Trivium

A lot of metalheads may not like them. A lot more will hate them. In my personal opininon, Trivium are a fantastic band. They were formed in Sanford, Florida in 1999 by drummer Travis Smith, bassist Brent Young and vocalist Brad Lewter. Lewter saw Matt Heafy play a cover of Metallica's "No Leaf Clover" at a school talent contest and recruited him as a guitarist to complete the line-up. Soon after their formation, Lewter quit the band and Heafy took over as vocalist, as well as playing guitar. In 2003, they recorded their debut album, Ember To Inferno, adding a lead guitarist, Corey Beaulieu. The album received mediocore reception and is probably Trivium's weakest work. However, in 2005 they released, their second album, Ascendancy, which broke them through to major success with its unusually appealing metalcore anthems. However, despite the success of Ascendancy, the band took an entirely different approach with their next album, The Crusade, instead focusing on a thrashy, heavily Metallica influenced sound. After experimenting with these different styles, Trivium seem to have found a steady balance with their latest album, Shogun, which combines elements of thrash and metalcore to make arguably their best album yet. Recently, the band has parted with long-time drummer Travis Smith and recruiting Nick Augusto to tour with them and record their recent song, Shattering The Skies Above. They're soon to start work on a new album, which will hopefully stick to the brilliant formula they seem to have found with Shogun.

Recommended Works
Shogun
This is where Trivium seem to have found their perfect sound. The album is simply fantastic. There's not one boring track and it undoubtably has many songs that will have a constant place in future live shows.

Ascendancy
I don't care if you like metalcore or not. This album is brilliant. It's spawned many of Trivium's most well known songs such as Pull Harder On The Strings Of Your Martyr and A Gunshot To The Head Of Trepidation.

The Crusade
The fact that it's pure, shameless Metallica worship doesn't take anything away from the fact that The Crusade is a very enjoyable album. A few of these songs would have been massive if they had been on The Black Album.

Current Members
Matt Heafy - lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Corey Beaulieu - lead guitar, backing vocals
Paulo Gregolatto - bass, backing vocals
Nick Augusto - drums

Former Members
Travis Smith - drums
Brent Young - bass, backing vocals
Brad Lewter - lead vocals

Essential Tracks
Down From The Sky
Shattering The Skies Above
Pull Harder On The Strings Of Your Martyr
Throes Of Perdition
Anthem (We Are The Fire)

Links
Last.fm
Official Site
Wikipedia
Metal Archives