Trivium - The Crusade

Trivium gets a pretty bad rap as some type of wannabe metal band which I will tell you I think is just crazy. These guys can flat out play and just because they have some "pop" elements in their songs doesn't mean they have sold out or are just on a band wagon. I consider those pop elements just variations on influences like early Motley Crue and Skid Row. If you don't like Skid Row that is fine but they were a goddamn good group for those first two albums. Anthem (We are the Fire) is Trivium's Youth Gone Wild without being a blatant rip off.

I love bands like 3 Inches of Blood and Amon Amarth, but I honestly don't want to hear that lyrical content from every metal band that I listen to. Trivium is putting themselves out their by writing songs that are very topical. I don't consider that to be a negative at all. Oh did I say earlier that these guys can flat out play.

Obviously Trivium can write in a variety of metal styles and The Crusade is much more varied than their previous albums (but not that much more). From the modern thrash of Contempt Breeds Contamination to the Testament like thrash of Detonation to the 80's style Anthem (We are the Fire) and The Rising you get to hear a variety of metal sub genres. (About the only thing missing is a Black Sabbath like song, which would definitely feel out of place) Even the "poppy" The World Can't Tear Us Apart has a great shredding guitar solo in it and the 8+ minute instrumental that closes the album is phenomenal. Ignore the "noise" and pick up this CD.

(January 2007)