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Album Reviews : Trivium – Silence In The Snow

By on September 28, 2015

Silence_in_the_Snow

Trivium is a band that needs no introduction. They are loved and hated by many on this planet. I was a bit – okay, very – late to the party with this band. I listened to them for the first time just a week or so before their co-headline show with In Flames in Sydney last year.

Vengeance Falls was the first Trivium record that I listened to ever and because of this I believe that my point of view is a bit different to a majority of the band’s fan base. During the last ten months or so I’ve come to understand why the new Trivium isn’t to everyone’s liking. I understand it , but I don’t necessarily agree with it. Most bands that evolve face something similar during their career, which is completely natural. Humans don’t like change. That being said, I believe that it would be in most Trivium fans best interests to open their minds while listening to Silence In The Snow, because if you are willing to look past the lack of screams, there are so many things to like about this album.

This is no Shogun or In Waves, let’s get that out of the way from the get go. There is a big emphasis on groove and bone crushing riffs as always. If you would compare it to Vengeance Falls it feels like a natural follow up, just a bit less aggressive overall. I feel that Matthew Heafy’s vocals have improved greatly in a short amount of time. From the first time I heard “Brave This Storm” I have loved his clean vocals, and I am not disappointed at all this time around either. The complete lack of harsher vocals doesn’t bother me at all, simply because of the fact that Heafy is such a brilliant vocalist that he doesn’t need to utilise his screams to keep it interesting.

When I hear the intro, which is entitled “Snøfall”, I picture an eerie and foggy battlefield at the dead of winter, just moments before all hell breaks loose. It sets the stage for the heavy hitter that is the title track. I had of course heard the single beforehand, but the impact is amplified times a hundred thanks to the intro track. Next up is track entitled “Blind Leading The Blind”. The intro is definitely trademark Trivium. It feels like this is where the album truly starts. Heafy’s soaring vocals are dominating in a way that I didn’t really think would be possible. I get so many different vibes from the frontman here, I’m thinking both David Draiman (Disturbed) and Dio, but even gentlemen such as Michael Poulsen (Volbeat) and Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden). Near the end of “Blind…” Heafy repeats the line “We must break free from this hell!” which is accompanied by a particularly bone crushing riff. This will be a big live track for sure.

Next up is “Dead And Gone”. This track has just about everything; One of the heaviest intros on the record, great riffs, groovy verses and the chorus is totally addictive. “The Ghost That’s Haunting You” has a similar drive to Strife. Just like most of the other tracks on this album it has a sing-a-long friendly chorus. Overall the live potential is huge for Silence In The Snow. “Pull Me From The Void” and the third single of the album, “Until The World Goes Cold” have one thing in common, I didn’t like them all too much during the first listen, but after 15 or so spins, they are really growing on me.

Towards the end of the album there is no loss of quality at all. “The Thing That’s Killing Me” and “Beneath The Sun (Don’t Fade Away)” are about as different as night and day, they are also both two of the absolute best songs on Silence. “Beneath The Sun’s” gloomy and doomy undertone is absolutely fantastic, and it brings something a bit different to the table.

Trivium saved the biggest arsenal for last this time around. There is not that much pure, raw power on this album, however “Breathe In The Flames” is a change of pace. If there’s a song you would want to listen to when you’re truly pissed off with something or someone, this is it. Heafy’s more aggressive vocals in the verse, in combination with the riffs serves as a great way to finish off a record that in many ways feels refined.

I don’t want to take anything away from Cory Beaulieu, Mat Madiro (who’s replaced Nick Augusto in excellent fashion, both on the album and on the road) or Paolo Gregoletto, it just strikes me time and time again how much Heafy’s clean vocals have improved. There will always be people that dislike the direction that a band is heading in. I for one commend Trivium for walking a path that isn’t very popular with a lot of fans. I really do think that in the long run, it is more important for a band to do what they feel is right, rather than what the fans demand of them.

“If you just like the old stuff, no problem – we will keep playing the old stuff with screaming (if that’s your make or break). If you just like the new stuff, sweet – we will keep playing the new stuff with singing.” – Matthew Heafy

Silence In The Snow is out on October 2 (via Roadrunner Records). Check out the title track below!

 

About

Martin is an aspiring music photographer/videographer. He is originally from the southern parts of Sweden and now he's living in Sydney, Australia. Thanks to his older sister, he got into Rammstein at the age of 9, and since then he's been into all types of metal/rock. He loves to combine photography and music, but also filming concerts and produce live material. Follow him on Twitter and check out his website.