Not Their Best
As Trivium's mad stage set was being pieced together there was a heightened sense of excitement brewing as the first of tonight's co-headliners were about to hit the stage. Much like their latest album Vengeance Falls however it all just felt a little dull, and a tad half-hearted. Despite hit and miss moments throughout their album cycle, Trivium have always been pretty much dependable live, but tonight it all just felt a bit lacking. If looking to offer a comparison, when a similar tour, The Black Crusade, rolled into Brixton in 2007 Trivium absolutely stormed the roof off. We're now 7 years on from that, and after successfully slaughtering their own momentum yet again in that time, they just appeared lacklustre after the youthful fury of Miss May I and the anticipation for Killswitch later on.
The old tracks did stir a huge reaction, Like Light To Flies and A Gunshot to the Head of Trepidation sounding as big as ever, but tracks off of the new album just didn't have everyone going crazy. The final two tracks jolted everything back into life, both the crowd and band that is, as In Waves caused some frankly hysterical shout along moments and Pull Harder On The Strings Of Your Martyr triggered an earthquake across the venue in the only way it can. The flashes of brilliance were certainly there, but the constant crushing of new momentum sadly reflects their career as a whole. If you were at this show, or reading this and thinking of going to a Trivium gig in future, don't be disheartened because they truly can bring it live. Tonight just wasn't one of those nights.