Showing posts with label Trivium. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Trivium. Show all posts

Wednesday 17 June 2020

Trivium "What The Dead Men Say" (2020)


Having spent over a month with this record my dissatisfaction perhaps stems from a case of fulfilled curiosity with their previous effort, The Sin And The Sentence, being a proper introduction to the bands identity. What The Dead Men Say feels like a total rehash of the same summery anthemic festival Metal spun with the same craft, intensity and almost cheesy lyrics poised with a tone of might, honor and glory. Matt Heafy's wording and delivery bares it formula, making for a rather predictable string of songs that summit the same emotional struggles over and over again.

To give the record some merit, its a very credible romp of melodic tinged aggressive metal. Soaring its way through turmoil with streaks of grooving riffs neatly composed, the songs carry a constant sense of epic struggle and overcoming odds as the temperament tends to follow the lyrical narrative. The longer tracks carry some variety with breaks from the normative structures but despite regular creative shake ups the whole thing feels like an repeating echo of what just came before it.

It leaves me with not much to say. Its opening track IX creates quite the anticipation with its darkly acoustic but once the metallic guitar kick in with an appropriately crisp, octane production the music swiftly fits the cast its molded for with all the verses, choruses and hooks feeling so normative. Even if this Is all I focus on with my writing, its an enjoyable record, a fun ride of proud fist pumping Metal precisely in the anthemic style Trivium have mastered over the years.

Rating: 6/10

Saturday 30 December 2017

My Top 10 Albums Of 2017


Another year rolls around and looking back over my posts there was a lot of good music enjoyed which I struggled to narrow into a list of ten. With almost ninety new releases covered this year I have noticed to no surprise a bit to much Metal. I think that's why my top ten is proportionately less metallic than the bulk of music I enjoyed. I think next years goal should be to avoid predictably dull Metal records and get into new sounds that can have a bigger impact on me!
 
(10) Trivium "The Sin And The Sentence" link

I was a little hesitant to put this one on the list, its all a bit fresh to me still but given their reputation I don't think Trivium's music will fade on me anytime soon, this record is so well crafted, all its hooks and riffs are balanced so well, the fuel tank never runs out from start to finish it has you in its grasp.

(9) Lorde "Melodrama" link
 

Some albums take a little time to show themselves. On release It was obviously impressive but later in the year revisiting this record the emotions flowed and all the intricacies of the production come washing over like a flood, especially Lorde's voice which has certainly shown its charm.

(8) Wiley "Godfather" link

Hes a name brand! Or at least that's how the hook goes. This was actually my introduction to Wiley, I name I've heard of since the early days of Grime. I was blown back by how tight the production and rhymes are, Godfather is a solid record loaded with fun hooks and goofy bad man characters that are so much fun given the technicality of Wileys flows. Looking forward to the sequel in 2018!

(7) Cavalera Conspiracy "Psychosis" link

Its hard to get excited for straight up balls to the wall metallic heaviness these days but from an unexpected place comes an album so tightly crafted its groove and heavy bombastic noise is tuned to full throttled. With a fantastic scope of creativity in the instrumentation beyond Metal's bare bones, the record is elevated to a place where the best of old and new ideas meet in flawless execution.

(6) Kendrick Lamar "DAMN." link

I don't think anything comes close in terms of Hip Hop this year. Kendrick is serving the old generation and new with fresh creative beats and a fiery, ambitious flow loaded with intelligent lyrics to chew into. It was a slow burn for me at first but I enjoyed it most when my phones shuffle feature would pull me back into the record time and time again, that's when it really clicked for me.

(5) Erang "Songs Of Scars" link

Although its part of the Anti Future off shoot, Songs Of Scars is Erang's best work yet. In this vision the music really hits its stride, delivering cinematic music drenched in a mysterious eighties nostalgia that's creepy, playful and adventurous. The instrumentation is lush and the production right on point for a riveting listen that holds you from start to end.

(4) Godflesh "Post Self" link

Broadrick has out done himself here, twenty eight years on from his prolific Streetcleaner album you wouldn't expect that stroke of genius again but with Post Self he has reinvented the Godflesh sound for something truly riveting. It wasn't actually until I sat down to write up on this record that its genius really struck me. There is so much brilliance in the intricacies that it engulfs you with ease.

(3) Fever Ray "Plunge" link

I have been thrilled by the release of this record! Given the large silence since Fever Ray I thought it may never come! Plunge is a similar beast but more experimental with Noise and Industrial influences making an earthly racket on an album that feels initially challenging but doesn't interrupt the core of the music which is very much in the same vein, its not as good as her self titled but still one heck of a record you can place alongside it.

(2) Horsebeach "Beauty & Sadness" link

 A viewer was kind enough to share their bands bandcamp with me, I had no clue what was in store, least of all did expect to find such a gem! I adore this record, the music, its aesthetics the quirky interlude tracks. It feels like a slice of time frozen, the mood and tone frozen, only to come to life when you hit play. Really blown away by this one, its a gorgeous swell of emotion and passion.

(1) Sikth "The Future In Whose Eyes" link

With each and every listen this album failed to loose the charm it bestowed after only a few listens. I thought these riffs and hooks might fade with repetition but it has held up so well over the months making up this year. Time and time again it has delivered, I think the lack of intentionally bombastic or obvious moments lets the craft of the songs hold up. I also got to catch a couple of the songs live which was a real treat!

Saturday 23 December 2017

Trivium "The Sin And The Sentence" (2017)


This is actually the first album I've listened to from the American band who are arguably one of modern Metal's most successful acts. I first heard them back when they broke through with their sophomore Ascendancy in 2005. In my naivety I cast them aside for reasons time has forgotten and there in the back of my mind they have been out of sight until a friend recently remarked on the quality of this record. What did I have to loose by checking it out? Nothing, but once again a reminder that closing out music is a fools game. I'm guessing it was probably the clean vocals that turned me off in my youth and so Ive missed out on the journey of a clearly brilliant band, once hailed "The next Metallica", something metal critics and fans alike seem to do so often.

The Sin And The Sentence is the bands eighth and a remarkably heavier record than I expected, the lightly rounded, crisp production lets pummeling pedals and blast beats erupt in moments of frenzy between measured and temperate arrangements of tone setting riffs that lead into satisfying guitar solos and grooves. From front to back Trivium deliver tantalizing guitar action that ranges from grizzly low end chugs to dazzling lead guitar melodies dancing above empowered baselines. Its all stitched together with a good ear for song structure, the songs never out stay there welcome and play through with a sense of anticipation of whats to come, often a climatic guitar solo.

Singer Heafy illuminates this record with a robust presence at the front of the music, dropping in fiery screams and shouts between his sturdy and mighty harmonious clean voice. His band mates chime in too, backing him up with energetic gang shouts and fleshing out the range. The choral variety is continually refreshing but the delivery compelling, stringing so many lyrics into memorable hooks that resonate of the instrumentals. Peaking and scaling with the music, following its climate the words leap to life, a pleasure to sing along with practically every song having its moment in the sun.

Its a potent record for a band deep into their career but no trajectory is linear, these are musicians, sometimes they evolve, and other times they burn out. Being unfamiliar with their catalog I can't make comparisons but I find myself a little taken back by the twelve songs of which you'll struggle to find a favorite. As the album draws on you might expect a dip but it never comes, track after track holds you in its grasp and when its over you'll happily spin it back to back. Excellent introduction to the band, I am now obliged to head back and see what Ive missed out on all these years!

Rating: 9/10