January 2026 Featured Release - The Revolution Edition

So just like that we find that a new month is upon us which of course means that we’ll be nominating a brand new monthly feature release for each clan. This essentially means that we’re asking you to rate, review & discuss our chosen features for no other reason than because we enjoy the process & banter. We’re really looking forward to hearing your thoughts on our chosen releases so don’t be shy.

This month's feature release for The Revolution, nominated by me (Shadowdoom9 (Andi)), is the brand-new EP by Orlando-based melodic metalcore heroes Trivium, Struck Dead. It is their first new material in 4 years in which they have their usual thrashy metalcore sound with fire and fury. It's an amazing way to get us geared up for their next album to come next year.

https://metal.academy/releases/64091

Here's my review summary:

As the band continues to evolve throughout their over 25 years of existence, these heroes of Florida's modern metal scene aren't putting out the fire anytime soon. What you can expect from this EP is similar to the rest of their catalog, bloodthirsty riffing and epic melodies. The 3 songs in this EP has their thrashy melodic metalcore reminiscent of Ascendancy, with the last of the 3 having a more cinematic progressive structure. They all have crushing riffing, Matt Heafy's vocals ranging from raw screams to emotional cleans, and energetic drumming by Alex Bent, the latter having just left weeks before the EP's release. His replacement, the previous unavailable Alex Rudinger (Revocation, Monuments, Whitechapel, Light the Torch, Threat Signal, Intronaut, etc.) will make the band destined for a brand-new more technical era. In the meantime, this 18-minute EP has brought their heavy memorable sound back on top. Their talents are unforgettable!

4.5/5

Recommended tracks: All of them, but especially "Bury Me With My Screams" and "Six Walls Surround Me"

For fans of: All That Remains, Bullet for My Valentine, Light the Torch

After my mainly positive experience with "In Waves" a while ago I will try to give this short EP a fair shake this month and hopefully work up a comment or two.

Unexpectedly coming out on top of the current crop of feature releases is this three track EP from Trivium. For no reason other than rampant elitism, I have avoided Trivium for most of their career. Based on this EP, that could have been an even dumber decision than it first appears. Notwithstanding that this is a very short format to base any long term opinions from, there is still plenty here to have kept me entertained over the six or seven listens I found myself giving Struck Dead in just one day!

It is clear that my view that Trivium are just another annoying metalcore band are incorrect. Yes, there are elements of that style here, I cannot dispute that. However, there are some serious grooves going on during the riffing on ‘Bury Me With My Screams’. The cold, blunt and almost industrial chops of the title track are a bruising experience also. Add into the mix the fiery leads and anthemic vocals and there is a lot to be pleased with. Whilst I expected high energy levels to be on show, the EP goes much further, possessing an almost hardcore ferocity at times.

It is not an annoying overactive energy that I feared might haunt the release, there is a lot of maturity in these three tracks. ‘Six Walls’ might be the weaker of the tracks on offer but it is by no means terrible. After the intensity of the two first tracks I guess some balance was needed, even if those acoustic strings on the final track do mislead the listener into believing we will be needing on a power ballad. Suffering a little in the arrangement stakes, ‘Six Walls’ feels like a b-side at best but still keeps those energy levels well primed for the whole EP duration.

4/5