Fuck Gene Simmons, rock is not dead, as many times as he likes to say it, I just don’t think he is listening. Saturday November 11th 2017 the proof that rock is not dead was right in front of our very eyes. Trivium with special guest Arch Enemy, While She Sleeps and Fit For an Autopsy hit The Truman in Kansas City, MO for a night no one will forget.
Opening the night was Fit For an Autopsy, unfortunately, due to our interview with Trivium we were unable to catch their set. Although I did ask many people throughout the rest of the night if they could describe the set for me, and let’s just say that there is a reason they are on this tour. It was unanimous that Fit For an Autopsy was the correct tone-setter for the rest of the night. Corey Beaulieu had nothing but great things to say about them during our interview and was extremely delighted that they were a part of the tour
Next up for proof that rock is not dead were the boys from the UK While She Sleeps. Trust me there was nothing dead about that set; hell just watching them wore me the fuck out. Every one of those guys beats the hell out of that stage. Vocalist Lawrence Taylor used everything he could as a springboard to fly all over the stage including Adam Savage’s drum kit. If you do not know who these guys are, do yourselves a favor and educate yourself.
Up first for the co-headliners were the Swedish powerhouse Arch Enemy. Honestly, I am not sure that stage or building was big enough for the pure force that is Arch Enemy. If you have never seen them you cannot fathom what I am trying to tell you. Hearing them in your car or home stereo cranked to eleven cannot begin to display the magnitude that this band brings to the stage. The powerful vocals of Alissa White-Gluz accompanied by Michael Amott, Jeff Loomis, Sharlee D’Angelo and Daniel Erlandsson reminds you of the pure power and raw force of Swedish Metal. Following Arch Enemy would be a tough task; luckily Trivium was waiting in the wings.
That’s right few bands outside of Metallica or Iron Maiden could follow the spectacle that was just displayed, but remember that rock is not dead theme I have been going for, well get ready for the defibrillator. Trivium, who after eighteen years of busting their ass, are finally getting the recognition that they deserve. For some reason, they were always seen as one of those fringe bands always on the edge of making it, and with the release of The Sin and the Sentence, Trivium has finally been hoisted to the top of the mountain to take their rightful place at the top of the metal scene.
Opening with the title track off of their latest album “The Sin and the Sentence”, Trivium proceeded to fuel a crowd that was already fit to blow the ceiling off. During the second song of the set vocalist, Matt Heafy, had to stop mid-song to settle a couple folks down that looked ready to go to blows. Matt reminded everyone that we are all one, that it is about unity and love for one another and that we should be celebrating life together on that night and every night.
With everything settled seamlessly Trivium picked right back up where they left off and continued on. About five songs into the set Matt Heafy made a challenge to an already ruckus crowd that I thought might be a mistake. He let the Kansas City crowd know that during the two weeks they have been out on this run that New York City had been the best crowd they had seen, and challenged Kansas City to be better. All I could think to myself was “Oh shit, we’re fucked’, but like the good people of Kansas City always do, they took the challenge and destroyed it.
Trivium does know KC holds the world record for the loudest stadium right, and you want to get us cranked up indoors, hope you brought some earplugs. For the rest of the night, Trivium and the Kansas City faithful proceeded to party like no other. I would love to ask Matt at the end of the run how KC stacked up to the rest of the country because I can tell you how Trivium has stacked up to the rest of the metal scene, wait I already did. Trivium are standing high atop the metal mountain where they belong.
Photos by HEAVY Magazine photojournalist
Review by Ace Sims, Heavy Magazine journalist
