With their latest album, "The Crusade", Trivium definitley has made a transition that some may critisize. The album has positive and negative qualities. A lot of people are judging it because Heafy went all clean vocals on this album, but also the fact that they are "becoming the next Metallica". It took me several months before I really got into this album, its something where you have to let it grow on you. Instrumentally, the guys amaze us yet again because they are all talented musicians with out a doubt. Heafy uses his voice as his tool, he can do what he wants with it, which is what he does in this album. He uses his melodic singing voice, for the catchy choruses, but their new thrash sound is evident not only in the fast metal riffs and breakdowns but also in Heafys rough raspy voice, where a lot of the Metallica comparisons come into play. Their instrumental talent can be best portrayed in their last track on the cd entitled "The Crusade". The over 8 minute all instrumental song really proves what the guys are capable of. The song transitions through many different progressions and themes. Their later works in Ember to Inferno and Ascendancy all dealt with typical themes such as sin, conformity, abuse, hypocrsiy, etc. I dont necessarily want to use the word generic, but their songs focused on everyday things, which definitley is not a bad thing. In The Crusade, they make a shift from everyday things that people can relate to, to more of world events. They sing about events that have taken place that were unjust which can be displayed in the song "Contempt Breeds Contamination", and 'Ignition" is about the current war going on. Majority of the songs appeal to me, and they have grown on me, but some of the songs I just havent gotten into such as "The Rising", it just doesnt really stick out to me or "wow" me, its rather bland, but thats just one song. There guitar solos on this album are abundant. They really rely on them to make this album what it is because they are the foundation of the songs. Overall, the cd should not be put away because Trivium isnt doing the same thing, they are coming into what they really want to do as musicians and you gotta respect that, even if your not completely into the music.

well, i see that everyone who was a trivium fan seems to loose all sight when i comes to music, they may not scream anymore, they may have adopted a new playing style, but how are they supossed to grow if they keep doing the same thing on each album, i think its because everyone is comparing them to METALLICA, And MAIDEN, but who gives a shit, did any one judge them when METALLICA Came Out With The Black Album, How james used actual singing rather then the voice he used on the previous albums, and what about LOAD and RELOAD, i mean common, not everyone like those albums. now im not bashing METALLICA, But no one seems to give them a chance and thats when you know the music has died within themselves. If any of you were real trivium fans, you would know that The Crusade, Is one of their best albums(Personally my Favorite is Ember To Inferno) and i must say Their Instrumental-The Crusade is a fast hard hitting musical geniuss work at hand and i cant wait what holds in store for the next album!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After an excellent album called Ascendancy, big things were expected from Trivium, and when I bought this album I hoped I wouldn't be dissapointed, but unfortunatly I was!
The album starts with Ignition, and already I knew this song was not one of their greatest. Second was Detonation, the beginning of this song is really bad and you have to wait halfway through the song to hear some decent solos.
Entrance of the Conflagration is some sort of consolation, it's beggining is decent and the whole song itself is pretty good, there are some good double bass drums and Corey and Matt pull off some decent riffs and solos.
Don't get me wrong, there are some decent songs on this album like Anthem (we are the fire) and This World can't Tear us Apart and Entrance of the Conflagration but some songs such as To the Rats and Becoming the Dragon just don't appeal to me as a Trivium fan.
My own oppinon is only download the songs you want, the album isn't to worth buying unless you're into Iron Maiden like artwork on front covers and Metalllica like singing.
I'm sure Trivium are happy with this album, but maybe the should've stuck with who they used to be!