Review by Phil Rozier for MPM
Trivium’s ‘Struck Dead’ EP is a thunderous, three-track masterclass in staying true to your roots while still punching holes in, well, just about anything you want. It’s heavy, it’s honest, and it’s got more bite than a Bloodstock mosh pit.
If you thought Trivium might mellow with age, think again. Struck Dead, their new EP dropping October 31st via Roadrunner Records, is a 3-track blitzkrieg that proves these Florida metal titans are still swinging with the fury of a thousand caffeinated angry wasps.
Let’s start with the opener, Bury Me With My Screams. It’s not so much a song as it is a declaration of war by the application of noise. Matt Heafy’s vocals alternate between melodic menace and throat-shredding rage, like he’s been gargling lava mixed with a healthy dose of regret. Corey Beaulieu’s guitar work? Still sharper than your nan’s tongue at Christmas, and so easily recognisable as Trivium. The riffs slice, the solos pierce, and somewhere in the mix, you can hear the ghosts of Ascendancy nodding in approval.
Track two, Struck Dead (Pain Is Easier To Remember), is a title so emo it could’ve been scribbled in eyeliner on a GCSE maths book. But don’t be fooled, this is no whimper. Waiting for it’s opening beat, it made me jump when it kicked in. It’s a wall of sound, built brick by brick by Paolo Gregoletto’s bass, which rumbles like tectonic plates having a domestic. Alex Bent, meanwhile, continues to prove he’s not just a drummer, he’s a seismic machine. His double-kick work could wake the dead, which is handy given the EP’s title. I do love a double kick drum; I’ve listened to the EP over and over just to hear those tubs ‘a thumpin’. ‘Struck Fucking Dead’ is my fav track on the new EP. It’s awesome!
Closing with Six Walls Surround Me, Trivium lean into their darker instincts. Soft to start with, classical, a breather from the previous tracks assault. But, at over 7 mins long, don’t expect the prettiness of gentle emotion fool you. This track ends up being just as hurtful as its 2 predecessors. It’s claustrophobic, crushing, and cathartic. The kind of track that makes you want to punch plasterboard (or drywall for our American readers), then apologise to it. It’s also a reminder that Trivium don’t chase trends. They chase demons, and they do it with style.
These lads have been tearing up stages since the early 2000s, and their UK performances are the stuff of legend. Who could forget their 2006 Download Festival set? I never did find the owner of that shoe. Or their earlier 2003 Astoria show (RIP Astoria, and neck still aches, and my sunglasses were never to be seen again). Latterly, they’ve owned the stages at Bloodstock and again Download in 2019 was one of their best. They’ve matured, sure, but unlike a fine wine, they’re still just as bitter and unrefined as ever.
In a world where metal often gets diluted for mass appeal, Trivium remain gloriously unfiltered. Struck Dead is not for the faint-hearted, nor the Spotify algorithm. It’s for the lifers. The ones who still wear black in summer and think breakdowns are a spiritual experience.
So here’s to Trivium: still loud, still proud, and still leading the charge in heavy metal’s never-ending battle against beige. Long may they reign.
Pre-order the EP here.
Follow Trivium:
Subscribe: http://bit.ly/TriviumYT
Site: http://trivium.org
Fanclub: http://triviumworld.org
Facebook: / triviumofficial
Twitter: / triviumofficial
Instagram: / triviumband
