Album Review – TRIVIUM – The Sin and the Sentence (Roadrunner)
Review by Geoff Jenke
Trivium’s eighth album, The Sin and the Sentence returns the band with a balance of their 80’s thrash metal and a newer modern style of hard core metal. Unlike the previous album, Silence in the Snow, vocalist Matt Heafy’s melodic vocals are once again shared with his angry gruff vocals, easily changing form one to the other mid song. The drummers chair is a revolving issue and this time American drummer Alex Bent joins the band for the album. He has a strong pedigree in Thrash Metal, coming from bands such as Brain Drill, Dragonlord and Battlecross.
The album kicks off with the title track, The Sin and the Sentence and immediately sets the tone for the album. Ferocious drumming with loud guitars. In fact, the twin guitar attack of Corey Beaulieu and Matt Heafy is an outstanding feature of the album.
Beyond Oblivion sets a darker tone complete with band chant “What have we done” in the chorus. It is sure to become a live favourite. The titles of the songs say it all. The Heart from your Hate, Betrayer, The Wretchedness Inside, Sever the Hand and Thrown into the Fire. Guitar solos abound and the band has never sounded so cohesive.
There is some reprieve from the relentless barrage of sound in the beautiful Beauty in the Sorry. The song becomes moody and melodic as well as sustaining the powerful sound you expect from the band.
Betrayer is just brutal with duelling guitars and, well, just some of the most brutal vocals you will ever hear from Matt. The pace of the song is also just brutal.
Trivium have set a high standard in Thrash Metal with this album and for themselves but I am sure they up to the challenge to top this album with their next. For now, however, they have created a solid album which should keep all Trivium fans banging their heads for months to come.
You know what to expect with Trivium albums. Strictly for lovers of fast furious and frantic music.
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