What The Dead Men Say
| TriviumWhat The Dead Men Say
What the Dead Men Say is the ninth studio album by American heavy metal band Trivium. It was released on April 24, 2020 through Roadrunner Records and was produced by Josh Wilbur. -Wikipedia
Critic Reviews
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What The Dead Men Say expertly balances extremity and melody throughout. Some tracks are on the more mainstream end of the scale, like “Bleed Into Me” and “Scattering The Ashes” while songs such as “Sickness Unto You” and “Bending The Arc To Fear” lean toward the heavier side, with larger doses of harsh vocals.
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Wall of Sound
Trivium somehow marries the heavy, technical aspects of Shogun with the more melodic, commercial elements of Vengeance Falls and The Sin and the Sentence and in doing so, they have managed to create one of the best albums they have ever written.
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MetalSucks
It just doesn’t really seem worth listening to What the Dead Men Say when you can look to the new August Burns Red for vital metalcore, any number of throwback trad bands for sweet riffs, or Nickelback for big stupid radio rock hooks.
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All Music
While Trivium have always been stubborn about following their own way, What the Dead Men Say sounds like an intentional gift to longtime fans. Its consistency, diversity, energy, and songwriting prowess put the set on par with the band's very best work.
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Kerrang!
It’s not perfect (hello, Bending The Arc To Fear), but for a band previously hindered by wearing their influences so blatantly on their sleeve, they have made it to their final form. They are Trivium, and long may it continue.
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Louder
What The Dead Men Say has them winning again. One of metal’s most beloved bands are on the form of their lives right now. It doesn’t get much better than that.
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Metal Wani
It's brimming with energy; it is unapologetic in delivery; and is what many would expect the 'next step' for Trivium would be. This is definitely another step towards greatness for Trivium and is one that will bring the long term fans, and hopefully some of the more fringe fans along for the ride.
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Rock Sins
Strongest album start from Trivium in over a decade.
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Sonic Perspectives
Within each track and across the album as a whole, Trivium has shown incredible growth and maturity to make their most emotional and melodic release to date, increasingly intricate songwriting and decisive creativity making for one of the year’s strongest albums.
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Distorted Sound Magazine
What The Dead Men Say sees the quartet doubling down on the progress they have made, tightening their new-found style up considerably and executing it fantastically.
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The Soundboard
What The Dead Men Say is the sort of album that could make that a reality, in which an already great band has isolated their greatness even further to capture what does stand among their best work.
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Stargazed Magazine
There is a purpose of the delivery of the songs that is highly appealing and diverse. There is a level of energy in the songs that are also inviting to painting pictures in your head, at the same time as the accessibility of the music invites to jumping and headbanging.
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Riff Relevant
‘What the Dead Men Say‘ is a completely realized vision, thoughtful, challenging, and yet familiar.
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Sputnik Music
Trivium’s sounds may have some deep roots in the 80s thrash scene, but it's unmistakably modern metal is made for almost any audience - which is not such a bad thing for an act entrenched so deeply in what defines "mainstream" metal music.
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Dead Press
Taking from various metal subgenres, as well as their own material, ‘What The Dead Men Say’ helps to breathe an invigorating new chapter into Trivium‘s career. If the next album is as good as this one, it may be time to get them headlining Download Festival.
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Metal Nation
This is arguably a statement album; “This is Trivium. This is who we are.” In that declaration, they have freed themselves of outside expectation and leaned into what they do best. That is why this album and this band are among the best that modern metal has to offer, and why Trivium is poised to be a dominating force for at least another decade.
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Cryptic Rock
What The Dead Men Say is a complex, technically adept, compositionally lush album with layered storytelling, and the added benefit of creators who have fully come into their own as artists. The cinematic feel of this album makes it feel more full and well-rounded while staying intriguing to the ear. It is, at times, both gritty and refreshing, melodic, and intense.
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My Global Mind
Trivium has constructed a new release upon the foundations of their previous success “The Sin And The Sentence” and the results are evident in this new masterpiece, where they show how much they enjoy making exceptional modern metal music.
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Metal Noise
The riffs are electrifying, modernised classic Metal and there is nothing that holds this record back. Trivium have become one of the most important bands in modern Metal and long may that continue.
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Ultimate Guitar
It isn't a completely perfect album, with perhaps too much reliance on a single formula for songwriting, and lyrics that, at times, feel more like afterthoughts than something with a lot of time put into them, but if the band's previous record set your expectations high, you shouldn't be disappointed by this one, and this is sure to find its way into many top 10 lists of metal records for 2020.
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Metal Master Kingdom
If you loved the last record, you're going to love this one even more. I'm sure that by the time they hit the road again, fans will be begging for the entire record to be played, just like they did with the last record.
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WhatCulture
What the Dead Men Say has taken from the intentions of metalcore to be both heavy and hooky, but does so without sounding formulaic, stiff or unsubstantial. The album is something inspired heavily by the past, but stands already as a modern classic, both in the grand scheme of metal and the band’s own back catalogue.
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Backseat Mafia
Trivium have created an album for all fans of metal by creating an album that spans the full metal genre, be it black, death, melodic or just plain heavy. It may have taken then 15 plus years but here is a Trivium as God intended. Brutal, heavy and blistering.
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Stereoboard
Heafy’s grandiose warbling, the screams, the gang vocals, the huge hooks, blasting for days, riffs pulled from both the gutter and the heavens, and percussion that’d get a nervous thumbs-up from Gene Hoglan—then ‘What The Dead Men Say’ is your album of the year.
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Skulls N Bones
What The Dead Men Say kind of feels like a darker sequel to Trivium’s last album which is a very good thing. They continue to prove themselves as an essential metalcore band.
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Montreal Rocks
A well-balanced, technical, heavy album that displays all the experience that band has gained over their 20-year career. Cory Beaulieu and Matt Heafy let their shredding shine which glues the whole album together. It’s fantastic.
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The AU Review
If you’ve never listened to them before, take a chance, but if they’re a band on your list you’ll love their hardcore, melodic, death and black metal, all rolled into one album here. There are new and old sounds on this album and boys are clearly at ease with their music doing what they do best.
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Bring the Noise
If you didn’t think they had come of age before, What The Dead Men Say is an authoritative statement that Trivium are no longer young pretenders but thoroughbreds truly in their prime, stacked to the gills with powerful, modern metal songs.
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Metal Wani
This is definitely another step towards greatness for Trivium and is one that will bring the long term fans, and hopefully some of the more fringe fans along for the ride.
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The Revival Music
Where this record shines the most is in its ability to deliver nostalgia and a fresh evolution in equal measure, knowingly giving nods to their origins whilst also exploring new ground and keeping the formula interesting.
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Ghost Cult
As ever, Trivium sound as much like a combination of other bands than as a unique, individual entity, but with What the Dead Men Say, it’s clear the band are past caring what other people think and are now simply out to please themselves.
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MEAWW
After listening to this album, it's bound to leave Trivium fans, both old and new, eagerly waiting for the band's live shows once this lockdown period lifts. Trivium is certainly back to doing what they do best — this album is one hell of a scorcher!
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Mezzic
I got my wishes for a cohesive record, as well as incredibly heavy parts and time signature changes. I don’t want to say that this is the band’s best album yet, and I don’t think I even can, but it’s absolutely deserving of praise and a special spot among the rest of the band’s now nine album discography.
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mxdwn
What The Dead Men Say is another solid album from Trivium; this is a shining album in their discography and propels them forward from the success of their previous release.
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The Fountain
Trivium continue their hot streak with a competent record sure to satisfy fans and welcome people to the genre, but their winning formula suffers from a lack of variety.
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Metal Underground
This is possibly the best Trivium album thus far. It combines the very best parts of every album and song to date. And if you’re new to the band, this is one hell of a way to start your journey into their discography that’s spanned almost 20 years now.
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Super Metal World
Solid metal, brother. Solid. And having been someone who grew up with this band, maturing at the same time they have, I say this with heart. . . I am proud of Trivium.
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At The Barrier
All things considered though, this is a stunning metal record. From the introduction of IX, through What The Dead Men Say, the catchy Catastrophist and the absolutely awesome Amongst the Shadows & The Stones, which is one of the album standouts for me. There’s very little in the way of filler here, it’s a sumptuous meal of immaculately prepared metal.
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Everything Heavy
What The Dead Men Say is the sound of a band that has hit it’s stride. Trivium utilize everything at their disposal to create an album that is comfortable in its own skin. There are virtually no moments of rocky uncertainty. Everything from the aggressive heavy riffs, soaring melodies, sweeping solos and sentimental breakdowns is so sure of itself.
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Matt Derraugh
It’s a pleasure to hear a record and a band like this that covers all the bases and doesn’t sound the least bit dated doing it.
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Music Waves
What's also striking on this album is the mastery, the velocity, the ability of the musicians to develop complex sections. The drums are set like a metronome despite the fast tempos, the guitars are sharp and ultra clean. As for Matt Heafy's vocals, his performance is once again remarkable, with a very wide range, from clean vocals to guttural vocals to hoarse vocals. The singer switches from one style to another in no time at all and with disconcerting ease.
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This Decay
The lead guitar work on this album is excellent; that’s one aspect in which Trivium have never faltered. But its biggest strength is its consistency. What The Dead Men Say is a terrific metal record from front to back.
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I'm Music Magazine
This is truly a career defining album for the boys in Trivium. Faithful fans of the band will love every second listened. Every track balances power with passion and melody with madness.
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The Headbanging Moose
Trivium, return with another round of their always cohesive and breathtaking heavy music in What The Dead Men Say, the ninth studio album and another awesome addition to their undisputed career.
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Everblack Media
Boy am I impressed with this work of art and I am positive it's going to do the same for everyone who hears it. Grab the album the moment you can, lock yourself in your....wait, no....just chuck the damn thing on and blast your face off.
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The Moshville Times
It feels like a true refinement of what was explored on the previous album and flows perfectly as an album. What The Dead Men Say is quintessentially Trivium and showcases a band that is at the top of their game.
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Metal Insider
Overall, What The Dead Men Say is an exceptional album that really flaunts the maturity of Trivium in many ways. The band was able to compile all the different styles explored throughout their career and infuse them into a profound cohesive performance.
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Sonic Abuse
There is a huge amount to enjoy about What The Dead Men Say. Trivium sound incredibly comfortable in who they are, and confident in what they have to offer.
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Ghost Cult Magazine
As ever, Trivium sound as much like a combination of other bands than as a unique, individual entity, but with What the Dead Men Say, it’s clear the band are past caring what other people think and are now simply out to please themselves.
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Metal Reviews
What the Dead Men Say is a strong outing, if less catchy and enjoyable than its predecessor.
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Kill Your Stereo
A memorable ninth LP from Trivium.
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Get Ready to Rock
‘What The Dead Men Say’, the ninth album from the Florida outfit to brighten the horizon.
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Loud Magazine
Listening to this album forced me to go back and re-evaluate previous stances against Trivium and it didn’t do anything other than express just how much growth they have gone through to make an album that manages to stay modern, thrashy and engaging.
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Unsung Melody
What the Dead Men Say is absolutely loaded with riffs, chugs, blast beats, and everything any Trivium fan could want.
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Madness to Creation
I personally love this and give What The Dead Men Say a rather emphatic 10/10 score! This will be hard to beat when it comes to my 2020 album of the year!
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WhatCulture
This album is a breeze to listen to.
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Reflections of Darkness
‘What The Dead Men Say’ is full of great songs, almost fifty minutes, which pass by in a flash and reveal all guilty pleasures.
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The Metal Archives
I liked the majority of the songs and I hope it’s something the band will maintain in the future. The best songs are the title track, Catastrophist, The Defiant, and The Ones We Leave Behind.
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Markus' Heavy Music Blog
Trivium delivers with ‘What the Dead Men Say’ an album that surely belongs to the better Trivium records. It’s the mix of wildness, heaviness and melody that makes Trivium stand out and resonates very well on the new record.
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Metal Music Archives
When the material is of this quality, you just can’t cross your arms and deny them anymore. This album is superb, and if you don’t check it out, you really are missing out.
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KNAC
TRIVIUM have set themselves high goals on What The Dead Men Say and have certainly achieved them. The album leaves nothing to be desired. It is a sonic feast and a testimony of the band‘s proficiency in songwriting and excellence in performance.
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Platform Magazine
WTDMS is Trivium at their very best, a mighty display of what we already knew was possible, collated into one very large “I told you so”.
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Metal Underground
This is possibly the best Trivium album thus far. It combines the very best parts of every album and song to date. And if you’re new to the band, this is one hell of a way to start your journey into their discography that’s spanned almost 20 years now.
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Metal, but Grater
‘What The Dead Men Say’ is the record that Trivium fans have been waiting for, in that it has a singular direction and fires on all requisite cylinders. Everything hopeful, they will use this as a blueprint for further releases to take the quality and songwriting to new and exciting heights, because this is as solid as solid gets.
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Metal Academy
Trivium continues going the right direction of mastering their metal craft with a massive blend of new and old influences. Any fan of heavy metal and Trivium will really love this album to bits. I suggest purchasing this album and sharing it with any of your metalhead friends. Trivium is still at the top of their metal game!
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Igor 0131 Metal
Specifically, in this album, a big bet on the general idea and on guitars is noticeable: sharp lyrics and difficult riffs. Whether this bet has played or not - perhaps everyone will decide for himself. But I can say that this album is cool.
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Slyzza Dashboard
It just doesn’t really seem worth listening to What the Dead Men Say when you can look to the new August Burns Red for vital metalcore, any number of throwback trad bands for sweet riffs, or Nickelback for big stupid radio rock hooks.
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