Song of the Week #59

So for once (despite it being late), this weeks SOTW didn’t come around from much deliberation over a gin and tonic. No pondering of how best to fit in amongst the existing run order. Everything was very self-inspired - very nice!

Unfortunately, it isn’t my favourite song by the artist, but it is by far their favourite album, and that’s what this Song of the Week is dedicated to. My friend and I have bought some tickets for next year to go see Trivium in Manchester (very early in the year, close to my birthday in early January no less). Although I’m sure I will feel very lost listening to much of the new catalogue, I am well versed enough in their first 4 or 5 albums to be able to have a great time and enjoy myself.

Much like many of these posts, I refer back to my teenage years, which saw Trivium and Bullet for my Valentine almost in a neck and neck situation around 2007/08, whereby it was BFMV as the best up and coming of the new era British metal, against Trivium as the best likewise from over the pond. It probably helped the comparison too, with homes of Wales and Florida acting as cultural cesspools for each side respectively.

At the time, especially around the release of Fever vs In Waves, I was much a bigger BFMV fan. However, as time progresses, diamonds form under pressure in the dirt. It was only this past week digging back through the back catalogue following my comparison to Down from the Sky last week, I came back across Shogun. I will confess I probably hadn’t listened to this album in its entirety since the late 2000s, but I must say, it has truly stood the test of time. What a magnificent outing from start to finish. I haven’t been able to take it off loop, and I urge all of you to do the same.

Enjoy - seriously enjoy! Maybe mix a negroni for this one; you deserve it!