Trivium
Shogun
Roadrunner Records
by Joel McIver
Thousands of metalheads despise the Florida quartet Trivium without, it seems, even hearing their music.
For the last few years they’ve been the butt of much criticism for sounding too much like Metallica, or for including too many hair-metal-style singalong choruses in their songs, or for being too pretty, or just for not being ‘troo’ and ‘kult’ enough.
There are elements of truth here – frontman Matt Heafy’s vocals have been very similar to James Hetfield’s at times – but it’s high time for the haters to get over themselves, as Trivium’s new album sounds like Trivium and no-one else.
Even if you don’t like Shogun – and it’s not a perfect album by any means, so a lot of people won’t – you’ll have to admit that they’ve found an original sound, composed of melodic choruses and fat, downtuned riffs, which is uniquely theirs.
The first song released from Shogun was ‘Kirisute Gomen’, a song which acknowledges Heafy’s Japanese background in its lyrics but which is all-American in its music, like it or not.
It’s probably the best song on the album along with ‘Insurrection’, both of which switch smoothly from a knowingly cheesy singalong chorus – which could have been designed for rock radio – to a fast, sub-thrash metal riff.
Watch an alternative, piss-taking video to ‘Pull Harder On The String Of Your Martyr’ by Trivium
Trivium never really enter extreme metal territory, with drummer Travis Smith sticking to on-beats rather than the full-throttle off-beat workout: in fact, it’s your duty to inform anybody foolish enough to think that Trivium play thrash to inform them of their mistake.
The usual dazzling solos, multilayered choruses and tempo changes are all over the remaining songs. Trivium obviously have tons of ideas: there are at least six different vocal styles, from death-grunt to midrange snarl to clean tenor, and the number of riffs per song is impressive.
The recipe gets a little old by the end of the album – pretentious songs like ‘Into The Mouth Of Hell We March’ (listen to that on their MySpace) and ‘Of Prometheus And The Crucifix’ could have been deleted and no-one would have complained – but if this is where Heafy et al are going, at least it’s a path that is theirs and no-one else’s.
4/6
Shogun by Trivium is released on 29 September 2008 on Roadrunner Records
45 responses so far ↓
1 Raz // Aug 14, 2008 at 11:36 am
This album is ok.
2 At the Gates // Aug 14, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Yeah, Trivium is good heavy metal band
3 xantiherox66 // Aug 15, 2008 at 10:11 pm
its good to hear a professional review saying the haters need to get over themselves. and its nice to know trivium finally found a sound that is all their own.
4/6 is kinda dissapointing to me, but none the less im looking forward to this album.
if this is a start of things to come, hopefully new found respect will come to them. imo, they deserve it.
4 Greg // Aug 26, 2008 at 11:07 pm
How did you get the album lol?
5 Calvin // Aug 28, 2008 at 4:22 pm
yeh, you’ve got this album a month before it comes out, and you have a review on rolo tomassi’s hysterics, out next month! NICE!
6 moneymike // Aug 30, 2008 at 8:40 am
They have been playing Kirsuite Gomen on music choice radio for a while and I think its a sick song. Then I go on the myspace page after reading this and listen to it and the chorus is way different – in a bad way. Anyone else notice it?
7 Greg // Sep 1, 2008 at 6:29 am
I call shinanigans on this whole review, Insurrection is a 1 minute instrumental yet its one of the best songs?
8 Litox // Sep 2, 2008 at 3:59 pm
How did you get the album??
9 kekrkai // Sep 9, 2008 at 12:18 am
They are bullshitting, cant have it yet as theres no way it cn b given 4/6. all the mags n previewss are saying its brilliant. prick
10 Kane13 // Sep 13, 2008 at 6:54 am
People need to grow some balls and just get oover how Trivium sounds. So what if they sound like Metallica a little? Its not gonna destroy the world is it? I’ve been listenin to Down From the Sky mulitple times and im in love with it. I cant wait for the CD to come out.
11 Jack Charde // Oct 2, 2008 at 12:45 am
This album is fuckin sick. Trivium doesnt sound anything like metallica, at all, and never will.
12 Nick // Oct 3, 2008 at 1:42 am
yeah fuck the haters. this album is amazing.
13 brian veazey // Oct 3, 2008 at 11:01 pm
why the fuck r u making fun of a7x and trivium.there better than any other band…..whoever made this must be one of those gay, fuked up ppl who waste there time listening to fukin rap, and gay ass hip hop. there more fuking gay than any metal band….so geta life
14 metalhead4life // Oct 4, 2008 at 8:18 pm
trivium fucking rule there a hell of a lot better than metallica
15 drummerluke36 // Oct 5, 2008 at 4:58 pm
TRIVIUM FUCKING SUCKSSS NOWW!! GET OVER IT. Matt(vocals) is a little BITCH now, and his screams now sound so gay!!! there music makes me want to throw up so fuck trivium and there mettalica bull shit
16 Anon // Oct 6, 2008 at 1:23 am
drummerluke36: You are a dumbass. His vocals are a lot better now, they have more power to them and with different styles; yes, screaming all the time sucks ass and gets very boring.
As for the Metallica vs Trivium shit, please quit comparing dick sizes. Grow up, no one cares.
17 fuck u // Oct 6, 2008 at 4:30 am
if you dont like it why are u here?
18 Sean // Oct 6, 2008 at 9:03 am
This is a billiard album! (:
19 Metallurgist // Oct 6, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Shogun >>> Death Magnetic
And they don’t sound anything like Metallica, at all.
20 shogun // Oct 7, 2008 at 2:14 am
i just love the people trying to sound so hardcore jumping on the bandwagon saying trivium sound like metallica and that they suck, awesome band with own sound and shogun is brilliant. As for you drummerluke36 you can go fuck yourself
21 Metalmadman89 // Oct 7, 2008 at 10:28 pm
First of all whoever wrote the review is a nobody and you cant trust a nobody’s word. The guys at Metal Hammer know what theyre talkin about and they said it was fuckin awesome. Trivium have never been anything like metallica so this arguement over the past couple years is pointless. Metallica doesnt scream, drumming is nowhere near as fast or technical, and trivium has alot more brutality and technicality. Not say anything bad about Metallica. They are gods and are the reason all of your dime a dozen hardcore bands are making any money at all. Music always evolves so get over your pointless arguements and accept that trivium deserve greatness. Theyve earned it. Ive met them they are great people not just great musicians.
22 joe // Oct 8, 2008 at 2:13 am
Shogun has some really cool stuff on it..I admit they waste their potential to be really really good at times… They waste, and failed to achieve unique sound… but, with all due respect to haters, they make “music” at least…
but really, if this album comes from some “main” heavy bands like metallica or slayer, i could imagne the embrace they would get.. so just focus the music, they really did some good stuff here… and stop comparing new bands with older bands…
23 Raz // Oct 8, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Metal Madman – have a look at who wrote the review…
24 drummerluke36 // Oct 9, 2008 at 12:19 am
I AM IN HERRE because all you pussy fagots listen to some gay shit!! and its fun to make fun of you little pussy bitches!! go listen too some fucking real music like the NEW SLIPKNOT!!
25 Rattlehead // Oct 9, 2008 at 4:40 am
drummerluke you are the biggest peice of shit ever to listen to any kind of metal, i dont understand how you can hate them so much they make wicked music and know how to perform. Sounds to me like your a bit jealous.
26 drummerluke36 // Oct 10, 2008 at 5:23 am
jealous!? hahaha!!! those fuckers suck and dont know how to piece together real fucking music!! theree all fucking gay and shitt and you guys can suck a chode!
27 drummerluke36 // Oct 10, 2008 at 5:24 am
by the way rattle head go suck a fucking dick you peice of shit that listens to gay ass wanna be mettalica bull shit you fagot bitch
28 Joe // Oct 10, 2008 at 3:28 pm
If you don’t like the new TRIVIUM album then you don’t like metal! This is one of the best albums I have ever listened to, and I listen to alot of metal. 10/10 TRIVIUM ARE GODS! FACT!
29 Brian // Oct 12, 2008 at 12:11 am
Hahaha, bloody moron that drummer Luke. Slipknot?! Hahaha! WTF?!
Slipknot sucks dog cock for quarters!
They’re nothing but a lame ass studio band, the guitarists suck, the drummers blow, and Corey sounds like he’s got a cum wad stuck in his throat!
Haha, bollucks to Slipknot you bugger!
Trivium just released the best album of the year, and stupid kids like you can’t face the fact that you’re listening to shit, it’s so sad it’s funny!
30 Mark // Oct 13, 2008 at 2:55 am
Easily one of the biggest pieces of shit i ever listened to, heafys vocals are just horrible i wish he would stop living because hes doing a miserable job of it. Metal Hammer just suck right up triviums arse, they could tape them taking a dump release and metal hammer would love it. what a shit record.
31 Mark // Oct 13, 2008 at 2:56 am
P.S… Slipknot also = lame, i was going to go and see machine head when they came to oz but unfortunatley they are coming with the knot so i’ll have to give it a miss
32 biomikez // Oct 20, 2008 at 3:50 pm
feels like both Metallica and Trivium are trying something new. Yet, Met goes the wrong way, while Trivium is looking for a better one. Of these two I prefer Trivium but give Met what they deserve.
33 Triko // Oct 24, 2008 at 12:03 am
This album is trivium;s best work yet and if you think this is bad then you don’t know what metal is this album is frigging amazing seriously these guys never get the respect and acknowledgment they deserve quit bashing on them they kick ass this is one of the best metal albums to come out this year no doubt about it.
34 Joe // Oct 24, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Well said TRICO, I totally agree!
35 Joe // Oct 24, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Sorry, I mean TRIKO
36 Knob // Oct 25, 2008 at 8:31 am
ur gay loooool
37 Joe // Oct 27, 2008 at 12:37 pm
KNOB! lmao
38 mmialnno // Nov 2, 2008 at 3:39 am
For those of you who have nothing better to do than bitch, complain and compare regarding Trivium’s material, ask yourselves this: “How is MY band in comparison to Trivium, or any other band I can’t help but criticize if I find one thing I don’t like or disapprove of?” Those of you who HAVE a band. Bunch of bitches!
39 drummerluke36 // Nov 3, 2008 at 5:57 am
well you know IF I HAD A BAND trivium would get shit on! trivium is all fucking gay, now you gotta
listen to fort minor, thats a sick ass band tight ass beats
40 xantiherox66 // Nov 16, 2008 at 3:03 am
Fort Minor is a group not a band.
shows how much you know about music.
41 Dying 2 Live // Dec 17, 2008 at 8:29 am
well i am in a band and its guna shit all the fuck ova you drummerluke36, Trivium would shred slipknot 6 feet under and then piss on there grave
42 miketea // Apr 8, 2009 at 6:39 am
great band and great fucking music. i use to listen to rap but when i heard trivium and avenged sevenfold i started to listen to hard rock to heavy metal so they rule
43 The Siege // May 11, 2009 at 10:44 pm
Trivium’s Shogun is pretty phenominal. +1 for the guy that called out all those posers on the bandwagon of Trivium sounding like Metallica. Metallica couldn’t keep up with Trivium if they tried in their best days…not even in the same league. Anyone that disses on Trivium in that lame-ass aspect of Metallica comparisons anymore can go eat a dick…cause that’s what you’re best at. Shogun fucking KILLS!!!!11
44 Live + Photos: The Unholy Alliance - Slayer, Trivium, Mastodon, Amon Amarth @ London Hammersmith Apollo - 30 October 2008 // Jun 6, 2009 at 11:29 am
[...] blinding lights and fancy ramps of Trivium’s stage show do little to hide their workmanlike antics. Matt Heafy’s baiting of the crowd to [...]
45 Alex. // Sep 4, 2009 at 11:14 am
Half this album sounds like Children of Bodum’s Hatebreeder album, which is in no way a bad thing. But to cal it their own sound…with the clean vocals i’d agree, but thats about it.
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