Trivium, Anvil @ The Espy,Melbourne (23/02/10)

Sat 27th Feb, 2010 in Gig Reviews

Melbourne is an addictive place; just ask Trivium. Returning for the third time in as many years, they hit our shores spruiking a new drummer and some serious attitude. A band of their ilk outgrew the capacity of the Gershwin Room at the Espy several years ago so it was clear that this Sidewave was going to tear the roof off!

Anvil’s energy and commitment to the cause of metal was infectious and they had the crowd heaving in the early stages of the show. Riding a wave of recent popularity from the rockumentary The Story of Anvil Anvil were clearly playing to new fans, but there were also die hard fans (some holding old vinyl) who had come just to see Anvil and the fact that these journeymen have finally “made it”. Stand out racks included Metal on Metal and This is Thirteen and their ability to entertain was certainly in the upper echelons of professionalism.

The prospect of seeing Trivium in such a small venue was very appealing and they didn’t disappoint. Their live sound was impeccable and incredibly loud and they played with a frenzied energy that seemed all the more enjoyable due to the intimate setting. Their new drummer Nick Augusto had some big shoes to fill but fitted seamlessly into the line up and could have been playing with them for years. Matt Heafy was great when growling and better when screaming. He is a truly accomplished front man and guitarist and is complemented amazingly by the other shred master of the band Corey Beaulieu and bass player Paulo Gregoletto.

Their set was based on a good mix of old and new songs but the clear focus of the night was their new track Shattering the Skies Above, which sounded like a thrash anthem of biblical proportions when heard live. There was a smattering of typical staples from their most successful albums, Ascendancy and Shogun and the stand out tracks as always, were Rain and Pull Harder on the Strings of Your Martyr, similar to their previous shows when touring in Oz.

Each time I see them I am amazed at their tireless work ethic and technical proficiency in a live setting. While they have had their critics over the years, Trivium put on a show that very few would be able to match and seeing them so up close and personal was a rare treat.

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