Trivium - are they as good as the hype?

In less than a year Trivium have been transferred from metal hopefuls to potential metal gods. When they took to the stage at Belfast's Ulster Hall on March 5th, there were still a few doubters in the crowd as to whether they could ascend to the hallowed acclaim of true contenders.

A savagely ripped audience, utterly exhausted, filed out into the Belfast night, after the Floridian quartet took their bows to the strains of Queen's We Are The Champions. The houselights were up, but still the band were receiving plaudits.

And those plaudits were well deserved.

The case for the Trivium naysayers has always been that they were technically good but all that growling was a wee bit much. For the backers it has always been that this is but one part of the band's rich musical tapestry.

And it was indeed a rich musical feast that was served up....okay that's enough metal reviewer clichés - Trivium fucking rocked like a bastard dog on heat and ready to take on all comers.

It was somehow weird to find out they are really nice guys. Belfast Metal Reunited hooked up with bassist Paolo before the show for an interview with another publication and guess what - top bloke!

Was this the same man who took to the stage with his compadres and ripped it up? Yeah, and what a nice guy - signing autographs, chatting, posing for pics.

That was at 5.30, just after a tough soundcheck and news that Matt's voice was struggling under the relentles touring schedule.

Four hours later Paolo was laying down tight rhythms with drummer Travis while Matt and Corey wove intricate guitar patterns.

From set opener through Ember, Gunshot and a host of others the band were conductors to mayhem on the floor, with circle pits breaking out, mad bouncing and voices raised in yells of delight.

Set closer Dying in Your Arms was greeted with a mass singalong, before a surprise encore selection. Hold tight, because when the band returned to the stage they riffed to Van Halen, Thin Lizzy, Blink 182 (seriously!), Dio, Pantera and ripped into storming versions of 'Deth's Symphony and 'Tallica's Seek and Destroy. And that was before bringing a member of the crowd up to singalong a 'Tallica for a storming version of Master of Puppets. (and didn't he do well folks...)

The night ended with Pull Harder on the Strings...and an exhausted crowd managed one last pit, one last chantalong-a-Trivium. And fuck was it FUN! As good as the hype? Much, much better!

The night had opened with a strong effort from Mendeed. The audience were obviously unfamiliar with the songs, but still managed to raise a fist or two.

God Forbid were the special guests - and remember Trivium used to support them - and managed to raise chants and have their name drawn out of what could have been a very partisan crowd.

They played a goodly selection from '...Treason' and Corey proved that as a frontman, he was more than earned his stripes working the crowd and glaring and grinning in equal manner. There was a vague hint they'd be back. Seems like they might get a decent crowd!

And before this review ends, big credit to Martin, tour manager - sound as a pound and nice as ninepence - a man of talent, courtesy and diplomacy. Cheers mate!