Page 62 - Metal Hammer Issue 334 - UK (May 2020)

TRIVIUM
Last year’s Download set:
Trivium had it licked
their lives. And that stayed with me as
a young and impressionable guy, but as
the years and our lives progressed
it was something that we really felt
we needed to do. I think if there’s
something inside you that you feel you
need to do, even if it induces fear in
you, you shouldn’t ignore that.”
Despite his manic personal life,
Matt can still be relied upon to delve
into metal’s underground and rep for
smaller, younger and newer bands.
It’s to his credit that he still seems as
passionate about metal all these years
down the line.
“That’s very important to me,” he
shoots back. “I can’t understand these
bands that say they haven’t listened
to anything new since 1987, or that
nothing good has come out since
then. People are too consumed with
themselves in our society. Take metal
out of it for the moment; there is
something great about cultivating
a community and having shared
experiences. One thing I love to do is
eat together. When we’re on tour, we
always have a communal meal – the
band, the crew, everyone – and that’s
a great shared experience. I want
a metal scene that shares and supports
each other, because we’re only going to
get to the place where we want to be as
a community if we all go together. I like
lots of different music, but I only have
62 METALHAMMER.COM
one deep true love, and that’s metal,
and I want it to be as strong as it can be.”
It’s clear Matt is revelling in his new-
found role as an elder statesman. It’s
a position the haters never could have
imagined for the cocky teen we were
introduced to in the early 00s. But it
fits him perfectly – something that’s
hammered home when we enquire if
he feels secure about Trivium’s place
in the metal world now.
“Oh, 100%,” he replies. “We might
not be playing arenas, or have managed
the achievements we were tipped for
back in the early days, but, for me, The
Sin And The Sentence really washed away
all of the ‘sins’ of the past. Now we’re
in a place where we’re happy, we’re a
“WE’VE MADE
A LOT OF BAD
CHOICES”
MATT HEAFY
genuine unit, and we know how to make
this band work. Jon Snow’s back, baby!”
Believe it with confidence – they’re
not going to let us down again. Trivium
are finally ready to wear the crown.
WHAT THE DEAD MEN SAY IS OUT
ON APRIL 24 VIA ROADRUNNER
How Trivium and other
heavy musicians have been
inspired by legendary author
Philip K. Dick
What The Dead Men Say takes its name
from a novella by the hugely influential
and prolific science-fiction writer Philip
K. Dick, which was published in 1964.
The story revolves around a prominent
businessman who begins to transmit
his thoughts from beyond the grave,
blocking television and radio networks
in the process.
“It was really Paolo’s [Gregoletto,
bassist] idea and concept,” Matt tells us.
“He actually has really helped with lyric
writing from the last album and into this
one. He’s a very well-read and articulate
guy, he brings a great amount of literary
references to the table, and it’s been
great for me as I can approach the songs
almost in character, which is a new
discipline for me. Philip K. Dick was
clearly a genius, and there’s a wealth of
material to draw from his work.”
Here are some more albums that were
inspired by the great man.
TUBEWAY ARMY
Replicas (1979)
The second and final album from Gary
Numan’s proto-industrial, new wave
band is inspired by Dick’s most well-
known work, the novel Do Androids
Dream Of Electric Sheep?, which was
adapted for the screen as Blade Runner.
Far from bandwagon-jumping, Gary
got the record out in 1979, a good
three years before Blade Runner’s
release, so there. It also spawned the
massive banger, Are ‘Friends’ Electric?
Good work, robot dude.
SONIC YOUTH
Sister (1987)
The New York art punks are one of the
most revered bands in the history of
alternative music, and for good reason.
Their fourth studio album, 1987’s Sister,
is full of the kind of challenging and
ambient noise punk that would help
shape the grunge movement. The title
refers to Philip K. Dick’s twin sister,
who passed away shortly after her birth,
and whose death was said to have
haunted him throughout his life.
CLUTCH
Psychic Warfare (2015)
Clutch’s Neil Fallon is one of metal’s most
unique storytellers, so it’s no surprise
he’s a fan of Philip K. Dick – something
he admitted in the build-up to his band’s
11th studio album, Psychic Warfare: “His
general philosophy and questions have
always crept into my lyrics, because
I share an interest in it. On [2013’s] Earth
Rocker, Crucial Velocity was definitely
a Philip K Dick song for me. On this
record, X-Ray Visions certainly is.” KEVIN NIXON