Trivium – The Sin and The Sentence (Album Review)

Trivium – The Sin and The Sentence
Released: October 20th, 2017

Trivum lineup

Matt Heafy // Lead Vocals & Rhythm Guitar
Corey Beaulieu // Lead Guitar & Unclean Vocals
Paolo Gregoletto // Bass & Clean Vocals
Alex Bent // Drums

Trivium online

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The legendary Trivium aren’t only just masters of social media, they’re pretty fuckin’ good at playing decent quality metal and they’re just about to release their latest offering The Sin and The Sentence which, as bassist Paolo Gregoletto explained to me during his co-host spot on our Wall of Sound: Up Against The Wall podcast, is an album they wanted to hear, being metal fans themselves. So how does a band make music to please not only themselves but their ever-growing fanbase around the world? Well you start with going back to some of your earlier roots and combining that with all the knowledge you accumulated along the time and with that, let’s get into the album starting with the first single and album title track ‘The Sin and The Sentence‘.

 

The first piece of new music we heard sent fans into a frenzy with it’s fast paced, epic melodic sing-a-long style complete with screaming again, yes that’s one thing the fans were stoked to see return following the band’s 2015 Silence in the Snow album. If you haven’t heard this song yet, you’ve missed out on one of the BEST songs to be released this year. It has all the elements of a perfect heavy metal track including guitar solos, fierce drumming from newbie Alex Bent who slipped into the position like he had been there from day one. There is nothing else to say about this track besides it is 6 minutes and 23 seconds of Trivium at their best. ‘Beyond Oblivion‘ keeps the ferociousness going instantly with a build up of drums and riffage that gets more and more intense with each second that passes before Matt Heafy‘s alluring vocals draws you in and keeps you listening with every word. Corey Beaulieu‘s screaming ensures the heavier fans will get their fix and group vocals prove this will be a fantastic live track to witness, especially if the whole audience sings along. With elements of old school power metal throughout, it safe to say this one’s a keeper. The tempo is slowed right down for the opening bars of ‘Other Worlds‘ because every song can’t be insanely fast right? But what it lacks in speed, it makes up for in melody and riffs with Heafy taking centre stage (as he usually does) and showing off his vocal range and the way he makes his voice sound like something from an epic 80‘s movie soundtrack. The song slows down towards the end to set it up for a final climactic chorus repeat and solo. If metal became commercially successful, this would be the song the record company would be proud to flog as it’s got no screaming at all, but you don’t notice as you’re bobbing your head along. ‘The Heart From Your Hate‘ was the second single we heard to promote the album and if you enjoyed the melodic vocal performance from the previous track, you’ll froth over Heafy‘s voice in this one as the song is much heavier in sound and more chugga than the last but still epic enough to remind you Trivium are key players in this heavy metal game and deserve to be competing with the big guns like Metallica, Iron Maiden and to a lesser extend Avenged Sevenfold. If Dragonforce didn’t go about releasing the same style of album every time, this could be a sound that’d work well for them.

 

‘Betrayer‘ is next and since the band only just released it this week, no doubt it’s still fresh in your mind as a faster and heavier outing compared to the last release. Corey‘s screaming is back, as are the riff heavy solos throughout the whole track. For those who still play Guitar Hero, you’d shit yourself over the potential this song has to get your fingers moving across the controller. BUT if you’re an avid drummer instead, you’ll definitely get a workout playing this on your kit and well as follow up track ‘The Wretchedness Inside‘ which keeps the heavy vibes rolling right along with it’s brutal screams and guitar scrapes. It’s hard to compare it to anything else because it’s so good on it’s own, but think Trivium blended with Metallica and a dash of old (but good) Disturbed and you’d be well on the money. ‘Endless Night‘ gets Heafy back in front of the microphone for another melody focused track with even more guitar solos than before, it’s slower than the previous few songs, but still packs a punch with it’s ballad-esque feel. Every good band knows you need a ballad song on your album and if this is it, well they’ve fucking nailed it.

 

Picking up the pace again for ‘Sever The Hand‘ which combines savage as fuck bridges and verses that lead into a melodic chorus complete with guitar solos, before changing it’s tone completely around the 2 minute mark and evolving into a ruthless, circle pit inducing breakdown of epic proportions and that’s not the end of it, yet another fuckin solo/jam session begins and doesn’t stop for the next couple of minutes. This song has everything metal heads love and to be honest, it’s one of the BEST musically crafted songs I’ve discovered this year. I’m trying to imagine what this song would sound like live but with the sheer talent and viciousness behind it, it’ll be more of a workout than a performance. ‘Beauty In The Sorrow‘ strips everything back for it’s opening before bursting into yet another heavy and fast offering that draws you in from start to epic climax, ‘The Revanchist‘, whilst slower than the previous song, still packs a metal punch to keep you focused all the way until the end of it’s 7 minute length time, and yes, there’s plenty more guitar solos for you, but the band save one of the best for last with ‘Thrown Into The Fire‘ and judging from the first initial double kicking you hear from Alex Bent, you know it’s going to be one hell of an album closer which doesn’t disappoint. The fierce contributions from all four members in this one prove they’ve found a lineup which is destined for HUGE things in future. Corey is a goddamn menace with his guitar and some of the consistent sounds he produces is mind-blowingly beautiful to hear through my speakers… one can only imagine what it’ll look like in person as close to the barrier as possible.

What else can be said about Trivium that I haven’t touched on already, this is a fucking fantastic album and even though the band said it’s one they made for them to enjoy, as fans, you are in for a treat as they’ve taken everything they’ve learned over the years and just thrown it together strategically to please any (if not all) of their heavier music loving fans. I found it so hard to fault this album, it is the work of pure genius working together at their absolute best. Highly commend the band for their efforts and highly recommend you stop what you’re doing and get yourself a copy as soon as it’s out… (or Win a copy here)

Trivium – The Sin and The Sentence tracklisting

1. The Sin and The Sentence
2. Beyond Oblivion
3. Other Worlds
4. The Heart From Your Hate
5. Betrayer
6. The Wretchedness Inside
7. Endless Night
8. Sever The Hand
9. Beauty In The Sorrow
10. The Revanchist
11. Thrown Into The Fire

Rating: 10/10
The Sin and The Sentence is out Friday October 20th via Roadrunner Records/Warner Music Aus. Pre-Order here
Review by Browny @brownypaul