TRIVIUM — Shogun (review)

TRIVIUM — Shogun album cover Album · 2008 · Melodic Metalcore Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
Mjöllnir
Making a much needed compromise between the metalcore of Ascendancy and the overbearing old school worship of The Crusade, Shogun comes out on top as a more individual effort. It succeeds on a basic level with nothing here likely to convert the doubtful, but the evolution of their sound is steady with some problems still needing to be ironed out.

What is key here is the maintaining the standard of musicianship and stabilising their hybrid of genres. It all listens easier than The Crusade's transitions from frantic 80s riffing to 00s clean sung choruses but there are still issues. Matt Heafy's voice flits uncomfortably sometimes between the hoarse scream, Hetfield jr. and clean singing but the variety is appreciated. Lead guitar is ever frantic and dominant in songs, both the neo-Maiden harmonies and tight, numerous solos. All the changes are handled with skill but I find the song structures are a little haphazard sometimes, and there is still a touch of formula at work underneath it all.

Despite the criticisms there's lots of meaty riffs on offer and I do enjoy the changes they've made and the sytle they've arrived at. The title track even sees them try their hand at an epic which feels like a cross of the Maiden and Metallica approach to these songs. They stick to belting them out for the most part, "Torn Between Scyll and Charybdis", "Throes of Perdition" and "Insurrection" begging repeat listens from me.

Not quite the album I'd hope they'd put out, but nevertheless does more to justify their place as one of the more popular metal bands active today.
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