Trivium (band)

Trivium
Trivium live in Australia. From left to right: Matt Heafy, Travis Smith, Paolo Gregoletto, Corey Beaulieu.
Background information
Origin	Orlando, Florida
Genre(s)	Thrash metal, metalcore[1]
Years active	2000–present
Label(s)	Lifeforce, Roadrunner
Website	trivium.org
Members
Matt Heafy Corey Beaulieu Paolo Gregoletto Travis Smith
Former members
Brent Young Jarred Bonaparte[2] Brad Lewter

Trivium is a heavy metal band from Orlando, Florida that formed in 2000. The band comprises of vocalist and rhythm guitarist Matt Heafy, lead guitarist Corey Beaulieu, bassist Paolo Gregoletto, and drummer Travis Smith. Since its inception, Trivium has released three studio albums, nine singles, and are currently working on an album due in late 2008. Signed to Roadrunner Records, the band has attended major music festivals, including Ozzfest and the Download Festival.

Contents [show] 1 History 1.1 Formation and Ember to Inferno 1.2 Ascendancy 1.3 The Crusade and an upcoming album 2 Band members 2.1 Current members 2.2 Former members 3 Discography 4 References 5 External links

History

Formation and Ember to Inferno

At his middle school talent show at Lake Brantley High School, guitarist Matt Heafy performed cover versions of Metallica's "No Leaf Clover" and "Self Esteem" by The Offspring. Vocalist Brad Lewter noticed Heafy and asked him to try out for his band. The pair went over to drummer Travis Smith's house where they played Metallica's "For Whom the Bell Tolls". Impressed with Heafy's performance, they accepted him into the band known as Trivium. After several shows at bars, Lewter quit the band and Heafy took over his position as vocalist.In early 2001, Trivium went into the recording studio to record its first high-quality demo disc.A copy of the demo was hear by German label Lifeforce, who signed Trivium and sent the band to record its debut album, Ember to Inferno.

The band members changed instruments to constitute a new line-up; Brent Young decided to continue with bass, and Corey Beaulieu became the second lead guitarist. In 2004, Paolo Gregoletto joined as the band's bassist to replace Young, before a tour with Machine Head.^[5] Ember to Inferno was a small success and managed to garner the interest of Roadrunner Records representatives. The label signed Trivium and the band members and began writing songs for their major album debut.

Ascendancy

Music sample:

"Pull Harder on the Strings of your Martyr"

"Pull Harder on the Strings of your Martyr" from Ascendancy, 2005.

Problems listening to the file? See media help.

In 2004, Trivium recorded its second album, Ascendancy, in Audiohammer Studios and Morrisound Recording in Florida. Produced by Heafy and Jason Suecof, the album was released on March 15, 2005. The album debuted at number 151 on the Billboard 200 and at number four on the Billboard Heatseekers chart. All Music Guide reviewer Johnny Loftus stated on Ascendancy, Trivium are a "ridiculously tight quartet, unleashing thrilling dual guitar passages and pummeling kick drum gallops as surely as they do melodic breaks and vicious throat screeds."

Singles and music videos were released for "Like Light to the Flies", "Pull Harder on the Strings of Your Martyr", "A Gunshot to the Head of Trepidation", and "Dying in Your Arms". The videos for these songs gained rotation on MTV2's Headbangers Ball.^[9] In support of the album, Trivium played on numerous tours with well known artists. The band opened for Machine Head, who were one of Heafy's largest influences, Killswitch Engage, Iced Earth, and Fear Factory. Trivium played at Road Rage 2005, Ozzfest, and made an appearance at the Download Festival.^[13] Ascendancy was re-released in 2006 with four bonus tracks and a DVD containing all of the band's music videos and live footage.

The Crusade and an upcoming album

Matt Heafy performing in 2007.

In April 2006, after a headlining tour with God Forbid as openers, Trivium entered the studio with Suecof and Heafy producing again. The band played the Download Festival again, this time on the main stage with Korn and Metallica. Trivium released The Crusade on October 10, 2006. Debuting at number 25 on the Billboard 200, the album sold over 32,000 copies in its first week of sales.The album was a critical success, with Andy Greene of Rolling Stone claiming "Nothing mars a good metal record like so-called harsh vocals" and Don Kaye of Blabbermouth.net stating The Crusade "is one of the best metal releases of 2006 and quite possibly the heavy music album of the year." On The Crusade, Heafy's vocals changed from a metalcore scream that was heard on Ascendancy, to more singing on this album. Heafy commented on the change:

If anyone is wondering why the screaming is gone it's because the four of us were never into bands that scream and we don't like any of the current bands that scream, so we asked ourselves why we're doing it. The only reason I started screaming in the first place is because I sucked at singing and wanted to be the frontman of a band. This time around I wanted to be a better singer because that's what we wanted to hear, so we dropped the screaming and did a lot of vocal training and vocal work. I think everyone will be really happy with it and those that aren't can go listen to any of those dime a dozen bands that are all doing the same thing.

—Matt Heafy

The band supported the album by touring with Iron Maiden, Metallica, a stage on the Black Crusade tour with Machine Head, Arch Enemy, DragonForce, and Shadows Fall, and an opening slot on the Family Values Tour with Korn.Trivium was named the best live band of 2006 at the Metal Hammer Golden God Awards.

Trivium started working on a new album with producer Nick Raskulinecz in October 2007. Heafy stated he will bring back the metalcore screaming that was found on Ascendancy. The band stated they did not choose to work with Suecof again because they already recorded three albums with him and they wanted to explore new ideas.

Band members

Current members

• Matt Heafy: vocals, guitar (2000–present)
• Corey Beaulieu: guitar, backing vocals (2003–present)
• Paolo Gregoletto: bass, backing vocals (2004–present)
• Travis Smith: drums, percussion (2000–present)

[edit] Former members

• Brad Lewter: vocals (2000)
• Jarred Bonaparte: bass, backing vocals (2000–2001)
• Brent Young: bass, backing vocals (2001–2004)

[edit] Discography

Main article: Trivium discography

• Ember to Inferno (2003)
• Ascendancy (2005)
• The Crusade (2006)
• Trivium's fourth studio album (2008)

[edit] References

1. ^ Loftus, Johnny. Trivium overview. All Music Guide. Retrieved on 2007-04-21.
2. ^ Shooman, Joe (2006). Trivium: The Mark of Perseverance. Church Stretton. ISBN 9780955282201. OCLC 70399986.
3. ^ ^{a b c} Official biography. Trivium. Retrieved on 2007-03-25.
4. ^ Trivium biography. MTV. Retrieved on 2007-03-25.
5. ^ Lumpkin, Sharitta (2004). Road Rage 2004 review. FourteenG. Retrieved on 2007-06-30.
6. ^ Trivium (2005-03-15). "Ascendancy liner notes." Program notes to Trivium: Roadrunner Records.
7. ^ ^{a b} Album chart history. Billboard charts. Retrieved on 2008-03-16.
8. ^ Loftus, Johnny. Ascendancy overview. All Music Guide. Retrieved on 2008-03-29.
9. ^ Roadrunner Records artists – Trivium. Roadrunnerrecords.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-19.
10. ^ J. Bennett (December 2007). "Rebel Meets Rebel – Robb Flynn and Matt Heafy". Revolver Magazine.
11. ^ Interview with Road Rage 2005 US bands. Metal Underground (12th April 2005). Retrieved on 2007-06-24.
12. ^ Ozzfest alumini. Ozzfest.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-05.
13. ^ Trivium Frontman Is Looking Forward To Touring With Korn. Blabbermouth.net (2007-03-30). Retrieved on 2008-03-19.
14. ^ Trivium: Ascendancy – Special Edition CD/DVD Package Details Revealed. Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved on 2008-03-29.
15. ^ Trivium To Record New Album In April/May. Blabbermouth.net (2005-11-09). Retrieved on 2008-03-19.
16. ^ Trivium's The Crusade Debuts On Billboard At #25. Metal Underground. Retrieved on 2008-03-19.
17. ^ Greene, Andy (2006-09-29). Trivium The Crusade. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on 2008-03-19.
18. ^ Kaye, Don. CD reviews – The Crusade. Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved on 2008-03-29.
19. ^ Matthew Heafy: "Our Crusade Is To Make Trivium Something Enormous In The World". Blabbermouth.net (2006-09-24). Retrieved on 2008-03-19.
20. ^ Trivium issues post-European tour update (2007-07-20). Retrieved on 2008-03-19.
21. ^ Metallica To Record 14 New Songs Starting Next Week; 2008 Release Expected. Blabbermouth.net (2007-03-15). Retrieved on 2008-03-19.
22. ^ Family Values 2007: Korn, Evanescence, Atryu, Flyleaf, Hellyeah, Trivium Confirmed. Blabbermouth.net (2007-03-26). Retrieved on 2008-03-19.
23. ^ Golden God Award Winners. Metal Hammer (2006-06-13). Retrieved on 2008-03-19.
24. ^ Metal Injection gets exclusive details on upcoming Trivium album. Metal Injection (2008-01-30). Retrieved on 2008-03-19.
25. ^ Wiederhorn, Jon (February 2008). "Brutal 2008 Preview – Trivium". Revolver Magazin