(Roadrunner)

Microsoft Word lists synonyms for “ascendancy” as: dominance, superiority, pre-eminence, power, upper-hand, and control. The Oxford English Dictionary (Second Edition) lists “trivium” as: a place where three ways meet. The RoadRunner press letter introducing the band’s label-debut calls Trivium: “balls-to-the-wall, gets-your-heart-racing and mind-tingling music” (emphasis mine).

Yeah, okay, but it still sounds like metalcore to me. Not a big fan of metalcore, but this album sure is growing on me.

The good news is that this isn’t the bullshit candy-ass fanny-pack wearing sensitive crap that sounds like a ClearChannel programmer asked all the major labels to deliver more records that sound “like 3 Doors Down, but, you know, kinda heavied-up for the kids.”

- advertisement -

Returning to the definitions of “trivium,” the three things that mark this band are: #1 brutal, speedy songs; #2 an affinity for Steve Harris and Jon Schaffer; and #3 they’re not Killswitch Engage.

So, good: that’s where Trivium comes together. There is a lot of power here, too. This band rocks like they’ve been listening to Iron Maiden and Iced Earth A LOT. Granted, they’re pretty young and play the music reflective of the times, however, they clearly embrace their influences. It takes chops to play leads like Maiden, (listen to the song “Drowned and Torn Asunder”) and crafting songs like Iced Earth isn’t for fools. These guys are really talented players and the record becomes very exciting once the listener (especially the listener in his mid-30s) manages to get past the throaty barking/sorrowful clear melodies that constitute much of what passes for “metalcore” these days. Trivium doesn’t traffic in this so much as other bands who make a once-exciting style seem so bloody contrived. Trivium is more focused on ferociously rocking the listener by blending speed with harcore-meets-death-metal vox and the clarity of dueling guitars. Double-bass drums, that whole galloping of a great Maiden tune, a little Matt Barlow ballading here and there… only faster and shit. Yeah, Trivium is pretty goddamn great.

The album opens with an acoustic guitar and piano piece and goes right into a blazing riff on “Rain.” This song is pretty good for the first minute, then goes into that uplifting-chant/chorus-thing that Sevendust owned and no one has come close to since. So, it’s okay, but Trivium really start to come alive on “Pull Harder on the Strings of Your Martyr.” The song is just an awesome spectacle of drums and raining Maiden-esque guitars… the vocals roar into a righteous Matt Barlow-era Iced Earth thing; then breaks back into riffing and pounding and beautiful leads. Good stuff. “Departure” is a great song too, along with the charging 7-minute “Declaration.”

Most of the songs on here are as heavy and cool as that, until you get to track 8: “Dying in Your Arms” fully sounds like something you’ll be hearing on your local 99X. I don’t like it at all, even though the leads are kinda cool. If this song is your exposure to this band, don’t let it keep you from checking out the rest of the disc, as there’s much heavier stuff on here. Keep in mind a couple of guys in this band aren’t even old enough to drink legally… when you hear the ripping guitars on this record, it’s almost forgivable if they have a radio single. Better them than some overexposed band you can’t believe in. This is the perfect band to draw older metal fans into the game with what the kids are listening to these days, without condescension. And, hey -- these guys have a cool logo (sort of a biohazard circle on a dagger) that’s good for drawing on your notebooks while killing time during detention or your anger-management classes.

Trivium is pretty fucking cool, and it will be nice to see if these guys are as good live. Looking forward to it, actually.

* * *

Blackusmaggot - 6/4/2006 9:04:21 AM
Dont envy these guyz, theyre makin money. you? aint. it aint your bitch dammit.

Blackusmaggot - 6/1/2006 6:16:10 AM
Why do we always wanted to let people believe the bands that we like are the ones always cool. Fuck the crap! It's up to ones opinion. The ones that always criticize any bands are there were already losers. They didnt find the chemistry on their own. So just shut up. This band find their way to success so far, and it aint your money anyway nineincdix. Theirs are bounty right now. Im pretty sure you have a band, i just dont know if you find success already. So keep it your way, that way. Bunch of losers.haha! I like trivium man, so stfu!

Metallicapc - 6/18/2005 12:19:03 PM
to all the dumbs fucks who down this album: ive been playing guitare since i was three and am now nineteen, the same age as these guys, and if i had half as much playing ability and talant as these guys i would be the happiest guy on earth. Trivium are a bunch of talanted mo-foz and are all set to rip the metalworld a new a-hole

gilbertguy - 5/28/2005 11:03:47 AM
Ok... this is to all the people who seem to be angry saying they have no talent... saying they copy other bands styles and such... Think of it like this... They are somewhat a modern Megadeth. . . Back then im sure a shit load of ppl absolutly hated Megadeth because of the riffs and such saying they have no talent... You guys are now them... Think about it. . . me im a active guitarist in a band which me personally i dont think my band has nearly enough talent compared to this band but me myself i will be entering band that sounds very much like Trivium soon... To play this style takes ALOT of talent and ALOT of skill and persicion to play even half of wat they play... Now you have The Agony Scene on there whom i will say has alot less talent compared to 3IOB or Trivium... that is something to be sad about because that isnt something that tulsa (where i live) shouldnt be proud of because well the first cd was atleast decent but second isnt. . . From wat i see Trivium has taken a style and made it their own... The screaming though is their style once again... making it their own. . . before you start judging them and such try to do the same thing. . . after you do that i will care about your opinions

METALP - 3/29/2005 9:53:49 AM
Hey farkpark46n2, the show last nite kicked ass. Both Trivium and 3 Inches of Blood put on killer live sets, however, Agony Scene and Still Remains sucked ass and were boring as hell. Trivium is selling their debut at the show, which I picked up for $12. What a killer show for $10.

METALP - 3/28/2005 3:27:02 PM
I am seeing Trivium, 3 inches of Blood, and Agony Scene tonight in Hollywood. I am looking forward to this show. White Lion ROCKED last nite-LOL

farkpark46n2 - 3/25/2005 3:13:43 PM
I'm looking forward to seeing Trivium live on 17 May, with 3 Inches of Blood and .... um .... another band who i can't remember the name of right now cos i'm drunk.

trevor12 - 3/24/2005 2:58:01 PM
I'm amazed that some that claim to be fans of metal think Shadows Fall and this band are overrated. Frankly, these bands (as well as some of the great stuff coming out of Sweden) are the future of guitar oriented metal. It's been years since bands have consistently come out with such great solos along with killer riffs, great drumming, etc. Excellent musicians. As for this album, I can't wait to get it, the songs I've heard are fantastic.

deathcloud - 3/21/2005 6:17:28 PM
Please, make it stop.

nineinchdix - 3/20/2005 9:20:08 PM
Definite potential here. I'm listening to this album again for about the 5th time and it's starting to grow on me. If you can get past the screaming vocals this is some good shit. He has an excellent singing voice. They really put some depth into these songs. I seriously underrated them on my previous posts.

OpethApprentice - 3/20/2005 8:26:44 PM
everyone here is fully justified in having an opinion but like motherpuncher said, these kids are fucking 19 and put out a great album. To those who say these kids need to learn their instruments, this cd has a sick solo or multiple solos on every song, and drum wise this kids got some kicks.these guys are only going to get better with time. Heres the link to their e card where you can listen to the whole new album www.trivium.org/ecard

fdj333 - 3/20/2005 1:17:58 AM
very good album

Decomposing1 - 3/19/2005 4:26:13 PM
Cool album cover..

nineinchdix - 3/19/2005 3:19:18 PM
Motherpuncher: I'll admit that they have potential, I just wish they would go a different direction with their music. They don't need to jump on the Shadows Fall bandwagon. God I can't STAND that band... Trivium's drummer does kick ass though.

Blobber - 3/19/2005 1:13:03 PM
They suck. Not far removed from emo/homo rock. Please, dear God, do something to these kids learn their instruments! Kinda funny, though, that they're quasi-Malmsteen, except with no talent.

Username:
Password:
Message:

 

Recent Reviews

Danzig - Deth Red Sabaoth

Lamb of God - Hourglass

Nevermore - The Obsidian Conspiracy