TRIVIUM Frontman On New Album: 'I Truly Believe It Sounds More Like Us Than Ever'

Florida metallers TRIVIUM recently finished recording their new album at Audiohammer Studios in Sanford, Florida with the production/mixing team of Colin Richardson (MACHINE HEAD, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE, SLIPKNOT, FEAR FACTORY) and Martin "Ginge" Ford. The follow-up to 2008's "Shogun" is being mixed in England for a summer release via Roadrunner Records.

In a recent interview with U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine, TRIVIUM guitarist/vocalist Matt Heafy stated about the songwriting process for the band's new CD, "We've been writing for a year and a half to two years. We demoed for eight months on our own and spent two and a half days in pre-production.

"When we did [2006's] 'The Crusade', we were in a very weird time as a band; we weren't talking very much, it was very tense. I used to hate going to band practice and used to hate touring because it was always such a weird environment… so tense. Now everything is just fun. There are no limits to creativity now.

"[Bassist] Paolo [Gregoletto] has really stepped up as an integral songwriter on this record. Most of the music we started with on this record was brought to us by Paolo. He has really created this new soundscape for this band that's kind of mindblowing.

"The last record was our 'super-long-song' record. This one doesn't have as many long songs as [2008's] 'Shogun', but they are there when it's appropriate to do so. Some of the songs are the most to-to-point and best songs we've ever done that's not about technicality."

"Having our four brains and all our ears together for eight months, we have learned what each person is supposed to do in the band, like what we each bring to the table, what each person can offer a song. I truly believe it sounds more like us than ever.

"Some of the songs are the most intense technically and maybe melodically. It's such a broad spectrum [of sounds], but it really feels like it all fits. There are things on here we've never done before."

"The whole concept of this album has been thought out for a year, so it's not just music, it's a whole package, enhanced and realized. We've had the album art done for awhile now and there are days when I just sit and stare at it and listen to the music we have and write lyrics. Even now I don't know what the picture of of, though. When I ask [the artist[ what it is, he just smiles and says, 'It is what it is.'"

Regarding what TRIVIUM's latest addition, drummer Nick Augusto, has added to the band's sound, Heafy said, "This is the first time Nick has ever been in a proper studio. He's a sick drummer; he can play technical death metal, extreme death, he can play blast beats at a million miles a minute, double-kick faster than kids who need triggers. But he's also learned to rein it in as well so we can bring in extra dimensions. People questioned whether he could play groove drums or simple rock things. He really can and it's incredible."

TRIVIUM's last album, "Shogun", sold just under 24,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 23 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD followed up "The Crusade", which opened with 31,000 copies in October 2006 to land at No. 25.

"Shogun" was released in North America on September 30, 2008 via Roadrunner Records. The CD was mixed in London by Colin Richardson, with Jeff Rose and Martin "Ginge" Ford assisting on engineering duties.