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Rating:
Is mathematics an exact science? Can it be applied to music? Let's see if you can solve this little puzzle by placing the name of the band in place of x based on the discriminant and giving full meaning to the proportion:
Discriminant: Self-plagiarism
x: punk = Stratovarius: metal
band in the unknown (x): .............
Proportions that can also be adopted to explain the 'phenomenon' Trivium, where a notable increase in popularity is directly proportional to the hatred of a considerable legion of fans.
After the first two metalcore albums, the band decided to almost definitively shelve the dominant growl until the previous "Ascendancy" to arrive at a sound derived from classic 80's thrash metal, attempting to replicate the triumphs of Metallica and Slayer.
Impeccable production enriches the 13 tracks of the work, which can flaunt the almost constant double bass rhythms of Travis Smith and blazing thrash riffs and solos by the Heafy-Beaulieu partnership.
Although there is no lack of digressions on the theme ("And Sadness Will Sear", "This World Can't Tear Us Apart", "The Rising") which evidently look both to the past metalcore experiences, as well as to please those less inclined to heavier sounds and also to wink at certain NWOBHM (track no.12 and a weak point in the lineup).
Among these, surprising (for style more than quality) is "And Sadness Will Sear" ("The Thing That Should Not Be"?!) a dark and incredibly slow piece, almost doom, by Floridian standards.
The initial one-two punch "Ignition" -"Detonation" if it doesn't reach the levels of the famous openers of the albums of the main founding fathers, it comes close, still opening the album in the best possible way.
Double pedal in full swing and ferocity on display that contrasts with the melodiousness of the refrains, the latter having an almost power-like setting in the opener, while "Detonation" with its sudden tempo changes is the gem of the album, rising above the rest of the tracks, also being quite summarizing of the four's sound and prerogatives.
Other notable tracks and on the same compositional stylings are the excellent "Tread The Floods" which may boast perhaps the best solo of the album and "Unrepentant".
The track that will lead to wild moshing and sing-alongs at concerts can only be the single, already from the title, a whole manifesto "Anthem (We Are Fire)". All played on speed and riffs with a similar glam framework.
One of the two tracks where the only hints of the frontman's growl are heard is "To The Rats" where the fury/catchiness contrast in the verse/chorus scheme still emerges. Captivating the guitar intro of "Contemp Breeds Contamination".
Finally, there is also time for a long instrumental finale that names the album, which evidently looks towards a distant constellation dear to Cliff Burton (cf. "Orion").
Perhaps slightly pretentious, but definitely good, alternating meditative interludes with fifth-gear descents. The beauty of this composition is undoubtedly the second part which resumes the main theme of the first part, enriching it with a brief interlude of clean arpeggios, a showcase of bass lines, and a long almost festive solo.
The band members demonstrate good knowledge and technical/instrumental skill. If anything, Heafy's vocals, very similar to Hetfield's, may raise some doubts.
"The Crusade" focuses on a good evolution of the band, and is configured as a potential point of arrival for new generations, while trying to reunite and bring together old and new fans under a single flag.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Ignition (03:54)
Raise the guns at every self-made suspicion
Build the bombs, corrupt policy's decision
Thats the sound of integrity breaking its back
In a country founded as a thievery act
Raise the guns at every self-made suspicion
Build the bombs corrupt policy's decision
Times are dark with our children spoon-fed ignorance
Inheritance of an anxious trigger finger
Raise the guns at every self-made suspicion
Build the bombs corrupt policy's decision
Our leaders preach if we disagree
We're the traitors of society
Homophobia, racism, sexism
Systems breed supremacy
Ignition, inception
Burning is a fuse to destruction
Break the walls of ignorance
To disarm the world for its last chance
Ignition, inception
Burning is a fuse to destruction
Break the walls of ignorance
To disarm the world for its last chance
Time again for a war on an enemy that isn't real
Greedy selfish warlords
Feed the agenda, death's the meal
That's the sound
Impending fear crawling up your spine
In a country, where nothing is truly made clear
Raise the guns at every self made suspicion
Build the bombs corrupt policy's decision
Our leaders preach if we disagree
We're the traitors of society
Homophobia, racism, sexism
Systems breed supremacy
Ignition, inception
Burning is a fuse to destruction
Break the walls of ignorance
To disarm the world for its last chance
Ignition, inception
Burning is a fuse to destruction
Break the walls of ignorance
To disarm the world for its last chance
02 Detonation (04:28)
That's the sound of humanity melting away
Say goodbye it's the end of days
Fire rains down on the American dream
Watch all you love seethe and scream
Each will dig their own graves
And bury themselves in life's failures
It's our bombs we've masterminded lighting the skies
Hideous misfires, many die
Those who survive soon will suffocate
By the poisons we create
Each will dig their own graves
And bury themselves in life's failures
Detonation
When civilization crumbles man will turn
On one another killing true
The darkest of times will then come to be
Through our selfish killer instincts
And now the ground we called our home
Is but a barren wasteland
The only sound drowning your cries
Is the detonation
It seems we're running out of time
All good as dead just stand in line
And now the ground we called our home
Is but a barren wasteland
The only sound drowning your cries
Is the detonation
03 Entrance of the Conflagration (04:35)
A common woman
Lives by the bible
Wed-locked a prison
Of antiquation
Brings life to the earth
While losing her mind
Trying suicide
Hallucinating Satan
Forcing her own blood down
Beneath the waters to drown
Lying dead with eyes wide open
Spiraling downward
Refusing all help
Self-mutilation
Neglects the children
Dagger licks her neck
Desiring escape
Succumbing Satan
Robbed by the seventh deadly sin
Forcing her own blood down
Beneath the waters to drown
Lying dead with eyes wide open
Believing Satan was inside
Ordering to abide
To destroy her cursed children
Entrance of the conflagration
Conditions worsen
Searching for answers
In holy scriptures
Systematic plan
Water fills the tub
All of her children
Floating lifelessly
Innocence chased down and drowned
Forcing her own blood down
Beneath the waters to drown
Lying dead with eyes wide open
Believing Satan was inside
Ordering to abide
To destroy her cursed children
04 Anthem (We Are the Fire) (04:03)
Just when they thought you were through
You've burned their lies
Now you're strengthened it's true
Turn your backs on your enemies
And let those motherfuckers rot in their jealousy
They
Can't stand
That the world's up for taking and we are adamant
Hell bent
Determined to dominate everything
We are the fire
We are the fire
Resound the anthem
We are the fire
The music connects, unites us more
Our masses strengthen
Unstoppable horde
We're all now a family
Together let's show the world what we say
They
Can't stand
That the world's up for taking and we are adamant
Hell bent
Determined to dominate everything
Turn your backs on your enemies
And let those motherfuckers rot in their jealousy
We're all now a family
Together let's show the world what we say
We are the fire
We are the fire
Resound the anthem
We are the fire
We are the fire
Resound the anthem
We are the fire
Fire!
Whoa-whoa (whoa-whoa)
Whoa-whoa (whoa-whoa)
Yeah-yeah (yeah-yeah)
Yeah-yeah (yeah)
We are the fire
We are the fire
Resound the anthem
We are the fire
We are the fire
Resound the anthem
We are the fire
We are the fire
Resound the anthem
We are the fire
05 Unrepentant (04:51)
A poor man
With four daughters
A wife and a son
Daughter commits adultery
Or so he was told
Bought a knife and machette
After Friday's prayers
They have become unhonourable
Daughter must be killed
For your honour
You will slaughter
Every one of your daughters
For your honour
You will slaughter
It's you who should be slaughtered
Terror grips the steel with hunger
Thirsting to avenge it's soiled pride
I see a mad man
You take their lives away as they sleep
The blade kisses at their throats
Love bleeds without a chance to weep
You take, you take their lives away
You're the man unrepentant
Don't you realise
You murdered your own children
Call that honourable cause?
For your honour
You will slaughter
Every one of your daughters
For your honour
You will slaughter
It's you who should be slaughtered
Terror grips the steel with hunger
Thirsting to avenge it's soiled pride
I see a mad man
You take their lives away as they sleep
The blade kisses at their throats
Love bleeds without a chance to weep
You take, you take their lives away
For your honour
You will slaughter
Every one of your daughters
For your honour
You will slaughter
It's you who should be slaughtered
Terror grips the steel with hunger
Thirsting to avenge it's soiled pride
I see a mad man
You take their lives away as they sleep
The blade kisses at their throats
Love bleeds without a chance to weep
You take, you take their lives away
06 And Sadness Will Sear (03:34)
Shepherd is chased by the wolves
Wolves who live by intolerance and hate
For what they couldn't understand
Blinded and vicious are the beasts
Needing and ripping at a beautiful human
He did nothing more than be himself
Tied to the fences they break you
And sadness will sear
Cold is the wind that will freeze you
And sadness will sear
Scarecrow is left crucified
Left freezing, bleeding, tired and wondering why
The wolves just couldn't understand
It's the preachers and the teachers
Government's close-minded creatures
Trying to teach us to hate that which is different
Tied to the fences they break you
And sadness will sear
Cold is the wind that will freeze you
And sadness will sear
It's 12:53 AM, October 12th
When the scarecrow died
A victim of society's cruelty
It's 12:53 AM, October 12th
When the shepherd died
The candle's light will alight your departure
Tied to the fences they break you
And sadness will sear
Cold is the wind that will freeze you
And sadness will sear
Tied to the fences they break you
And sadness will sear
Cold is the wind that will freeze you
And sadness will sear
07 Becoming the Dragon (04:43)
Swim in the river ascending
Free of fear filled with purpose
Nishikigoi fights through oceans adversity
Against the current to obtain the highest goal
Swim through our sins of suffering
Climb to the falls of dragons gate become
Transform from koi into a beast, dragon
A living symbol of courage
No wave will shatter these scales (shatter the scales)
Dreams of free from pours
Pours of the dying
Water falls up ahead
What they left to do
Swim through our sins of suffering
Climb to the falls of dragons gate become
Transform from koi into a beast, dragon
To have a shot
To becoming a
This dragon will rise and be king
I'm a witness to a burning form
Evolution is complete
A breath that turns into clouds producing rain of fire
Watch the world move according to each desire
Swim through our sins of suffering
Swim through our sins of suffering
Climb to the falls of dragons' gate become
Transform from koi into a beast, dragon
08 To the Rats (03:42)
To hide behind
Barricade
Built up inside
You think you're safe
But someday we all will find you
Come to where you work
And fucking tie you
Every lie
Shot back
To your throat
By our hands
A skull-fuck
For every word
you try to breathe
Don't fuck with this
Break every bone in your face
If you mess with my life
I'll mess with your blood
And bury you
In a coffin made of your
A coffin made of your deceptions
Obsess as each second fades
In denial of your mind made
Still your jealousy precedes you
You're really in love
With all that I do
Every lie
Shot back
To your throat
By our hands
A skull-fuck
For every word
you try to breathe
Don't fuck with this
Break every bone in your face
If you mess with my life
I'll mess with your blood
And bury you
In a coffin made of your
A coffin made of your deceptions
This is to the rats
This is to the rats
This is to the rats
This is to the rats
And your conscience
Still tears at you
You secretly want to be
Just like me
A skull-fuck
For every word
you try to breathe
Don't fuck with this
Break every bone in your face
If you mess with my life
I'll mess with your blood
And bury you
In a coffin made of your
A coffin made of your deceptions
Break every bone in your face
If you mess with my life
I'll mess with your blood
And bury you
In a coffin made of your
A coffin made of your deceptions
10 Tread the Floods (03:33)
Stress
Breaking my back
Pulse is stuttering
Pressure
Mental attack
My thoughts cluttering
Beating this dead horse
is exhausting
Heart-breaking to see
My hands shaking
I'm knee deep in the
dead still wading
Still wading in this
This well called life
Nervousness
Halting all will
Forcing apathy
Anxiety
An aching chill
Hammering down me
Beating this dead horse
is exhausting
Heart-breaking to see
My hands shaking
I'm knee deep in the
dead still wading
Still wading in this
This well called life
Tread the Floods
So you can hope to seize
Your own reality
'Fore if escapes thee
Watch yourself drown in disarray
It's time to break away
All will die today
Tread the Floods
So you can hope to seize
Your own reality
'Fore if escapes thee
Watch yourself drown in disarray
It's time to break away
All will die today
Stress
Breaking my back
Pulse is stuttering
Pressure
Mental attack
My thoughts cluttering
Nervousness
Halting all will
Forcing apathy
Anxiety
An aching chill
Hammering down me
Beating this dead horse
is exhausting
Heart-breaking to see
My hands shaking
I'm knee deep in the
dead still wading
Still wading in this
This well called life
Tread the Floods
So you can hope to seize
Your own reality
'Fore if escapes thee
Watch yourself drown in disarray
It's time to break away
All will die today
Tread the Floods
So you can hope to seize
Your own reality
'Fore if escapes thee
Watch yourself drown in disarray
It's time to break away
All will die today
11 Contempt Breeds Contamination (04:28)
Mistaken identity
You really got this one wrong
Racially singled out
He must have a gun
And yet you get off with no time
How can this be the answer
No crime yet they shot away
He now lies dead, the blood is on your hands
Hands which were supposed to protect
People like the man you blew away
This isn`t justice, this is corruption
The four protectors fired 41 shots
Hitting him 19 times
Searching the body there were no weapons found
He lies with all who died in vain
Murder must still be a crime
When our inherent freedom
Is hatefully gunned down
By who we entrust
And yet you get off with no time
How can this be the answer
No crime yet they shot away
He now lies dead, the blood is on your hands
Hands which were supposed to protect
People like the man you blew away
This isn`t justice, this is corruption
The four protectors fired 41 shots
Hitting him 19 times
Searching the body there were no weapons found
He lies with all who died in vain
Contempt breeds contamination
How can this be the answer
No crime yet they shot away
He now lies dead, the blood is on your hands
Hands which were supposed to protect
People like the man you blew away
This isn`t justice, this is corruption
The four protectors fired 41 shots
Hitting him 19 times
Searching the body there were no weapons found
He lies with all who died in vain
Contempt breeds contamination
12 The Rising (03:45)
And the Earth begins to shake
A company uproaring
Anxiety growing
Cheers are leaving this moral life behind
Sweat begins to downpour
A riot we stand for
The blackout foreshadows the chaos
So raise your voices with me
And sing this song of unity
So raise your hands up with me
And hold this moment eternally
Like a rift open in the sky
Through fire pulses a lightning
While thundering sounds ring
Tempting us to leave life's troubles behind
It's time to stick together
It's just so much better
Than life could ever offer
So raise your voices with me
And sing this song of unity
So raise your hands up with me
And hold this moment eternally
So raise your voices with me
And sing this song of unity
So raise your hands up with me
And hold this moment eternally
So raise your voices with me
And sing this song of unity
So raise your hands up with me
And hold this moment eternally
So raise your voices with me
And sing this song of unity
So raise your hands up with me
And hold this moment eternally
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Other reviews
By Adil
Trivium’s compositions stand out for their maturity and freshness, despite their main genre reference being the thrash metal of “old school” bands like Metallica and Megadeth.
The overwhelming passion that characterizes the relentless march of Trivium... has what it takes to convince even the most skeptical and strict metalheads.
By thetrooper
The Crusade is the symbol of a band’s maturity, aware of its excellent abilities and ready to break through with them.
Riffs that rock hard, hypertechnical solos, fast yet precise drumming, pounding bass, and an aggressive/melodic voice: this is the essence of The Crusade.
