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Vengeance Falls

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Vengeance Falls
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 10, 2013
RecordedFebruary–March 2013
StudioDMD Productions, Austin, Texas
Genre
Length47:47
LabelRoadrunner
ProducerDavid Draiman
Trivium studio album chronology
In Waves
(2011)
Vengeance Falls
(2013)
Silence in the Snow
(2015)
Singles from Vengeance Falls
  1. "Brave This Storm"
    Released: July 31, 2013[4]
  2. "Strife"
    Released: August 20, 2013
  3. "Through Blood and Dirt and Bone"
    Released: July 18, 2014
  4. "Villainy Thrives"
    Released: August 6, 2014

Vengeance Falls is the sixth studio album by American heavy metal band Trivium. It was released October 10, 2013, in Japan,[5] October 14, 2013, in UK, and October 15, 2013, in US through Roadrunner Records and was produced by David Draiman, the lead vocalist of the band Disturbed.[6] It is the second and last album to feature drummer Nick Augusto before his departure from the band in May 2014.

Background

[edit]

In January 2013, bassist Paolo Gregoletto posted photos of the band working on their next studio release. In one of the pictures, vocalist Matt Heafy was sitting next to David Draiman of Disturbed; leading to some speculation that he would play a part in the album's conception. It was later confirmed via Gregoletto's Facebook that Draiman would in fact be the producer.[7]

In an interview with Thrash Hits, Draiman revealed that the album's title was Vengeance Falls. Matt Heafy in particular was satisfied with Draiman's work on the album, calling him the "most hands-on producer" they've ever worked with. He went on to say that "Draiman helped me gain another four to six notes in my upper vocal range, which is something I never thought was possible ... He helped with every instrument, every song, helping create melodies – his ability to create melody is one of the most staggering things I've ever seen."[8]

Release and promotion

[edit]

The band performed the song "Brave This Storm" live on July 28, 2013 at Rock the City Bucharest in Romania and released the studio version three days later as a free digital download.[9] Gregoletto stated in an interview that this song was just a teaser and the new album's first single was "Strife".[10]

"Strife" was performed live for the first time on August 1, 2013 at the Resurrection Fest at Viveiro in Spain and it's available to stream via YouTube. Vengeance Falls became available for pre-order at their official website on August 20. The first single was available as an instant download with all pre-orders. Buyers would receive a digital copy of the album, downloadable on the day of release. "No Way to Heal" was released on September 30, the third song to be streamed.[11]

On October 10, 2023, for the 10-year anniversary, a remastered edition of Vengeance Falls was released.[12]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic74/100[13]
Review scores
SourceRating
About.com[14]
AllMusic[3]
Alternative Press[15]
Classic Rock Magazine[13]
The Guardian[2]
Metal Hammer[16]
New Noise Magazine[17]
Premier Guitar[18]
Rock Sound[19]
Sputnikmusic[20]

Vengeance Falls has received mostly positive reviews from professional critics, but has proven controversial among die-hard fans, mostly because of the decision of hiring David Draiman as a producer.[21] The Guardian stated "This is a proud and focused heavy metal album that eschews current trends in favour of great songs, massive grooves, blazing lead breaks and a disarming air of combative euphoria".[2] Another positive review came from AllMusic, when Gregory Heaney commented "With a songwriting that emphasizes quality over quantity or complexity, the album feels more precise in its execution, with every moment expertly placed in order to serve the songs rather than show off the band's musicianship (which is, as always, considerable)".[3]

One of the most recognized songs by the critics is "Strife". New Noise Magazine describes it as "an anthemic Shogun-esque track, with soaring riffs and a thick bass tone that captures Trivium at one of the high points of the album". Other impressive tracks are "Incineration: The Broken World" and "No Way to Heal", which is praised for its tempo changes and guitar solos ("The real kicker though is the intense solo at the end, by far one of the best in their catalogue of over one hundred songs").[14][17]

A more mixed review came from Sputnikmusic staff reviewer Thompson D. Gerhart, who gave the album a three out of five. "Vengeance Falls is an album with utility." and also stated "You must try to understand: Trivium really are the next Metallica, for better or worse."

Commercial performance

[edit]

The album debuted at No. 15 on the Billboard 200 albums chart on its release, selling 15,000 copies in the United States in its first week.[22] It also debuted at No. 6 on Billboard's Top Rock Albums,[23] and No. 2 on Hard Rock Albums.[24] The album has sold 69,000 copies in the United States as of September 2015.[25]

Track listing

[edit]

All tracks are written by Trivium, except where noted

Standard edition
No.TitleLength
1."Brave This Storm"4:29
2."Vengeance Falls"4:13
3."Strife"4:29
4."No Way to Heal"4:05
5."To Believe"4:32
6."At the End of This War"4:47
7."Through Blood and Dirt and Bone"4:26
8."Villainy Thrives"4:54
9."Incineration: The Broken World"5:52
10."Wake (The End Is Nigh)"6:00
Total length:47:47
Special edition
No.TitleLength
11."No Hope for the Human Race"3:59
12."As I Am Exploding"5:51
13."Skulls... We Are 138" (Misfits cover; written by Glenn Danzig)3:31
Total length:61:08
Japanese edition bonus track[5]
No.TitleLength
14."Losing My Religion" (R.E.M. cover; written by Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Michael Stipe)4:40
Total length:65:43

Personnel

[edit]

Trivium[26]

Production and design

  • David Draiman – producer
  • Andy Sharp and Jeremy Parker – engineering
  • Colin Richardson and Carl Bown – mixing at Treehouse Studio Chesterfield, United Kingdom
  • Ted Jensen – mastering at Sterling Sound, New York City
  • Ashley Heafy – layout
  • David Rath – A&R
  • Brent Elliott White – artwork
  • Travis Shinn – photography

Charts

[edit]
Chart (2013) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[27] 8
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[28] 10
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[29] 57
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[30] 58
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[31] 12
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[32] 11
French Albums (SNEP)[33] 78
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[34] 10
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[35] 40
Irish Albums (IRMA)[36] 39
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[37] 18
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[38] 25
Scottish Albums (OCC)[39] 15
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[40] 27
UK Albums (OCC)[41] 23
UK Album Downloads (OCC)[42] 31
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[43] 2
US Billboard 200[44] 15
US Digital Albums (Billboard)[45] 18
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[46] 2
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[47] 6
US Top Tastemaker Albums (Billboard)[48] 14

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Trivium: Vengeance Falls | Reviews @ Ultimate-Guitar.com". Ultimate Guitar. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Dom Lawson (October 10, 2013). "Trivium: Vengeance Falls – review | Music". theguardian.com. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  3. ^ a b c Heaney, Gregory. Vengeance Falls at AllMusic. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  4. ^ "Trivium Brave This Storm (Single)". Spirit of Metal. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  5. ^ a b "日本語タイトル: ヴェンジャンス・フォールズ [初回限定スペシャルプライス盤]/ トリヴィアム". CDJapan. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  6. ^ "Trivium – "Vengeance Falls" On October 15!". Roadrunner Records. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  7. ^ "DISTURBED's David Draiman Producing New TRIVIUM Album". Metalinjection.net. January 16, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
  8. ^ Freeman, Phil (March 25, 2013). "Exclusive Interview: Matt Heafy". Roadrunner Records. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  9. ^ "Trivium Debut "Brave This Storm," Offer Free Download". Underthegunreview.net. July 31, 2013. Archived from the original on January 8, 2015. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
  10. ^ "Access: Paolo Gregoletto of Trivium at Getaway Rock Festival 2013". YouTube. August 9, 2013. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  11. ^ "Trivium: 'Vengeance Falls' Track Listing Revealed". Blabbermouth.net. August 1, 2013. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  12. ^ Vengeance Falls (2023 Remaster) by Trivium, October 10, 2013, retrieved October 10, 2023
  13. ^ a b "Vengeance Falls Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  14. ^ a b Chad Bowar. "Trivium – Vengeance Falls Review". About. Archived from the original on December 2, 2014. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  15. ^ "Trivium – Vengeance Falls – Alternative Press". Altpress.com. October 15, 2013. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  16. ^ "1236792_10151685513716896_872007682_n.jpg (642x960 pixels)". September 14, 2013. Archived from the original on September 14, 2013. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  17. ^ a b "Album Review: Trivium – "Vengeance Falls"". New Noise Magazine. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  18. ^ "Trivium's Vengeance Falls (Media Review) – Premier Guitar". Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  19. ^ Richard Cartey. "Trivium – Vengeance Falls | Reviews | Rock Sound". Rocksound.tv. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  20. ^ Thompson D. Gerhart. "Trivium – Vengeance Falls (album review)". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
  21. ^ "Trivium's New Album Vengeance Falls Available For Full Streaming". Rocksins. October 7, 2013. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  22. ^ "TRIVIUM's 'Vengeance Falls' Cracks U.S. Top 15". October 23, 2013.
  23. ^ "Top Rock Albums". Billboard. November 2, 2013.
  24. ^ "Hard Rock Albums". Billboard. November 2, 2013.
  25. ^ "Upcoming Releases". Hits Daily Double. HITS Digital Ventures. Archived from the original on September 17, 2015.
  26. ^ "Trivium: Vengeance Is Fine". Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  27. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Trivium – Vengeance Falls". Hung Medien.
  28. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Trivium – Vengeance Falls" (in German). Hung Medien.
  29. ^ "Ultratop.be – Trivium – Vengeance Falls" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
  30. ^ "Ultratop.be – Trivium – Vengeance Falls" (in French). Hung Medien.
  31. ^ "Trivium Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard.
  32. ^ "Trivium: Vengeance Falls" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
  33. ^ "Lescharts.com – Trivium – Vengeance Falls". Hung Medien.
  34. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Trivium – Vengeance Falls" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  35. ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2013. 43. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ.
  36. ^ "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 42, 2013". Chart-Track. IRMA.
  37. ^ "ヴェンジャンス・フォールズ(初回限定スペシャル・パッケージ盤) – トリヴィアム – ORICON STYLE". Oricon.co.jp. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
  38. ^ "Charts.nz – Trivium – Vengeance Falls". Hung Medien.
  39. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  40. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Trivium – Vengeance Falls". Hung Medien.
  41. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  42. ^ 26, 2013/7003/ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  43. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  44. ^ "Trivium Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
  45. ^ "Trivium Chart History (Digital Albums)".[dead link] Billboard.
  46. ^ "Trivium Chart History (Top Hard Rock Albums)". Billboard.
  47. ^ "Trivium Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard.
  48. ^ "Trivium Chart History (Top Tastemaker Albums)". Billboard.