TRIVIUM – IN WAVES
Released 8th August 2011 (Roadrunner Records)

Words: Ryan Cooper

I was never a fan of Trivium, nor had I ever truly given them a fair chance to convert me. Not until recently when they supported Iron Maiden at the O2, when they made at least one new fan..ME!

When Trivium first came under the spotlight years ago, they made some very questionable and stupid comments along the lines of “we will be bigger than Metallica”. But what this new album does is make those comments made by the then much younger band seem a whole lot less ludicrous. What they’ve done finally, is back up those statements with hard evidence!

As the intro rings to an end, it’s made sure that you don’t forget the album title as “IN WAVES” is scrowled (a new term I have just made up to describe a screamy growl..patented!) theoretically in your face. Some bands throw crucial ingredients such as Rhythm, Riffs and Melody into a blender with no perceptions of dosage and end up with an end product with a sloppy consistency. Trivium have had no such issue on ‘In Waves’, using the ideal servings of each ingredient and in-turn creating a very tasty dish indeed.

This is most certainly their most accessible album to date, offering a pleasing mix of variation. Where previous album ‘Shogun’ took a leap of faith towards the mainstream market, they’ve learnt from where they went wrong and have made an album which will undoubtedly re-attract their dubious former fans. This is Trivium at their best, an accumulation of all things great found in Trivium’s back catalogue all on one disc. Imagine a greatest hits..with all new songs!

Songs such as ‘Let The World Burn’, ‘Black’ and ‘Built To Fall’ standout as obvious single choices with their catchy vocals and infectious riffs. ‘Black’ is so beautifully heavy it actually forces you to bang your head..always a good thing! One thing that does catch my ear is the versatility of Matt Heafy’s voice as he swings from heavy growls to a superb singing voice which makes me wish he would sing more often. New drummer Nick Augusto shows that he is more than capable of taking over the vacant stool left by Travis Smith with his relentless skill and perfect rhythm.

Trivium are definitely ready to make a claim for the Metal Throne that their young selves once bragged they’d have. This isn’t a band still searching for their sound, this is band who have found their sound and are far more than comfortable with it.