ALBUM REVIEW: In The Court Of The Dragon – Trivium
TRIVIUM took the world by storm back in 2003 and haven’t taken their foot off the pedal since. Nine albums, countless accolades and thousands of tour dates later they are still at the top of their game with little inclination of slowing down any time soon. Album number ten In The Court Of The Dragon is due for release on October 8th via Roadrunner Records and it is poised to further cement their legacy as one of the most formidable and consistent bands to ever pick up an instrument.
X sets a tense, intimidating tone that ushers in a mighty roar and the arrival of In The Court Of The Dragon. Rapid fire drumming and swift riffing immediately up the intensity levels as Heafy‘s signature rasping screams wreak havoc. A melodic chorus soon follows which is overlayed by Alex Bent letting fly with a vicious volley of blast beats. Towards the latter stages the track takes a particularly dark turn, crushing riffs come thick and fast with no sign of reprieve.
Like A Sword Over Damocles exudes similar venom with additional rhythmic ferocity. The tempo keeps charging like a speeding bullet but sandwiches another delightfully addictive chorus line into the dynamic, galloping mix. Feast Of Fire offers up some enticing grooves and commanding bass licks that could prove to be a crowd favourite if brought to the stage. Slick leadwork is executed with polished precision.
A Crisis of Revelation goes turbocharged as it dashes off into the distance with breakneck pacing. Masterful sweeping, adrenaline fuelled drumming, an anthemic chorus and a breakdown with the seismic power to level a building are all crammed into one explosive piece that perfectly displays the sheer variety that TRIVIUM have in their arsenal. The Shadow Of The Abattoir takes a more cathartic, relaxing approach with captivating vocal work that keeps you hanging off every single syllable. A powerful chorus springs forth that will leave you floored. As the momentum builds, so does the aggression with Heafy becoming more and more enraged as he progresses. With this, the riffing gets significantly heavier and more intricate. No Way Back Just Through is the equivalent of a truck racing towards you as you are left like a deer in the headlights, bracing for the impact. Another round of boisterous acceleration meshes together with pockets of alluring melody.
Fall Into Your Hands lets Bent run riot with a whirlwind of drumming wizardry, leaving no element of his kit untouched as he opens the gates for a savage wave of furious shredding and razor sharp screams which are reeled off in meticulous fashion. The track ebbs and flows through various moods leaving you with a heightened sense of intrigue as to where it will venture to next. From Dawn To Decadence exhibits no mercy as the intensity still sits at a lofty position. Machine gun drumming and lively riff work will have your head in a spin. There is still space to squeeze an invigorating chorus segment in to keep your blood pumping.
The Phalanx has been a long time in the making, the seeds have been sown since the Shogun-era and we finally have the pleasure of witnessing it come to fruition. The band have done a brilliant job in making it feel like a cohesive part of the release as opposed to just tagging it onto the end like a gratuitous bonus track, comprising the elements we have been greeted with so far and compiling them into an enthralling soundscape which voyages through many twists and turns to round this spectacle off in impressive fashion.
At this stage in their career TRIVIUM have nothing left to prove and have sat proudly amongst the elite for multiple decades, yet they still come out firing on all cylinders and have crafted material that offers something new and refreshing. In The Court Of The Dragon is as bold and creative as it is fearlessly experimental. They have managed to push their boundaries without neglecting the core elements which have made them one of the most revered bands on the planet and in turn, have created one of the strongest albums, if not the pinnacle of their career to date.
Rating: 10/10
In The Court Of The Dragon is set for release on October 8th via Roadrunner Records.
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