“From the first note, this EP reinstates its heavy nature and Trivium’s undeniable mastery of their craft.”
Trivium is one of the most well-known legends of the metal world. The band has spanned a two-decade-plus career, releasing one defining album after the other. So, naturally, fans were hungry for more since 2021’s “In the Court of the Dragon”. Well, Trivium’s latest EP “Struck Dead” does a fantastic job of curving the fans’ appetite while the band tours Europe and continues to work on new material. While only having 3 songs, the band still manages to curate an EP that is full of passionate vocals, gut-wrenching breakdowns, catchy riffs, and everything that is expected from Trivium.
“Bury Me with My Screams” was released on August 7th of this year as the first single. This song seems to focus on not giving up and (figuratively) kicking and screaming until one is buried in the ground. Musically, this song is a powerhouse. From the intro of the first note, this album reinstates its heavy nature from the first note. The verses contain powerful, harsh vocals that lead into a heartfelt, bouncy chorus. Before the last chorus, we are treated to an amazing breakdown where the band really shines as a whole.
“Struck Dead (Pain is Easier to Remember)” is unique in the beginning as we are treated with a powerful vocal line of “pain is easier to remember” with this amazing dropped-down chugging intro that transitions into the verse while continuing the same tempo. However, in the chorus, we are treated to a fun chorus that will have everyone two-stepping. From there, we are greeted with a fast heart bridge, with the guitar being a highlight here, as most of the bridge is consumed with a shredding guitar solo.
“Six Walls Surround Me” has to be the standout on this EP. This final track needs to be singled out as every composition and piece of the song ties the Struck Dead together, and even at over a 7-minute runtime, the song never manages to get stale. We are greeted with a beautiful classical acoustic composition that leads into the heavy nature that the band is known for. While vocals are here, this song seems to focus on the instrumental side, which works for this song and again opens the door for the opportunity to showcase every talent of Trivium. The EP ends with the line “Six walls surround me, my death is near” as the music slowly fades away.
In summary, the EP makes up in composition and song length for the short tracklist. Trivium had the opportunity to record this EP in their own purchased space, and this allowed them to show how freedom can have a positive effect on creativity. From the first to the third track, the band delivered. They were able to understand, if they were going to make an EP with just three songs, they were going to be the best songs they ever delivered. Trivium understood the assignment and excelled.
