Already the second Roadrunner Records CD that (positively) drives me nuts in 2005. After the traditional squadron 3 INCHES OF BLOOD now TRIVIUM are sowing storms. After their debut for Lifeforce Records the second long player "Ascendancy" makes the plaster fall off the wall, I had been so naïve to think that the new DARK TRANQUILLITY CD could not be topped this year, but I have been deadly wrong.

I truly am not a friend of modern sounds, but this troop really has got something going here. Insane guitar salvos meet melodies with longevity and variety is trump as well. If there was not the shout vocals, I would talk about a pure POWER Metal album. Several clear vocals loosen the whole thing up, though. Comparisons? OK, roughly one could talk about a cross over between ARCH ENEMY’s "Anthems Of Rebellion" and VICIOUS RUMORS’ "Welcome To The Ball". You definitely have to have heard "A Gunshot To The Head Of Trepidation", a pure headbanger with 80s typical "Hey hey hey" chorus. Or the aggro smasher "Rain" or...

Anyways, you’ll have to hear the whole album, this is how you combine tradition with current sounds. And then the incredibly huge production, a dream. (Online May 16, 2005)