One of the few positives to come from the pandemic has been some artists’ instincts to turn isolation into inspiration, allowing new music to be released at a much faster pace than usual. As a result, Trivium‘s fanbase, referred to as The Shogunate, has been blessed with two full-length albums in less than two years. With all members living in the Orlando area and an airplane hangar to serve as a rehearsal space and recording studio, the possibilities seem endless for Trivium. Their latest and tenth record, In The Court Of The Dragon, has been met with nearly unanimous praise from fans and critics alike, and with good reason. If you ask most longtime fans, they’ll tell you that Shogun (2008) is the band’s greatest masterpiece and a standard to which all other albums should be held. A fair majority will also tell you that In The Court Of The Dragon is their best work since then. After about a dozen listens, I’m inclined to agree.
There are many elements reminiscent of earlier works such as Ascendancy, Shogun, and The Crusade to be found on this album, yet none of it feels stale or recycled. Instead, it presents as simultaneously nostalgic and fresh. Much of that is due to frontman Matt Heafy truly pushing his vocal range to new limits. Heafy boasts countless vocal styles throughout the album, and all are well suited in their respective tracks as he transitions from deep growls to high melodies and everything in between. However, that is not to say that his talent overshadows the rest of the group by any means. Corey Beaulieu (guitar), Paolo Gregoletto (bass), and Alex Bent (drums) are all at the top of their game, both in the studio and on stage. It’s not surprising that the band has managed to hold onto fans for two decades while collecting new ones with each release. This was evident last week in Orlando, where fans of all ages packed into The Beacham for their album release show.
The set started off just as the album with the instrumental introduction “X” leading into the title track. The crowd immediately erupted as the first verse began and flashing lights finally illuminated the band. The excitement caused the barrier to shake and it wasn’t long before crowd surfers made their way over it. Since Trivium hadn’t had a chance to tour in support of 2020’s What The Dead Men Say, there was also an incredible response to “Catastrophist” and “Amongst the Shadows and the Stones,” the latter being one of the heaviest songs in the set.
As to be expected during a Trivium concert, the energy on stage was just as intense as it was in the audience. The guys moved back and forth across the stage while head banging, smiling, and screaming the lyrics along with the fans even when they weren’t in front of their mics. Heafy did a fantastic job of hyping the crowd with constant bouts of fist pumping and taking his signature “tongue out, guitar in the air” stance that is always well received (and fun to photograph as well). It’s obvious that Trivium absolutely loves performing live, and their dedication is clear given how flawlessly they pull off even the most intricate riffs and solos.
The rest of the set included a mix of songs from the band’s discography including some fan favorites with anthemic choruses that lend themselves well to crowd sing-alongs such as “Strife” and “The Heart From Your Hate.” Heavier tracks like “Rain,” “Down From The Sky,” and “Pull Harder On The Strings Of Your Martyr” created circle pits and more crowd surfing. Orlando was also treated to the live premiere of “The Phalanx,” one of my personal favorites from the new album. Unsurprisingly, they nailed it. Most of the audience sang along to the almost brand new track, proving just how dedicated a fanbase Trivium has built over the years. Throughout the night, the digital backdrop changed to display different album artwork, adding an interesting aesthetic to the stage. As they do with most shows, Trivium concluded with “Capsizing The Sea” and “In Waves,” which is always guaranteed to ensue pure chaos. The stairs leading up to the balcony shook as everyone followed Heafy’s lead and crouched down then jumped in unison. Overall, it was a phenomenal experience for anyone who was seeing Trivium for the first time or the twentieth time, and everyone left the venue sweaty and smiling.
Stream and purchase In The Court Of The Dragon HERE
All images captured by Ali Brant Photography
