In Waves is the fifth studio album by the American heavy metal band, Trivium. The album lasts a duration of 51:20. It was released on August 2, 2011, through Roadrunner Records.

Lineup:

Matt Heafy – lead vocals, rhythm guitar

Corey Beaulieu – lead guitar, backing vocals

Paolo Gregoletto – bass guitar, backing vocals Above"

Nick Augusto – drums, percussion

Production:

Produced by Colin Richardson and Martyn "Ginge" Ford

Background:

In Waves has a completely new, more melodic, and at times brutal sound than any Trivium record prior to it. The diversity of both melodic and heavy tracks makes this Trivium album have a unique and unforgettable sound to it. To this day, I still love jamming out to this record. The production is stronger than any Trivium record released before it. Matt Heafy has finally developed into a very strong vocalist thanks to immensely improved cleans and growls that hit harder than ever before. In Waves also marks the introduction of the band's new drummer, Nick Augusto, who is in my opinion a slight upgrade over Travis Smith. The album debuted at No.13 on the Billboard 200 albums chart and by the year 2013, In Waves had sold 81,000 copies in the US.

Track Listing:

1. "Capsizing the Sea" (instrumental) 1:30

I love this short piano and drum intro to build up to the title track. This is a great way to start off this album.

2. "In Waves" 5:02

Holy crap! This song blew me away the first time I listened to it. When, Matt Heafy screams "in waves," I was surprised. Then the song goes into some very melodic vocals and heavy guitar riffs. This is definitely one of my favorite tracks that the band has ever done. The guitar riffs are huge and heavy, the drumming is intense, Heafy's vocals are vastly improved, and the guitar solos are fantastic. I love this song and it is my favorite from this album.

3. "Inception of the End" 3:48

This is another standout track from this album that always gets me pumped. The riffs are fast and hit hard and Heafy's vocals really could not get any better. The harsh vocals in the breakdown are some of Heafy's best that I have ever heard. The guitar solo is also very good. This is another track I highly recommend from the album.

4. "Dusk Dismantled" 3:47

I have never heard a track that is this straight forward and heavy from Trivium before. Heafy's growls are absolutely brutal and the guitar riffs are ridiculously groovy and heavy. Matt has no clean vocals in this track, which I do not mind at all. This song has an excellent guitar solo as well. This may just be the heaviest track that the band had done up to this point in their discography.

5. "Watch the World Burn" 4:53

Trivium definitely makes a good change in the sound of this track. The song is heavy, but has mostly clean vocals and utilizes more melody than the last couple of tracks. The chorus is among the album's best and the riffs are very catchy. This may just be the catchiest track on the entire record thanks to some great melody and guitar riffs.

6. "Black" 3:27

This is another track that has a very catchy chorus, heavy riffs, and some great vocals. The thing I enjoy most about this song is how catchy and memorable it is upon first listen. The fast paced tempo and infectious chorus makes this song extremely enjoyable. The guitar solo is also pretty sweet.

7. "A Skyline's Severance" 4:51

Trivium throws another curve ball with a track that is rooted in pure heaviness. Heafy has no clean vocals during this song's run time, which works well for this song. The chorus is really catchy, despite how heavy it is. The guitar riffs and drums still have a large impact, despite how heavy the vocals are. The breakdown is so heavy because of some great riffs and a couple of excellent guitar solos.

8. "Built to Fall" 3:08

This track again changes the entire tempo and mood of the record. This track is very melodic and has a ton of groove. It may be a very simple track, but the chorus is extremely catchy and the entire song is memorable. No Trivium song would be complete without a signature guitar solo.

9. "Caustic Are the Ties That Bind" 5:34

This is definitely one of the best songs from the entire album. I love the vocals, the riffs, and the excellent melody of the entire song. The chorus is amazing and is one of my favorite choruses that the band has ever done. The slower melodic breakdown in this track is fantastic. Heafy's clean vocals have never sounded better than they do on this track. The guitar solo is excellent and is one of favorites that the band has ever done.

10. "Forsake Not the Dream" 5:20

I originally was not crazy about this track whenever I first heard it, but now its one I really enjoy. The mix of clean and harsh vocals are perfectly placed during this track. The chorus is really catchy as well. I love the guitar solo as per usual for Trivium. This is the grower from the album, that seems to get better with every listen.

11. "Chaos Reigns" 4:07

This track is as heavy as Trivium gets. The song basically rears back and kicks you square in the face. The song features no clean vocals from Matt Heafy and has heavy riffs and drumming throughout. The chorus is so memorable and really pumps me up every time I listen to it. The guitar solo is well placed and sounds great. This song is one of the heaviest tracks that the band has ever released.

12. "Of All These Yesterdays" 4:21

This is a beautiful track that is well placed as the last full length track on the album. Heafy's vocal delivery is very tasteful during every part of this track. I love the chorus and the beautiful mood of the entire track. The lead guitar work is also excellent.

13. "Leaving This World Behind" (instrumental) 1:32

I like this song and feel that it is placed perfectly as the final track on the album. It ends the album similarly to how it began and gives the listener a chance to take in everything that they have just experienced from this record.

Overall Scoring Scale:

0-19: Garbage

20-29: Very Poor

30-39: Poor

40-49: Below Average

50-59: Average

60-69: Above Average

70-79: Good

80-89: Awesome

90-100: Must Own

My Verdict:

Production:

In Waves sounds bigger and more powerful than any Trivium record released prior to it. Every instrument sounds big and cuts through the mix. Trivium has definitely learned how to make their albums sound powerful and well balanced.

Score: 20 / 20

Album Flow:

In Waves is an excellent album to listen to as a whole. Every track is unique and really kept me guessing. The mix of both melodic and extremely heavy tracks kept me entertained throughout the entire listen. This is definitely one of Trivium's most entertaining records to listen to.

Score: 20 / 20

Song Writing:

The best thing about the song writing on this album is its melody and groove that is implemented throughout. The guitar riffs are so heavy and Heafy's vocals have never sounded this good. I love how every brutal vocal is well placed for maximum effect in every song. Trivium's lead guitar work is fantastic as expected. Nick Augusto also kills it on the drums throughout this entire record. I really love the new direction of Trivium's sound on this record.

Score: 56 / 60

Overall Score: 96 / 100

In Waves has a ton of groove and melody, which made it the band's most catchy album at this point in their discography. Trivium has a great mix of tracks that are brutal and tracks that are certainly rooted mostly in melody. This album just gets better and better with every listen.