The Sin and the Sentence

Since I was fourteen, I discovered Trivium thanks to YouTube. The first album I listened to was Vengeance Falls. I thought it was a good band, but it didn't fully hook me 100%. It wasn’t until the exact moment this album was released. I clearly remember that day, coming back from school, and within the first few seconds, I was blown away by the way this crushing album starts.

Trivium has become one of my all-time favorite bands, and it’s all thanks to this album. These guys managed to create an album that embodies what true modern metalcore should sound like. Sure, it sounds quite commercial, but we can't deny how inspired, creative, emotional, and chaotic this album is. Let's break it down.

At around 58 minutes, Trivium kicks off what would become their most notable trilogy of albums to date. The inclusion of drummer Alex Bent is the best decision this band has ever made in its history. He came from playing with much more brutal bands like Brain Drill, Decrepit Birth, etc. Alex contributes a lot to this album, as he can be so fast and devastating that many of the songs have certain death metal passages. Songs like Beyond Oblivion are where we can best appreciate how devastating he is on the drums, executing rolls, blast beats, and performing in a very remarkable way.

The same goes for songs like Betrayer, Sever the Hand, and The Revanchist, where we can also notice that the instrumental parts are much more elaborate. The hooks are evident, of course, as this is what is intended in this type of metal, but we can't deny that it's quite forceful, and not a second is wasted, ensuring that no song feels unnecessarily long. Of course, the length of the songs is fully justified. It shows all the rage and contained emotions that many of the album’s songs aim to convey.

The album presents us with very emotional passages, full of rage and strength in most of the songs, making it a very enjoyable and entertaining listen. But it also gives us some songs that convey more reflection, nostalgia, and mixed emotions. Songs like Other Worlds, The Heart from Your Hate, Endless Night are more radio-friendly or simply singles to attract a broader audience. They are quite pleasant and give the album a break, as they are well-placed and create a good dynamic, so you don't feel like they are out of place. The tracklist is also very well constructed, with the heavier songs at the beginning, giving a pause in the middle with sadder songs, and then returning to the heavy material.

Matt Heafy and Corey Beaulieu are one of the best duos in modern metal. Corey’s solos are chaotic and have a more significant impact when executed, showcasing his incredible technique. Matt’s solos tend to be the most memorable and melodic on the album. This guy can create solos that are very emotional, reflective, and filled with rage. What more can I say? Just listen to those solos in the title track The Sin and the Sentence.

The bass is also quite notable and prominent throughout the album. Paolo Gregoletto delivers one of the best bass performances of his career, and this is also where he starts contributing more backing vocals, which he does very well, as his clean voice fits nicely alongside Matt’s.

This is where Matt returns to aggressive vocals—not guttural but still delivering tremendous screams that make you feel the fury. We miss his deeper vocals, but this vocal style fits perfectly for many of the songs, blending with his clean voice when the chorus comes in, making many of the tracks more memorable and epic, expected to be performed live. Matt is definitely one of the best vocalists in modern metal, but he’s quite underrated.

The most controversial aspect of this band is the style in which we could categorize them. Is it metalcore, melodic death metal, thrash metal? I’d say it’s a combination of all these styles, with some very timid but still noticeable touches of progressive elements. Above all, the melodic death metal of Gothenburg, influenced by bands like At The Gates and In Flames, is undeniable. They’ve known how to take advantage of this influence and incorporate it into their own style, which may not be entirely original, but no current metalcore band comes close to them.

This is my favorite album of all time. In fact, it was the first one I bought on CD. Even after two more albums following this one, I get the impression that this is where they began, and they unleashed a strong inspiration and talent that has been demonstrated and proven in subsequent releases. Many modern metal bands should look up to Trivium. This is how true commercial metal should sound, done without pretensions or following trends—just making forceful, memorable music that comes straight from the heart, which is what Trivium conveys with The Sin and the Sentence.