In Waves is the fifth studio album by American heavy metal band Trivium, released worldwide on various dates between August 2, 2011 and August 9, 2011 through Roadrunner Records.[1]
History
[edit] Formation and debut album (1999—2004)
At his Lake Brantley High School talent show, guitarist Matt Heafy performed a cover version of "Self Esteem" by The Offspring.[3] 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 and local clubs, Lewter quit the band and Heafy took over his position as vocalist. In early 2003, Trivium went into the recording studio to record its first high-quality demo disc.[4] A copy of the demo was heard by German label Lifeforce, who signed Trivium. The band entered a studio to record its debut album, Ember to Inferno.[5]
As time went on, Corey Beaulieu joined. In 2004, Paolo Gregoletto joined as the band's bassist to replace Brent Young, before a tour with Machine Head.[6] The album Ember to Inferno managed to garner the interest of Roadrunner Records representatives, who later signed Trivium to a record deal. They then began writing songs for their major label debut.[5]
[edit] Ascendancy (2004—2006)
Corey Beaulieu live
"Pull Harder on the Strings of your Martyr"
"Pull Harder on the Strings of your Martyr" from Ascendancy, 2005.
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In 2004, Trivium recorded its second album, Ascendancy, in Audiohammer Studios and Morrisound Recording in Florida.[7] Produced by Heafy and Jason Suecof, the album was released in March 2005. The album debuted at #151 on the Billboard 200 and at #4 on the Top Heatseekers chart.[8] Allmusic 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"[9] and Rod Smith of Decibel magazine praised "Smith’s impeccably articulated beats, bassist Paolo Gregoletto’s contained thunder, and, especially, Heafy and guitarist Corey Beaulieu’s liquid twin leads."[10] The album was also recognized as the "Album of the Year" by Kerrang! magazine.
In 2005, Trivium played the first Saturday set on the main stage at Download Festival in Castle Donington, England, credited by Matt Heafy as the gig that really launched Trivium on the world stage.
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 and Pull Harder on The Strings of Your Martyr has become one of their most well known songs and has become the song that they usually close their set with.[11] In support of the album, Trivium played on numerous tours with well known artists. The band opened for Killswitch Engage, Iced Earth, Fear Factory, and Machine Head, who were one of Heafy's largest influences.[12] Trivium played at Road Rage 2005,[13] Ozzfest,[14] and made an appearance at the Download Festival.[15] Ascendancy was re-released in 2006 with four bonus tracks and a DVD containing all of the band's music videos and live footage.[16]
The Trivium logo
[edit] The Crusade (2006—2008)
Matt Heafy performing in 2007
In April 2006, after a headlining tour featuring Mendeed and God Forbid as openers, Trivium entered the studio with Suecof and Heafy producing again.[17] The band played the Download Festival again, this time on the main stage with Korn and Metallica. Trivium released The Crusade in October 2006. Debuting at number 25 on the Billboard 200, the album sold over 32,000 copies in its first week of sales.[8][18] The album was a critical success, with Andy Greene of Rolling Stone claiming "Nothing mars a good metal record like so-called harsh vocals"[19] 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."[20] On The Crusade, Heafy's vocals changed from the metalcore scream that was featured on the band's previous albums, to more singing on this album. This new singing style, along with the band's thrash metal music were criticised of sounding too much like Metallica, who was a major influence on the band.[21] 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. 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."
—Matt Heafy[22]
The band supported the album by touring with Iron Maiden and Metallica, appearing on the Black Crusade tour with Machine Head, Arch Enemy, DragonForce and Shadows Fall, as well as headlining a European tour with supporting acts Annihilator and Sanctity and acquiring an opening slot on the Family Values Tour with Korn.[23][24][25] Trivium was named the best live band of 2006 at the Metal Hammer Golden God Awards.[26]
[edit] Shogun (2008—2009)
Trivium live in 2008.
"Kirisute Gomen"
The first song from Shogun (2008)
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Trivium started working on a new album with producer Nick Raskulinecz in October 2007.[27] Heafy stated he wanted to bring back the screaming that was found on Ascendancy. The band stated they did not choose to work w