Trivium - Ember to Inferno
Lifeforce Records - 2003
By Adam McAuley
A very pretty orchestrated intro foreshadows the varied metalcore via melodic death metal assault about to rock your eardrums. The complexity of the arrangements here isn't quite typical of the former genre, but the vocals are, and lets get that facet out of the way first. Matt Heafy's harsh vocals are excellent and perfectly suited to the music. When more melodic portions take over and he shifts into clean vocals, prepare to brace your ears. The latter are very strange and actually more annoying than effective.
Some decent tracks are found near the beginning of the album, but it isn't until the late stages when things start to pick up a bit and become more enjoyable. The title track is a fairly decent song, while
"To Burn the Eye" has a pleasant chorus and subsequent tracks hold up to its high standard.
"My Hatred" begins the closing triumvirate that is certainly the most enjoyable portion of the work. Suspense is built up, songs become slightly longer and more epic, and the band finally starts to begin firing on all cylinders. The finale,
"A View of Burning Empires", is orchestrated much like the beginning of the album for continuance.
Aside from the previously mentioned sub-par clean vocals, the band is tight as a unit, and one can only expect better things in the future. More ambitious than what you might expect,
Ember to Inferno is a cohesive piece of work that should appeal to fans looking for metalcore that goes slightly above and beyond the norm.
7.5/10
Lifeforce Records’ Official Website
Trivium’s Official Website
