Trivium

Trivium is a heavy metal band from Orlando, United States, active since 2000. Their sound spans heavy metal, melodic metalcore, metalcore, progressive metal and thrash metal, with influences that include Metallica, Machine Head, Iron Maiden and early In Flames. The band forms in Orlando in 1999 and develops from a local lineup built around Matt Heafy, with Heafy remaining the only original member.

Line-up and early formation

Matt Heafy begins the group after a school talent-show performance leads vocalist Brad Lewter to invite him to rehearse with drummer Travis Smith. The band plays early material at bars and local clubs, with Heafy later taking over lead vocals after Lewter leaves. Early members also include Brent Young on bass and guitar, and Corey Beaulieu joins later. Over time, the band’s membership includes Paolo Gregoletto, Nick Augusto, Mat Madiro, Alex Bent and Richie Brown. The listed members are Matt Heafy, Corey Beaulieu, Paolo Gregoletto and Alex Rüdinger, with former members including Brad Lewter, Travis Smith, Brent Young, Nick Augusto, Mat Madiro, Paul Wandtke and Alex Bent.

Recordings and label history

In early 2003, Trivium records its first high-quality demo, which is heard by German label Lifeforce and leads to a deal. The band then records its debut album, Ember to Inferno. That record later attracts Roadrunner Records, which signs the band and sets up its major-label run.

Albums and musical development

Ascendancy, recorded in Florida in 2004 and released in 2005, is produced by Heafy and Jason Suecof. It reaches number 151 on the Billboard 200 and number 4 on the Top Heatseekers chart, and Kerrang! names it Album of the Year. The album is noted for its tight dual-guitar work, fast drumming, melodic breaks and harsh vocals.

The Crusade follows in 2006 and debuts at number 25 on the Billboard 200. On this album Heafy shifts towards more singing, and the band’s thrash-metal direction draws comparisons to Metallica, one of its main influences. Shogun appears in 2008, reaching number 23 on the Billboard 200 and number 1 in the UK Rock Album Charts.

In Waves is released in 2011 and draws on the band’s wider catalogue. A special edition includes the tracks “Ensnare the Sun”, “A Grey So Dark”, “Drowning in Slow Motion”, a cover of “Slave New World”, and “Shattering the Skies Above”, taken from the God of War III soundtrack.

Vengeance Falls is produced by David Draiman and mixed by Colin Richardson, with singles including “Brave This Storm”, “Strife” and “No Way To Heal”. The album includes a bass guitar solo on “Incineration (The Broken World)”. Silence in the Snow follows in 2015 and removes screamed vocals, uses 7-string guitars again for the first time since Shogun, and moves closer to traditional heavy metal. Corey Beaulieu cites Dio, Black Sabbath and Rainbow as influences for that record.

The Sin and the Sentence is released in 2017 and brings back more screamed vocals and a more extreme approach. It includes gang vocals and blast beats, both firsts or returns for the band at that point, and the Japanese edition contains a re-recorded version of “Pillars of Serpents”. Later albums include What The Dead Men Say and In The Court Of The Dragon.

Performances and recognition

Trivium appears at Download Festival, including a main-stage performance alongside Korn and Metallica, and tours with acts such as Machine Head and In Flames. It also plays Bloodstock Open Air, Knotfest Mexico and Metaltown Festival, and tours with Mendeed, God Forbid, Ghost, Rise to Remain, Veil of Maya, Kyng, Sikth and Shvpes. In 2007 the band receives a UK Gold Record for sales of more than 100,000. The group’s releases and performances place it within the modern metalcore and thrash-metal scene while also reflecting a broader heavy-metal style.