Ascendancy Trivium

As there is a big 4 poker of commercially successful Thrash Metal acts (originally widespread by labels like Roadrunner Records and similar), a similar “big 4 of Metalcore” could also be traced in the USA in the early 00’s, which was originally known also as “New Wave of American Metal” (a term popularized by Sam Dunn and his 2005 documentary “Metal: A Headbanger’s Journey), which included Avenged Sevenfold, Killswitch Engage, As I Lay Dying and Shadows Fall: some delusional fans also tend to insert also Lamb of God (who lacked the melodic death/Emo-core influences to be part of the most popular wave).

Neither Trivium are part of these four. The motives lie on many reasons. First off, it’s a band always centered on frontman/guitarist Matthew Kiichi Heafy, who founded it in 1999 and resumed its activity following the disbandment of Jason Suecof’s Capharnum. Second, it debuted later, with 2003’s Ember to Inferno, compared to the other four. Third, and not least important, right from the beginning Heafy pushed the importance of metal in his influences and formula, coming often out as a “metal nerd” who appreciated every possible subgenre but lacked the Hardcore Punk attitude and rigid, positivist Straight Edge attitude for low-life venues and interpersonal struggle.

On the contrary, on 2005’s Ascendancy there’s tons of Slayer/Children of Bodom/Arch Enemy/Exodus Thrash Metal impersonation, to the point there’s very little use of Metalcore breakdowns and Emo-core riffs, substituted instead by purist attitude and dual-octave licks more reminiscent of Opeth at their most violent. Heafy’s harsh vocals are definitely inferior than the clean ones. The songs tend to be chugging, with little epic melodies (title track), blitzkrieg strike-string numbers ("Rain") and many rips from Dissection (“A Gunshot to the Head of Trepidation”): exceptions include “Dying in Your Arms”, which is just Fields of the Nephilim-like A-minor up-tempo filler.

Except for drummer Travis Smith and Heafy himself, the line-up changed and remained the same up to a certain period, proving that Trivium, as much as un-sympathetic and solo project-tending they were, had one of the most solid line-ups in the niche ever. As for Ascendancy, it isn’t one of their best albums, but more like a confirmation designed to setting forth their later career. Partially inspired, partially unnecessarily prolix (“Declaration”), and derivative in its catharsis.

Highlights: “Pull Harder on the Strings of Your Martyr”, “The Deceived”, “Declaration”.