Trivium is the quintessential metal band and their latest release is an EP in the form of Struck Dead and, even though it’s only three tracks, each one is its own musical journey that will keep you on your toes.
Originally planned to be a full-length record, the band had to improvise when their co-headline tour with Bullet For My Valentnine fell through. The EP is comprised of three tracks- “Bury Me With My Screams,” “Struck Dead” and “Six Walls,” clocking in just shy of 20 minutes and all change tempos flawlessly but in different ways.
“Bury Me With My Screams” is just aggressive in the vein of classic Trivium from start to finish, but switches mid-song to a cadence perfect for a live show while “Struck Dead” meshes the classic Trivium with the more modern Trivium styles and has one of the catchiest choruses they’ve ever written.
“Six Sides” is the longest track on the EP at just over seven minutes but is also the standout track as well. It starts with cinematic acoustic intro that features mandolins and acoustic guitars and is perfect for a live show intro track- you can close your eyes and just picture the band taking the stage.
From there, the band rips into one of the most aggressive and animalistic tracks they’ve written in a long time. From the second Matt Heafy’s screams and guitars, Corey Beaulieu’s guitar riffs and Paolo Gregoletto’s bass lines explode over the speakers, you can’t help but bang your head and drive 100 mph down the interstate.
While only three tracks long, all three songs are open doors for the members of Trivium to just let loose and have fun along the way. All three songs show the band exploring every era of Trivium throughout the entirety of each one but in different ways.
As always, the dudes in Trivium continue to raise the bar and tow the line of perfection with each album release and wave the flag for heavy metal with pride, honor and intensity. If this was originally going to be an LP, just imagine what the band could have pulled off with that full-length. Struck Dead is as close to perfect as you can get.
Rating: 9.5/10
-Reggie Edwards