Leaving This World Behind
Webpage: www.trivium.org
Label: Roadrunner Records
Hardrock Haven rating: 8/10
Mayhem Festival Live!
August 12, 2009 by Publisher
Filed under arccon2009
August 7, 2009 at the Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden, NJ
by Steve trager
Staff Writer
Fans of pure metal have found themselves with the newest edition of summer festivals simply called Mayhem Festival. It is similar to one the greatest tours ever to roam across America, which is “Ozzfest.” Mayhem Festival certainly has kept the doors opened to one of the best-known genres in music, which is Heavy Metal. Last year’s initial run with Mayhem was an indication that we can still rock out in the hardest way with some of the greatest bands on three stages for one decent priced ticket.
This year’s Mayhem Festival definitely cranked up the word “Heavy” with a brutal line-up that turned most pits into total chaos during such sets like Cannibal Corpse, Behemoth, Trivium and God Forbid.
The nice feature about Mayhem Festival is that you have three stages, loads of music, and rockstar bling for those who always want to make a fashion statement to the rest of the world. Last year’s festival had a great line-up that could have very well been just a one-time slot of Mayhem. But the response from last year brings us to the second annual Mayhem festival. It featured great sets from well-known artists like veteran thrashers Slayer and the rock shock anti-Christ himself, Marilyn Manson, who closed out the main stage.
For most of us who endure the heavier side of metal, there were bands like Job for A Cowboy, WhiteChapel and Behemoth that can grab your attention once the music kicks in. Everyone likes something different when it comes to music in general. While I might dislike some of the bands that played on the Hot Topic stage, it still was an incredible experience to see a long list of bands that certainly hold the record for mosh mayhem.
Perhaps each set could have been longer for bands like God Forbid, Trivium, All that Remains, and Bullet for My Valentine, which opened the main stage, the fans still get the packing punch we have always come to expect at a metal show.
I still have to give props to Killswitch Engage for their stage attire at a metal show. Even dressed slightly unusual for head bangers delight, front man Howard Jones still has that voice that can go through you like a lighting bolt. I especially enjoyed Dio’s “Holy Diver“ cover, which was filled with anger and great guitar work and the balls-to-the-wall vocals makes that ‘80s classic truly come alive as only Killswitch can do so well live.
Slayer also out did a great show, captivating their finest works as an old-school thrash band that they are. Slayer is a true metal band that has never changed its sound and never has sold out for radio success but has kept a cult following all these years in the true genre of pure metal. Even Manson played a great quick set; however, I am not much of a big fan. Music fans always like something different, and that makes them unique. This is an indication that Mayhem Festival will be around for a long time (we can all hope).
The Great: Bullet for My Valentine, All That Remains, Killswitch Engage, Trivium, God Forbid, and Slayer.
Hot Topic / Extreme Metal Stage:
WhiteChapel
Black Dahlia Murder
Job for A Cowboy
Behemoth
Cannibal Corpse
Jagermeister Music Stage:
Beyond The Star
God Forbid
All That Remains
Trivium
Rockstar Energy Drink Main Stage
Bullet For My Valentine
Killswitch Engage
Slayer
Marilyn Manson
