'What The Dead Men Say' Review: Trivium return with a thick concoction of bruising heavy metal bangers
The popular metal band Trivium will release their ninth studio album 'What the Dead Men Say' on April 24, after two decades worth of sold-out shows, eight albums and hordes of devoted fans who raise the horns at the mere mention of their name.
Following up on 2017’s 'The Sin And The Sentence', which saw them garner a Grammy nomination for the track 'Betrayer', the Florida quartet of Matt Heafy (guitars/ vocals), Corey Beaulieu (guitars), Paolo Gregolet (bass) and Alex Bent (drums) have upped their game with a signature mix of their melodic thrash/death metal influences.
"Throughout our career, we've learned who we are," revealed frontman Matt Heafy in a press release. “Now, we've got it all dialed-in. 'What The Dead Men Say' came together so efficiently and organically. We love melodic death and black metal, and we love hardcore. [It's] everything we do on one record."
Heafy continued by saying that this album was a celebration of their evolution as a band. "We're flexing our creative wings in a different way on every single song. We've been doing this for a while now and we aren’t those same brash kids that made 'Ascendancy' and talked a big game. We've honed our vision and craft. We all look forward to seeing where it goes from here."
The album kicks off with 'IX', an instrumental piece that starts with an acoustic etude, reminiscent of Opeth's interludes before bursting into a full-blown heavy introduction to the rest of the band.
'IX' leads into the title track of the album, and in a way, summarises what the band's sound has evolved into over the years, melodic, grandiose, and uncompromisingly heavy.
Although clocking in at a little under two minutes, this could very well have been a lengthier track and sets up the listener fantastically well for the oncoming assault.
'What The Dead Men Say' is everything you could expect from a title track and the first full song on the album. Alex Bent's prowess behind the kit comes to the forefront in this hard-hitting track and proves that his second outing with the band might well cement his place in the hearts of Trivium fans.
Matt Heafy's vocals are a throwback to his young, grittier days and will have Trivium fans enthralled. The track also demonstrates the band’s melodic death and technical death sensibilities with a breakdown section that tips its hat to the likes of Gojira.
This should come as no surprise, given that Gojira producer Josh Wilbur helms the console on this album. Bass player Paolo Gregoletto’s bass lines and Corey Beaulieu's guitars round off the band's sound along with backing vocals that give this song one of the catchiest choruses on the album.
Next comes 'Catrophist', which has an interesting origin story. "I looked up what the word 'Catastrophist' means, and it's a geological view of how the world has been shaped by very catastrophic and immediate changes," said Paolo Gregoletto.
The track starts with a heavy riff that is reflective of the title and powers the song onwards. Heafy’s vocal abilities are highlighted again, as he seamlessly switches between melody and gut-wrenching intensity.
The refrain "You're a catastrophe" is a great hook and will coax listeners to play this song on loop. The song segues into a tasty solo section playing out alongside Bent's evolving rhythmic pattern work and features some of the best progressive songwriting on this album.
Next up is 'Amongst The Shadows And The Stones', a feast for those who enjoy the fast, raging side of Trivium. This banger sees Heafy switching between melodic storytelling and bursts of venomous rage.
The song pummels listeners with quick breaks, nasty riffage, and is a testament to the band’s thrash roots. The icing on the cake is the twin guitar soloing that reminds the listener of a heavier, more aggressive Iron Maiden. The repeated phrase "Bloodied corpses, broken bones reveal", sums up this barrage of aural artillery.
Paolo’s throbbing bass opens 'Bleed Into Me', arguably one of the more straightforward tracks on this album. A stripped-down approach, coupled with a taut rhythm section and a big chorus makes this song a great singalong, providing a breather from the intricate complexity of the album thus far.
'The Defiant' is a throwback to vintage Trivium. With hints from 'The Deceived' and 'The Ascendancy', Heafy states that the song started with him noodling on the guitar whilst on a Twitch stream. In its final form, The Defiant contains a monster chorus, soaring melodies, and plenty of anthemic moments.
The next track 'Sickness Unto You' is a tribute to Heafy's pet dog, Miyuki, who has now sadly passed away. The song features probably the best guitar solo on the album with Matt reaching deep into his bag of licks and delivering a memorable ‘Guitar Hero’ classic.
Bent is also in top form with military-style drum breaks and expert syncopation. It's a great track, with the overarching melancholic vibe complemented by its brutal intensity.
'Scattering the Ashes' debuted in the 'Mortal Kombat 11' trailer that was released late last month which got even hardcore gamers excited about Trivium. It's safe to say that it proved to be a great addition as the song certainly lives up to the hype.
"I took a trip with my family to spread the ashes of my grandparents. It was really emotional. When I got back, I jotted the title down and started working on the song. The rest of the guys took it to the next level," said Corey Beaulieu regarding the song's inspiration.
Paolo’s soaring vocal harmonies are a standout feature, while the band deftly toes the line between heavy and harmonious. Like 'The Defiant', the track 'Scattering The Ashes' is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
'Bending The Arc Of Fear' is another belter of a track with sections that remind the listener of Arch Enemy's riffs and Death's progressive motifs.
A heavy concoction of Middle Eastern music sensibilities and eastern European gypsy jazz scales set this song apart from the remainder of the album. This track will not only have the metal fans headbanging, but the guitar enthusiasts will find the distinct tonality of this track worth delving deeper into.
The final track 'The Ones We Leave Behind' is a frantic, explosive ripper of a song. Alex Bent shines in this track, laying down a fiery barrage from behind the kit.
Transitioning from the high-intensity battery to a heavy mid-paced section that holds down Heafy's and Corey's riffage, Bent reaffirms his enhancement of the band's sound on this demanding track. Paolo rounds off the rumbling sound as the twin guitar harmonies carry the song to its climax.
After listening to this album, it's bound to leave Trivium fans, both old and new, eagerly waiting for the band's live shows once this lockdown period lifts. Trivium is certainly back to doing what they do best — this album is one hell of a scorcher!