Trivium is a heavy metal band from Orlando, Florida that formed in 2000 and is one of the most notable bands in the New Wave of American Heavy Metal.[3] The band comprises of vocalist and rhythm guitarist Matt Heafy, lead guitarist Corey Beaulieu, bassist Paolo Gregoletto, and drummer Travis Smith. Since its inception, Trivium has released three studio albums, nine singles, and is currently working on an album due in late 2008. Signed to Roadrunner Records, the band has attended major music festivals, including Ozzfest and the Download Festival.
At his middle school talent show at Lake Brantley High School, guitarist Matt Heafy performed cover versions of Metallica's "No Leaf Clover" and "Self Esteem" by The Offspring. Vocalist Brad Lewter noticed Heafy and asked him to try out for his band. The pair went over to drummer Travis Smith's house where they played Metallica's "For Whom the Bell Tolls". Impressed with Heafy's performance, they accepted him into the band known as Trivium. After several shows at bars, Lewter quit the band and Heafy took over his position as vocalist. In early 2001, Trivium went into the recording studio to record its first high-quality demo disc. A copy of the demo was heard by German label Lifeforce, who signed Trivium and sent the band to record its debut album, Ember to Inferno.
The band members changed instruments to constitute a new line-up; Brent Young decided to continue with bass, and Corey Beaulieu became the second lead guitarist. In 2004, Paolo Gregoletto joined as the band's bassist to replace Young, before a tour with Machine Head. Ember to Inferno was a small success and managed to garner the interest of Roadrunner Records representatives. The label signed Trivium and the band members and began writing songs for their major album debut.
In 2004, Trivium recorded its second album, Ascendancy, in Audiohammer Studios and Morrisound Recording in Florida. Produced by Heafy and Jason Suecof, the album was released on March 15, 2005. The album debuted at number 151 on the Billboard 200 and at number four on the Billboard Heatseekers chart. All Music Guide reviewer Johnny Loftus stated on Ascendancy, Trivium is a "ridiculously tight quartet, unleashing thrilling dual guitar passages and pummeling kick drum gallops as surely as they do melodic breaks and vicious throat screeds" and Rod Smith of Decibel magazine praised "Smith’s impeccably articulated beats, bassist Paolo Gregoletto’s contained thunder, and, especially, Heafy and guitarist Cory Beaulieu’s liquid twin leads."
Singles and music videos were released for "Like Light to the Flies", "Pull Harder on the Strings of Your Martyr", "A Gunshot to the Head of Trepidation", and "Dying in Your Arms". The videos for these songs gained rotation on MTV2's Headbangers Ball. In support of the album, Trivium played on numerous tours with well known artists. The band opened for Machine Head, who were one of Heafy's largest influences, Killswitch Engage, Iced Earth, and Fear Factory. Trivium played at Road Rage 2005,Ozzfest, and made an appearance at the Download Festival. Ascendancy was re-released in 2006 with four bonus tracks and a DVD containing all of the band's music videos and live footage.
In April 2006, after a headlining tour with Mendeed and God Forbid as openers, Trivium entered the studio with Suecof and Heafy producing again. The band played the Download Festival again, this time on the main stage with Korn and Metallica. Trivium released The Crusade on October 10, 2006. Debuting at number 25 on the Billboard 200, the album sold over 32,000 copies in its first week of sales. The album was a critical success, with Andy Greene of Rolling Stone claiming "Nothing mars a good metal record like so-called harsh vocals" and Don Kaye of Blabbermouth.net stating The Crusade "is one of the best metal releases of 2006 and quite possibly the heavy music album of the year." On The Crusade, Heafy's vocals changed from a metalcore scream that was heard on Ascendancy, to more singing on this album. This new singing style, along with the band's thrash metal music were critisized of sounding too much like Metallica, who was a major influence on the band. Heafy commented on the change:
If anyone is wondering why the screaming is gone it's because the four of us were never into bands that scream and we don't like any of the current bands that scream, so we asked ourselves why we're doing it. This time around I wanted to be a better singer because that's what we wanted to hear, so we dropped the screaming and did a lot of vocal training and vocal work.
—Matt Heafy
The band supported the album by touring with Iron Maiden, Metallica, a stage on the Black Crusade tour with Machine Head, Arch Enemy, DragonForce, and Shadows Fall, and an opening slot on the Family Values Tour with Korn. Trivium was named the best live band of 2006 at the Metal Hammer Golden God Awards.
Trivium started working on a new album with produc
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