Interviews : Trivium – “I’m positive with heavy metal, in that it brings a lot of good people together” (An Interview with Paolo Gregoletto)

For the last 10 years Trivium have been at the forefront of a new heavy metal movement, forging new and old metal influences and creating a unique blend of heavy music. Trivium return with their latest offering, ‘Vengeance Falls’, an album which pushes the limits of modern metal with producer, David Draiman (Disturbed, Device).

Metal Obsession had the pleasure to speak with bassist, Paolo Gregoletto, leading up to the release of ‘Vengence Falls.

Metal Obsession: How are you feeling after performing at all the European metal festivals. Are you prepared for Soundwave? 

Paolo Gregoletto: I’m finally rested up. It was an amazing start to the tour, but we did a lot of flying and shit which took it out of us quite a bit. But apart from that we had a really great time. I’m looking forward to Soundwave next year.

MO: I actually got to see you guys perform at Wacken Open Air earlier this year

PG: Oh wow! Really?

MO: Yeah it was great. The new single “Strife” sounded amazing live. Especially in front of god knows how many people were there this year. [laughs]

PG: Thanks man! [laughs] Yeah, it was huge. I doubt it could have gotten bigger than when we played in 2011, but it did this year [laughs].

MO: It seems Trivium are climbing the “metal ladder”, as it were, at festivals like Wacken Open Air. There seems to be a universal appreciation for Trivium at a lot of European metal festivals.

PG: Definitely! It has been crazy for us. We definitely noticed we were getting bigger in the UK and the US a lot earlier in our career. It seems like we did a lot during the start of Trivium’s career. We played a lot of great shows and supported heaps of great bands. But for whatever reason, when we released “In Waves”, it felt like the planets aligned for us. Europe now has become an amazing place for us to tour, as oppose to just a great place to tour, and coming back and playing Wacken is just so different. Like you said, I feel as though there is a little more respect for our band whenever we tour Europe. I mean we’re 10 years into this but we are still fairly new to a lot of people. It’s great to still have that sense of innocent and gaining new fans and getting them into our music.

MO: Heavy metal seems more culturally accepted in Europe. Do you feel this lacking in other parts of the world?

PG: Yeah. I think the culture for metal is a lot different. You definitely have bands that go all over the world and tour some amazing places, but it’s definitely different. I feel as though metal is more ingrained into German culture nowadays. I mean there are so many festivals there. It’s ridiculous! Just in that country alone. All over Europe there are these amazing festivals, but Wacken is just the next level for it. What I like about it the most is the great mix of everything. From young to old, bands who are just playing their first major show to band’s that were at the forefront of the NWOBHM (New Wave Of British Heavy Metal). It’s great to be apart of something that spectacular.

Not only did they film “In Waves” for the Wacken 3D movie, but they also took the time to interview us and I’m super stoked to see it. To be in a movie with the likes of Lemmy is quite an honour for us. It will be exciting to see how it all looks when its all put together for everyone.

MO: You’re quite the fan of heavy music. Whenever I see you perform, you always sport a battle vest with numerous influences from Death to The Misfits. Going back to heavy metal and its relation to culture. While heavy metal does influence unity and diversity in many cultures. A lot of people still feel it segregates and separates the majority. What are your thoughts?

PG: There is definitely still a barrier in some ways with certain people. I’ve met some of the most open minded people in the genre, whether it’s bands or fans. But then you meet people that are so closed minded, but its like that with anything in culture. You could say the same thing in regards to certain social issues or politics. That’s sadly how some people are. Some people are just so ridged and close minded in themselves that you can’t really change that. Metal seems to draw a more open minded audience. Usually it’s the minority who are more vocal with opposition to change. You just have to concentrate on the people who support you. I think that is a good example of playing Wacken. A lot of those people may have never heard us before, but they still gave us a chance. That’s a good 60,000 people. I mean, that’s a lot of open minded people to come see us. I guess you have to look at it that way. You can’t let the small group of people snipe at you and put you down, especially changing your mindset on what you want to play and what you believe.

I’m positive with heavy metal, in that it brings a lot of good people together. Soundwave Festival is a great example of that with its diverse line-ups every year. You can go and see punk music, metal, hardcore, thrash..whatever you like, so its a win-win situation to come to Australia and play a festival like Soundwave. Whenever we play in Australia we always have a great time and our fans are always supportive.

Soundwave Festival 2014

MO: It seems a band like Trivium are ambassadors for metal, bridging the cultures of metalcore and traditional heavy metal together.

PG: Yeah, definitely. I think we have always been like that. We have always had our sound rooted in that modern metal sound with influences from a variety of bands from Sweden and all over the place. There is also that variety of classic metal bands who have influenced our sound greatly. We have always had an element of both influences merge into our sound. That singing and screaming element.

Now coming on 9 or 10 years of touring there is that whole new generation of bands. Now there seems to be a further bridge built between all that and us, those bands that merge both styles or both sides of the bridge even [laughs]. Younger fans of metal are getting into our music. It’s great to show them there is more than what is in front of them. That is one thing I hope everyone can do, is just get out there and explore where music comes from and experience other bands. That’s something which is kind of weird in US with the metal scene at the moment. A lot of kids don’t know much from the few bands that everyone else knows or that are played the most of the radio or whatever. If there is one thing I could change it would be that. To educate people and let them know this genre of music has been around for nearly 40 years. There is so much to check out.

MO: You’re definitely right! I’ve noticed that a genre like Thrash metal, a genre which is considered the most bias of all. That there is an appreciation for new and old influences. Bands of the new thrash metal movement like Ultra-Violence, Havok and Warbringer bring in a new colour palette for the genre, yet the older generation who are so engrained with bands like Metallica or Slayer still acknowledge and appreciate this new diversity. But as you said, you’ll always get a small percent who chose to be closed minded. 

PG: I think it’s fantastic that these bands exist. The more people who are into it the better. When I was young I was never satisfied with finding just one band. I was always trying to find new or old bands, anything that applied to my tastes. Searching for music that meant more to them. It’s probably just me and a small minority, but I wish more people would get into heavy metal like that.

MO: I had the opportunity to listen to “Vengeance Falls” over the weekend. First of all, great work. It sounds fantastic.

PG: Awesome! Thanks man.

MO: The first thing I noticed was a maturity to Matt Heafy’s vocals and the way songs and melodies are structured. I take it working with David Draiman (ex-Distrubed, Device) was an eye opening experience for all of you?

PG: Definitely! We have always known that lyrics and vocals are one of the most important aspect of people getting into your music. I believe we have always done those well in relation to each album, but you always want to push yourself and reach higher for the next album. We obviously wanted to push everything, but we really wanted to push the vocals, and David being a vocalist, really understood the value of production but also everything that comes with being a vocalist.

I believe he helped Matt reach that next level and really pushed him to places he has never been before. Pushing the boundaries of high and low, different layering and melodies and harmonies. Just concentrating on like you said, different melodic structures. Stuff that is definitely an added bonus to Trivium‘s sound now. I think we did well with big riffs and big melodies, and we just pushed ourselves to add more on the new album. Matt’s tone is still very similar but a lot more mature. Matt sings with more power now.

MO: I’ve even noticed certain Draiman vocal mannerism with songs like “To Believe” and “Villainy Thrives”. It’s quite fitting to Matt’s vocals.

PG: He was pushing all of us to have a lot of groove, but morso in the vocals. He didn’t want us to stick to the “by the numbers” vocals and keeping it simplified. He really wanted to bring more colour and those twists and turns that his music has always carried and letting the vocals get the same treatment as well. Sometimes taking the lead and writing in the vocals and not just filling the part. Working with David [Draiman] was very cool. It was quite an experience for all of us.

MO: Any famous last words, mate?

PG: Again, thank you to our Australian fans out there. They have always been so supportive and wanting us to come back. I believe this will be our 7th or 8th time coming to Australia so we can’t thank everyone enough for the support! We can’t wait to play Soundwave Festival next year.

Vengeance Falls – Available for Pre-Order via Roadrunner Records Australia

TRIVIUM appearing at Soundwave Festival 2014.

Feb 22 – RNA Showgrounds, Brisbane
Feb 23 – Olympic Park, Sydney
Feb 28 – Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne
March 1 – Bonython Park, Adelaide
March 3 – Claremont Showgrounds, Perth

For more information go to – www.soundwavefestival.com – www.trivium.com

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