In 2013, Trivium teamed up with Disturbed singer David Draiman for the production of his sixth album, Vengeance Falls. As the group prepared to unveil this opus, founding members Matt Heafy and Corey Beaulieu took the time to look back on their tumultuous career and the lessons learned over the years.
An eventful journey
In an interview with Metal Hammer, originally published in 2013 and recently posted online, Matt Heafy and Corey Beaulieu shared details about working with David Draiman as well as the highs and lows of their careers. Trivium has always seized opportunities to collaborate with other artists, and Draiman’s involvement in Vengeance Falls is a perfect example. However, the road to this album has not been easy for the group.
Trivium experienced a meteoric rise with the album Ascendancy in 2005, which marked his breakthrough on the Metal scene. But after this success, the following album, The Crusadedisappointed many fans and critics, plunging the group into a period of doubt.
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The rebirth of Trivium
With the arrival of drummer Nick Augusto in 2010, Trivium found a new lease of life. This addition was crucial for the group, which needed a new dynamic. The album In Wavesreleased in 2011, marked a true artistic and commercial renaissance for Trivium.
In 2013, Trivium was ready to take back control with Vengeance Fallsan album that consolidated everything they had accomplished up to that point. But this time around, they brought in David Draiman as producer, a move that surprised some fans and critics. Draiman, often associated with Nu Metal, brought a fresh perspective and valuable expertise to the project.
David Draiman’s impact on Vengeance Falls
David Draiman’s influence on the album was evident primarily in Matt Heafy’s vocals. For the first time, Matt was able to fully concentrate on his vocal skills, without resorting to studio gimmicks. “I learned more about singing from David than anyone else,” confides Matt. “He taught me mechanics, how to carry myself, how to take care of myself. Thanks to him, there is no auto-tune on this record, and few singers can say the same.”
Corey Beaulieu, meanwhile, emphasizes that Draiman’s goal was not to transform Trivium’s sound, but to help them perform at their best. “We didn’t hire someone to write songs for us. We had the songs, and David just wanted to help us make them better,” Corey explains.
