Trivium – “Shogun” [Album Review]

Trivium’s newest disc, Shogun, is a pounding, heavy-as-hell metal record that is a terrific improvement from their last release, The Crusade. This is the fourth offering from the Orlando, Florida based metal band and it is complete with their trademark fantastic guitar riffs and pulsating vocals that alternate between a guttural growl and a more melodic vocal that adds a wonderful contrast to the overall picture. These tunes are certain to keep your head banging throughout the entire disc.

Vocalist Mathew Kiichi Heafy, has an intense, powerful, emotion-filled voice that drives each tune with heavy melodies. The speedy complex arrangements will hook the listener right away and the songwriting and arrangement is phenomenal and showcases the maturation process of the band over the years.

Personal favorites of mine on this disc include the driving, “Throes Of Perditio’” and the breakneck, “Insurrection” which has hints of Metallica running throughout. The guitar work in this song in particular is mind-blowing and the solo is freaking great. These guys can play their asses off. Lastly, “He Who Has Spawned The Furies” is heavy as shit and with some haunting dual vocal work it is probably the best song on the disc. I love this tune!

The CD comes packaged with an insert that contains some pretty intense and slightly disturbing artwork that is not for the faint of heart and could be nightmare inducing to some individuals.

Bottom line, Trivium have kept their signature sound and really kicked it up a notch. Musically Shogun doesn’t recreate the wheel but it doesn’t miss the mark either. It should be a favorite for the scores of Trivium fans out there as well as fans of good metal in general.  [ END ]

Track Listing:

01. Kirisute G-men
02. Torn Between Seylla And Charybdis
03. Down From The Sky
04. Into The Mouth Of Hell We March
05. Throes Of Perdition
06. Insurrection
07. The Calamity
08. He Who Spawned the Furies
09. Of Prometheus And The Crucifix
10. Like Callisto To A Star In Heaven
11. Shogun

Run Time: 66:41