Review by Rachel Jablonski
A bright sun is directly overhead radiating an intense heat. A slight breeze sweeps over perspiring bodies, even the slightest movement of the thick air is welcomed. The smells of beer, body odor, smoke, and sunscreen are overwhelming as a cloud of dust seeps into the atmosphere from frantic movement on the ground. This is the setting for the loud music and cheering that marks one of the biggest metal events of the summer each year, Ozzfest. With bands like Killswitch Engage, Shadows Fall, Black Label Society, and Iron Maiden, Ozzfest 2005 looks promising. And I promise that there is one band hitting the second stage that you will not want to miss. That band is Trivium.
Listen to Ascendancy, the first album on Roadrunner Records from Orlando, Florida’s Trivium, and it is easy to imagine the band’s pulsating, sharp sound on an Ozzfest stage. The thundering double bass heartily ricocheting off the crowd, concession stands, and god knows what as fierce guitar noises travel far and wide in the open air. Thrash, hardcore, melodic, and guitar jams galore, Ascendancy is a very mature album particularly for a band that is young and on the rise in the mainstream metal scene.
The hardcore screams of 18-year-old vocalist Matt Heafy are tremendously vigorous and impressive. Though Heafy contributes some melodies, it is the power behind his roars that are most remarkable. “Pull Harder on the Strings of Your Martyr” is a great example of the said talent. Rapid drums beats begin the song while guitar distortion and more tuneful riffs combine to create an energetic intro. The gruff vocals to come match these tempos at first, but the addictive portion begins when the drums and distortion back off and the guitar and vocals instead dominate. The rhythms of the two together, as well as the incorporation of some melody at the chorus, produces a song the listener will not soon forget. The immense heaviness of the album and meaningful instrumental melodies, like in the song “Suffocating Sight,” are a satisfying dose of metal. The frenzy of Ascendancy has the upper hand as it draws attention and serves as a promising metal fix.
With their thoroughly enjoyable album Ascendancy, it is clear that Trivium is a band that can without doubt contend with other Ozzfest bands like the fabulous Killswitch Engage, Shadows Fall, and the like. The album is a heavy exhibition flaunting the band’s talents both vocally and instrumentally. Check out the album and see the band on Ozzfest 2005.