Trivium

Trivium are determined to play a style of metal as heavy as their namesake, if the bare-chested, sword-wielding warrior on the cover is any indication. On The Crusade, they take a step back from the current metal scene and emulate a sound that's far closer to Master Of Puppets-era Metallica, even forsaking Cookie Monster vocals for a more old-school delivery reminiscent — if not identical — to early James Hetfield or Tom Araya. Musically, the band are tighter than ever. There's more depth to their interludes and greater emphasis on the guitar leads and solos, which remain both technically impressive and melodically purposeful. Still, though they update the classic sound, rarely does The Crusade offer anything new, and Trivium seem content to embrace traditional conventions instead of pushing boundaries.