TRIVIUM
“THE CRUSADE”
(Roadrunner)

To tell you the truth I hadn’t listened to anything from this new band in the past. From what I’'m aware of the young americans had only released two more full-length albums in the past. Nevertheless there has been much add around their name - especially a couple of month before the release of the new album – “Crusade”. And this kind of promotion and the “high expectations” made me think “ok, here is one more case that the record companies want to push to the market”. I thought they would be the new Hamerfall (you know: much promotion less good music). How wrong was I!!!!! Wish I had swollen my tongue, now that I’ve listened to the new album - in fact I have not listened to it, I have got addicted to it, and it is stuck into the CD-player for long now.

These young boys seems to have digested the complete heavy metal legacy, put it within a jar, open the cap after a good shaking and inhale all the vapours! I can’t see any other way they could have manage to create this monumental work. The opening track “Ignition” grasps you from the neck and leads you to a merciless head-banging that last for approximately 60 minutes - as long as the duration of the album. Ha! And there some posers who argue that heavy metal is dead! With albums like “The Crusade” we have nothing to be afraid of! Sharp riffs, solid rhythm section - which in essence reminds me a stonewall, thunderous tempos, inspired solos that stick to the mind like the sticks in the heart of vampires! No joking now guys, I still cannot remember when was the last time I listened to such an absolute heavy metal album. Maybe since “Painkiller” or “ Alice In Hell”.

The mood here is aggressive, but embellished with some melodic mid-tempo bridges or choruses that pause the total devastation of our stereos. The history of heavy metal marches in this CD: Iron Maiden, Metallica, all the bay-area thrash school, Annihilator, In Flames, Dream Theater (listen to the self-titled track), Jag Panzer, Hellstar, Destiny’s End... Goodness, this album burns like hell!! And I don’t want anyone to say that this is thrash or modern metal because the band becomes supersonic at times. This is heavy metal, pure, solid and direct. In this is why such bands exist: to release albums as such that carry with them huge balls that crawl on the ground! If you love heavy metal buy this album. HEAVY METAL LIVES HERE!

by Alex Savatianos 9,5/10