Overview
Hey everyone! Since my last review I actually saw Trivium live on the Metal Tour of the Year with Megadeth, Lamb of God, and Hatebreed! It was awesome and I would gladly see them perform again many times more. Next time I think I would definitely get tickets up front and close to the stage, opposed to the lawn section where my ticket was for this past concert.
Song Analysis
Today I am listening to Trivium’s fifth studio album “In Waves” from Roadrunner Records, released August 2, 2011. This album features their singles “In Waves”, “Built to Fall”, “Black”, and “Watch the World Burn”. This album definitely makes you want to jump around and get shoved into a mosh pit, or shove someone else into one hahaha. This album feels like Trivium has stepped up their heaviness!
The album starts with the unique sounds of “Capsizing the Sea”. This whole song is a build up to the next track and it kind of keeps you on edge waiting for the transitions. Then boom, into the pounding rhythms of the title track “In Waves”. “In Waves” is a very catchy track that will stick around in the back of your mind…it definitely has been playing in my head! It makes sense why they would give the album the same name as this track since it is so catchy.
“Inception of the End” begins nicely, it sounds like what you would hear when you are preparing to run into a moshpit. I definitely like the lyrics, “Don’t lose focus / Because we are halfway there / Inception of the end / Sacrifice all your fear”. For me those words are pretty cool because my fears often hold me back and distract me, making me procrastinate or give up on something I am already doing pretty well at.
“Forsake Not the Dream” is a song that reminds me of being a teenager and growing up. It has the raw angst and intense feelings that I was extremely familiar with. I was not familiar with Trivium when I was younger, but this song specifically reminds me of many of my favorites growing up. The lyrics, “We learn what it feels like / To feel pain for the first time, for the first time / We learn what it feels like / To suffer, feels like to suffer”, are words I would have taken deeply to heart as well as many other words. I really love the fast solos half way through the song, they have insanely tight playing that blows me away.
Chaooooooosssss! “Chaos Reigns” is another great moshing song with tons of moshing moments. I love the words, “I build these wings with broken things”. The words specifically make me think of how hard life can be, but even after feeling defeated for so long, we can still live an exceptional life and pull ourselves together.
“Of All These Yesterdays” has really nice intro instrumentals which transition into some really pretty vocals, probably the highest notes I’ve really heard any of the Trivium vocalists hit so far. It’s beautiful and does sound really nice alongside the harsh vocals throughout the whole album. This song transitions wonderfully into “Leaving This World Behind”. “Leaving This World Behind” is a short track that has this nice acoustic guitar playing over some layers of faint voices and other sounds.
“Shattering the Skies Above” has really catchy opening riffs mixed in with some cools drums too. It sounds super sick and I love the harsh vocals that get added to the mix. Then we are hit with a short instrumental, definitely moshpit inducing. Half way through this song, there is this really unique rhythm change that is hard for my brain to wrap around. Sprinkled in are some nice guitar solos also. The outro riffs are sick.
The album finishes off with a cover of Sepultura’s “Slave New World”! I always love a good cover, especially a band like Trivium covering a band like Sepultura — you know it’s going to be good! This cover is awesome and it definitely makes the album go out with a bang.
Final Thoughts
Trivium is really great at many things. This album shows how consistently they can put forth their musical talent. Everything they do is highly polished and precise. It’s incredible how tight all of their playing is and how well they play efficiently with speed and time. I am looking forward to hearing the next album!