Trivium / God Forbid
16 March 2006
London Astoria
Entering the Astoria and taking up our position on the balcony for the second of two sold out shows, my first impression was where was everyone? The balcony was far from packed, but looking below at the sardine can like crowd downstairs, it was apparent the majority of Trivium`s fans wanted to be up close and personal.
God Forbid have watched Trivium over take them in popularity, but they were nothing but gracious to tonight`s headliners who afforded them a sizeable portion of the stage and full lights.
The band was greeted enthusiastically with a "God Forbid" chant as they took the stage to the taped intro to End Of The World. Byron Davis was the ringmaster, constantly slapping hands with those in the front row and ensuring maximum volume as the crowd sang back "This Is The End" at the song`s climax.
The fact that this is the second night meant the sound was very good from the off, with the Coyle brothers rich guitar harmonies flooding the venue during Gone Forever. Of course they also expertly harmonize vocals, providing a lush backdrop for Davis caustic roars.
The twin guitar bliss of Antihero would most likely have been met by a mosh pit had there been room. Instead the packed floor moved and swayed like a liquid mass. Coupling To The Fallen Hero, with an announcement that the band will play Download this year and then launching into Pantera`s Mouth For War, pushed the crowd reaction to a climax. However, wanting to mix things up from the previous night, God Forbid delved back to the Determination album for Broken Promises. Curiously when I saw the band last year at the Camden Underworld, all hell let loose for this song, but tonight it seemed lost on an unknowing crowd. Perhaps this is an indication of a move in God Forbid`s fan base.
Crucify Your Beliefs finished things in a furious fashion and at its conclusion watching Corey Pierce throw drum sticks into the crowd was like watching someone throwing fish food in a carp pond from the struggling and writhing to get one.
God Forbid set list:
End Of The World / Gone Forever / Chains Of Humanity / Antihero / Precious Lie / To The Fallen Hero / Mouth For War / Broken Promises / Crucify Your Beliefs
Trivium are bloody huge now. They could easily have played Brixton Academy tonight with tickets for these two sold out gigs commanding ridiculous prices on ebay. This is not unwarranted however as on top of releasing one hell of an album with Ascendancy the band have been backing it up with consistently strong live shows.
Coincidental, given their presence at this show, we had witnessed Dragonforce play a low key show at the Camden Barfly last year to comfortably headline the Astoria this year with full stage set up. Similarly, the last time we had caught Trivium was at the packed Barfly, but tonight they seemed more than at home prowling their stage platforms. On tonight`s showing they should be more than comfortable opening for Iron Maiden at the end of the year.
A lot of this is down to the confidence of frontman Matt Heafy, which borders on cocky. Heafy, who is looking much more "metal" as his hair grows out, owes a lot to one of his idols James Hetfield. From his self assured personality to his leaning forward, wide legged stance whilst singing, memories of Master Of Puppets era Metallica spring to mind.
Whilst by no means a bad album, debut Ember To Inferno pails in comparison next to Ascendancy and the songs from that album played tonight pad out the set rather than add to it. If Trivium are capable of putting out another world class album of Ascendancy`s quality, it`s likely they`ll continue the path some of their heroes have taken. Over the last decade there seems to have been a focus on the latest "in" band and for once there is one with some substance.
It`s encouraging to see young metal fans appreciating a band`s ability to play their instruments evidence by the response to a guitar duel between Heafy and Corey Beaulieu. Actually some of the hero worship seemed obsessive, though it was thrown into context when getting a beer from the bar I spotted the familiar face of Bruce Dickinson right next to me. All coolness went out of the window in meeting one of my own heroes and he graciously agreed to a photograph.
Heading back into the hall, Trivium were mid cover medley with a fan singing Master Of Puppets. They then launched into The Trooper, leading me to hope Mr Dickinson would make an appearance. However, Heafy shouted "You sing it" and the audience duly obliged.
Unsurprisingly Trivium`s anthem Pull Harder On The Strings Of Your Martyr closed the set. It seems the band will also be back at Download this year and I pity the band that has to follow them.
Trivium set list:
The End Of Everything / Like Light To Flies / Rain / Suffocating Sight / Washing Me Away In The Tides / The Deceived / A Gunshot To The Head Of Trepidation / Ember To Inferno / Requiem / Drown & Torn Asunder / Declaration / Dying In Your Arms / Covers Medley / Pull Harder On The Strings Of Your Martyr
LINKS:
Trivium
God Forbid
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