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Rating:
For many people, myself included, Trivium seems to be the "next big thing," the next big name that will be remembered in the world of heavy metal twenty years from now. This is proven by their third work, "The Crusade," which could not be a better album.
Expectations weren't the highest; the previous and highly praised "Ascendancy," although a gritty and aggressive album, was tied to the New Wave Of American Heavy Metal. In raw words, it was simple and banal metalcore with some flashes of '80s thrash (but very little). "The Crusade," on the other hand, is the symbol of a band's maturity, aware of its excellent abilities and ready to break through with them. The first positive element of the album is the clear change in direction regarding the vocal lines of singer Matt Heafy, who has finally abandoned the growl from "Ascendancy" (typical of metalcore) for a voice that remains aggressive but is much more melodic, almost akin to a certain James Hetfield.
Also and especially from a musical point of view, there are devastating improvements. Here, the Trivium of "Ascendancy" with lots of ideas but all thrown together in chaos no longer exist. Here, the points of reference become real dogmas to be respected; you can hear the early sounds of Metallica, Megadeth, and Slayer, not to mention the solos (and some riffs) clearly influenced by Maiden’s school. Indeed, the thanks in the booklet go to Metallica and Iron Maiden.
Riffs that rock hard, hypertechnical solos, fast yet precise drumming, pounding bass, and an aggressive/melodic voice: this is the essence of "The Crusade," confirmed by the best tracks of the album such as "Ignition," "Detonation" (where the voice reaches beautiful melodic peaks), "Anthem," "To The Rats," and "Entrance Of The Deflagration." Also noteworthy is the concluding instrumental title-track that stands apart from the rest of the album but is still excellent because it's a solid and powerful heavy rock piece that would remind one of something by Def Leppard or Motley Crue.
In summary, buy it and you won't regret it!
P.S. I really hope they don't follow in the footsteps of Metallica, who once they smelled money, sold even their underwear!
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 Taurus
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.
Double pedal in full swing and ferocity on display that contrasts with the melodiousness of the refrains.
