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Trivium
Ember to Inferno


2.0
poor

Review

by Mikesn EMERITUS
August 10th, 2006 | 81 replies


Release Date: 2003 | Tracklist


Ah yes, Trivium. The saviours of American metal. The next Metallica. Blah blah blah. The media sure makes some audacious claims for the young Floridians. Thus far, the band has released two albums, 2003's Ember to Inferno and 2005's Ascendancy. I'm going to make my own audacious claim now. If Ember to Inferno is anything to go by, than Trivium will most certainly not reach Metallica's standards. However, as mentioned three sentences ago, the album was released in 2003, when the members of Trivium were only in their late teens, and they have plenty of time to find their niche.

For Trivium's next album, The Crusade (to be released in October), Trivium claims to be heading in a thrash metal direction. On their first two albums, particularly Ember to Inferno, Trivium is a metalcore band in every sense. Musically, album is made up of crushing riffs and drumming from Matt and drummer Travis Smith. One thing I like about Ember to Inferno is that the relentless attitude the musicians display with their instruments. As with any metalcore act, both harsh and clean vocals are utilized on the album, the harsher vocals used mainly for verses and the clean vocals for the choruses. Each member shows off a lot of talent in his role, except for maybe Heafy's vocals, but I'll get into that later.

However, while the band definitely has a lot of talent and potential, on Ember to Inferno they don't use it very well. The riffs found here are very bland and soulless. What made the all time great metal bands so great was the energy and emotion their music displayed. There is none of that here. Musically, Ember to Inferno sounds forced. Heavy for the sake of being heavy if you will. Not only do Ember to Inferno's riffs sound bland, but they are also not very memorable. One listen to a song such like Pillar of Serpents, and this is quite clear in their work, as the song is void of any impressive rhythm guitar work. Another fairly boring song riff-wise is Fugue. The song has an interesting intro and bridge before the solo, but other than those short moments, the song is full of tasteless rhythm work. Trivium will definitely have to work on this in the future, if they want to even enter the same stratosphere as a band of Metallica's stature.

Another problem with Ember to Inferno is the album's vocals. I don't think I can mention a moment on the album where I actually enjoyed Heafy's vocals, which is quite rare for me. Matt Heafy just cannot sing, nor can he scream. In addition to the listless riffs, we have Matt screaming like he's being castrated. The result can't be described as anything other than excruciating. However, Heafy's screams are a lot easier to listen to than some of his contemporaries, such as M. Shadows (when he screamed) or Alex Varkatzas. Matt's clean vocals are a bit more tolerable. Though they aren’t excellent by any means, Heafy's clean singing is very welcoming after listening to him scream like a banshee. Matt's singing sounds like it needs work at times, as it sounds somewhat weak in songs like To Burn the Eye where his vocals don’t sound very clear, or in My Hatred, where the singing just isn't very impressive at all.

However, despite these negatives, Trivium still has one impressive element in their arsenal. The lead work on Ember to Inferno is easily the most enjoyable part of the album. Matt Heafy's solos, while not the best you’ll ever hear, are really fun to listen to. Almost every track on the album contains some impressive shredding from, at the time, Trivium's only guitarist (Corey didn’t join until after the release of the album). Heafy's solos don't exactly make up for the negative aspects of Ember to Inferno, but some of the guitarist's more melodic solos are a real treat to listen too.

Ember to Inferno was the first full length album of American metal band Trivium. Though the band is advertised as the next big thing, Ember to Inferno shows the exact opposite. Trivium definitely needs to clean up their act if they want to even approach the impossible expectations placed on their shoulders. The band has potential and if they use it right, they could record and release an excellent album. As of now we're stuck with Ember to Inferno and Ascendancy, the first being pretty disappointing.

Recommended Tracks:
Requiem
Falling to Grey
Ember to Inferno



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user ratings (1277)
3.3
great
other reviews of this album
Locrian (2)
Aside from a few standout tracks, Ember to Inferno is often repetitive and boring, even if it does s...

Utopia768 (5)
...

Confessed2005 (4)
...



Comments:Add a Comment 
Intransit
August 10th 2006


2797 Comments


you are my hero. Thank god someone gave this a bad review. Excellent work.

Shadows
Moderator
August 10th 2006


2530 Comments

Album Rating: 1.5

I think Herman Li was right when he said Trivium does metal like a bunch of 15 year olds.

Mikesn
Emeritus
August 10th 2006


3707 Comments

Album Rating: 1.0

On Ember to Inferno Heafy was 17, so that wasn't actually too far from the truth. :p

Mikesn
Emeritus
August 10th 2006


3707 Comments

Album Rating: 1.0

To be honest, I'm sort of looking forward to The Crusade. I liked the first half of Detonation. I liked it much more than their first two albums



Thanks for the comments btw.

SCREAM!
August 10th 2006


15755 Comments


I disagree but it was well written so i'll vote. I preferred the 2nd half of Detonation.

Shadows
Moderator
August 10th 2006


2530 Comments

Album Rating: 1.5

The Crusade will be interesting. I hated the first half of Detonation but the second half was very well written.

Blokus
August 10th 2006


155 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

I couldn't stand Detonation. Matt's voice is just like Hetfield's. And LoG's new song Redneck, Randy's voice sounds like Phil's from Pantera. It's weird; seems like these bands are becoming something that's already happened. To me, at least.This Message Edited On 08.10.06

Mikesn
Emeritus
August 11th 2006


3707 Comments

Album Rating: 1.0

Personally, I'd take the Hetfield-esque vocals over what he uses here. They aren't all original, but they're more enjoyable



For me anyways.This Message Edited On 08.10.06

ToWhatEnd
August 11th 2006


3173 Comments

Album Rating: 1.5

I liked Ascendancy quite well but this just was not pleasing at all. I actually had written the first paragraph of a review and was going to finish it later, same general rating as you so ya beat me too it!



Great review, I agree with your points about the riffs being beyond bland, vocals being harsh, and lead work being a highlight. I also don't like the production very much on this album for some reason. Sounds a bit too messy, but very very nice review. This Message Edited On 08.10.06

temporary
August 11th 2006


207 Comments


Acendancy is at least average, this is just pure crap. Awsome review.

Mikesn
Emeritus
August 11th 2006


3707 Comments

Album Rating: 1.0

The band really improved on Ascendancy, but I'm not really a fan of that either.





I also don't like the production very much on this album for some reason. Sounds a bit too messy, but very very nice review.

I think I might of mentioned this in the review, but I really don't like the production on his clean vocals. I agree, it sounds pretty messy.

Alex
August 11th 2006


12 Comments


"I think Herman Li was right when he said Trivium does metal like a bunch of 15 year olds." - shadows fallen

i think herman li is an overrated sloppy asshole. but i dont go aroud talking about other bands unless seriously provoked. trivium's music is probably, in my opinion at least, more mature than dragonforce's " go faster and use the same vocal melody on every song" attitude

Mikesn
Emeritus
August 11th 2006


3707 Comments

Album Rating: 1.0

[quote=Wikipedia]

DragonForce guitarist Herman Li recently accused Trivium of "playing like a bunch of fifteen year olds", inciting much criticism from Trivium fans against DragonForce. This later turned out to be friendly "ribbing" on the part of Dragonforce (both bands are label mates through Roadrunner Records). Matt and Li are now talking about potentially writing each other some songs.

[/quote]

Drunken Viking
August 11th 2006


1023 Comments


[QUOTE=]i think herman li is an overrated sloppy asshole. but i dont go aroud talking about other bands unless seriously provoked. trivium's music is probably, in my opinion at least, more mature than dragonforce's " go faster and use the same vocal melody on every song" attitude [/QUOTE]
Yes, I do agree, writing above average Power Metal with a different hook in each song and amazing guitar solos, is much worse then writing average metalcore with the same guitar hook, and slightly above average solos. And don't even talk about being sloppy, Matt and Corey are pathetic live.

Bfhurricane
August 11th 2006


6284 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

I think the crushing riffs and solos on this album make it attractive, though I can see why people dont like this.

Shadows
Moderator
August 12th 2006


2530 Comments

Album Rating: 1.5

[QUOTE=Alex]i think herman li is an overrated sloppy asshole. but i dont go aroud talking about other bands unless seriously provoked. trivium's music is probably, in my opinion at least, more mature than dragonforce's " go faster and use the same vocal melody on every song" attitude [/QUOTE]

I'm not denying that Herman Li has an ego, but DragonForce's dueling solos and multiple melodic hooks with unique instrumental layering in every song sure as hell beats Trivium's repetitive riff and song structuring attitude.

Confessed2005
September 6th 2006


6020 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

I just don't get tired of Trivium to be honest...



I hope that The Crusade is a better album in many respects. I have heard three tracks off it and they all sound very promising.

HumanGroceryStore
September 6th 2006


51 Comments


You guys do realize that it was revealed that Herman Li was joking about the Trivium comment...

Check it out on the DragonForce Wikipedia page

jrowa001
September 6th 2006


8752 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

I Like Ascendancy over this album, but The Crusade is going to be way better than their first two. i will miss some Heafy's scream though

synyster1
December 17th 2006


291 Comments


Why did i download this? This isn't much better.Trivium give metal a bad name.



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