Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Trivium "Vengeance Falls"

*Just a little note (before I discuss the pros and cons of this album):
With my busy schedule with school, working, and teaching private lessons, I finally had the urge to put something out since I have had a few people ask me, “What’s been going on with the blog?” “Are you still alive?” “What shows have you been to lately?” Yes, I AM ALIVE, I do and still have the blog, I plan on doing more with it as soon as the break comes around for me (when school is out), and as well, I will be able to go to more performances. Life isn’t easy breeze and it is not all fun and games. Got to stick with YOUR PRIORITIES FIRST! -Kat
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Trivium is one of my most favorite bands rocking out since 2000. They have a flash sound of Heavy, Progressive, Metalcore, Speed, Power, Djent, Ñu metal, Metalcore & Doom Metal.

Why do I like this band so much? Because one, they are smart, they don’t use normal vocabulary to describe things such as  people,  issues in the world, past,& present, of war, stories,& personal experiences. They as well  keep your head spiraling around for MORE! 

“Vengeance Falls” Came out on October 15TH of this year(2013) which did poses the question was it going to better than “In waves?” A few reviews that I read and researched on, it was half and half of what to expect with Trivium with their new album being produced with David Draiman (of Disturbed). Will it sound like disturbed? Will it be better than “In Waves?”

I took a listen of this album in less than an hour (most of the songs are less than 5 minutes) and would personally describe this album as “different”. Matt Heafy actually “sings” more than usual. It has a personal touch to it like he uses less of his screaming/thrash voice. I think he wanted to get the words out this time on this album. The melodic and harmony of his voice has actually bloomed over the years from the previous albums. I know this for a fact because one of my siblings would always say, “it’s the same sounds throughout the whole album, just with different words.” Trivium has actually made a comeback by trying new things, especially with this album.

“Brave This Storm” is the first song on the album which is very complex with of course, voice, screaming of guitars and drums. Matt (singer), is actually singing through the whole song which is a bit different in most of his songs he tends to sing. But towards the song he does do a minimal of screaming.

“Vengeance Fall” is the second song that of course has a lot of melodic tones with the guitars and bass. The song actually sounds pretty well with Matt’s voice. This is the first song that I actually hear Matt “singing.” What I mean by that is actually him singing the notes. Like singing 8th notes and going up and down the scale. Which I think is cool because he just doesn’t scream, he’s showing us he can ACTUALLY SING Melodies.

“Strife” At the beginning of the song it kind of sounds techno-ish or sorry to say a bit like Avenged Sevenfold (Sorry but it does). I don’t have much to say about it just “different”

“No Way To Heal” was an actually one of the best songs on this album. I have a lot of relation with this song, and if you hear it, you will feel the same. An example: Sometimes I personally feel like I’m: “Running on empty, chasing a dead dream, all out of time, clutching the will, only to feel, no way to heal.” Its life, we have to keep going no matter what!

“To Believe” sounds a bit like a “Disturbed” song. YES I SAID IT! It kind of sounds like a bit of a rap when he says the words (this is the intro). After a while, I decided to just say, “it’s a song, not a favorite.”
“At The End Of This War” has Matt singing & the acoustic guitar introducing the song so I had a feeling this song was going to be great. Again, he does use his “singing voice” but this one song does feel like his genre of music (what he is comfortable of singing and something fans are used to him singing like).

“Through Blood and Dirt and Bone” made me think of the old school music when they first started. Great melodies, riffs, voice blends to compliment the bass, guitar and the drums.

“Villainy Thrives” kind of has a “pop-ish” sound to it but it still has a grunge sound. So this song I would categorize it as a rock song, not metal.

“Incineration: The Broken World” this song actually was another favorite of mine because the voice of Matt actually goes with the riffs and sound. He does yell out the words but still keeps you wanting to bang your head to the beats. Plus this song actually can keep you calm. I know it sounds weird but I think it’s because it isn’t as hard as “No Way To Heal.”

(Last but NOT Least)

"Wake (The End Is Nigh)" introduction sounded very much mellow with the guitar being very calm and hearing Matt’s voice from baritone to his higher range actually made this song go from calm to crazy fast. For example when it’s slow and calm, the drums come in and bring you to a feeling of something is going to happen, fast or even making you want to EXPLODE(we ALL have had those feeling before).

Overall, I give this album an 8/10. I think I wanted to hear more of the screaming tones like he has always done because he has done it throughout their careers. I like at least how he actually sang more or less of his usually screaming/yelling. It IS something NEW and a refreshingly new to Trivium fans. I think some people believe the sound of the album and songs are like David Draiman. Some people think he made him sing like this but I think, and believe that Matt, and the rest of the band wanted a new flavor to work with. I also believe they wanted a challenge, and experiment to show everyone that they can do anything. Go get the album, tell me what you think as well on blogger or on Facebook (you can as well get a digital copy online i.e. iTunes, Amazon, Kindle(s) just to name a few). 

I can’t wait till this band comes to San Antonio! I hope to hear a few of their songs (especially the one’s I really liked) from the new album. And hopefully, they WILL play the songs that the fan’s love from previous albums.
Hope to see you guys December 11th 2013 at The White Rabbit!
-Kat