Shogun (album)

Infobox Album
Name = Shogun
Type = studio
Artist = Trivium


Genre = Thrash metal
Released = September 30, 2008
Recorded = Nashville, Tennessee
Length = 66:41
Label = Roadrunner
Producer = Nick Raskulinecz
Reviews = *About.com Rating|4|5 [http://heavymetal.about.com/od/cdreviews/gr/triviumshogun.htm link]
*Allmusic Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:fpfexzwkldte~T10 link]
*"Rock Sound" Rating-10|8 [http://www.rock-sound.net/articles/1950/Trivium---Shogun.html link]
Last album = "The Crusade"
(2006)
This album = "Shogun"
(2008)
Misc = Singles
Name = Shogun
Type = studio
single 1 = Kirisute Gomen
single 1 date = July 31, 2008
single 2 = Into the Mouth of Hell We March
single 2 date = August 11, 2008
single 3 = Down from the Sky
single 3 date = September 1, 2008 Extra album cover 2
Upper caption = Alternate cover
Type = studio


Lower caption = Special edition

"Shogun" (将軍 "Shōgun") is the fourth studio album by American heavy metal band Trivium. It is planned for world-wide release on various dates between September 23 and October 1, 2008 through Roadrunner Records. Work on the album is noted to have begun with producer Nick Raskulinecz in October 2007, [cite web | title = Metal Injection gets exclusive details on upcoming Trivium album| publisher = Metal Injection| url = http://metalinjection.net/blog/2008/01/30/metal-injection-gets-exclusive-details-on-upcoming-trivium-album/ | date = 2008-01-30| accessdate = 2008-03-19] with the band stating that they chose not to work with Jason Suecof again due to the fact that they wanted to explore new ideas. [cite journal| month=February |year=2008 |author=Wiederhorn, Jon |title=Brutal 2008 Preview – Trivium |journal=Revolver Magazine] One song from the album, "Into the Mouth of Hell We March", was featured on the soundtrack for the 2008 video game "Madden NFL 09".

Background information

In an interview with "Metal Injection" [ [http://www.metalinjection.net/tv/view/64/trivium-interview-at-namm-2008"Metal Injection interviews Trivium at NAMM 2008"] ] , Matt Heafy stated:

In an interview with "Revolver", [Revolver Magazine, "Brutal 2008 Preview" issue] Corey Beaulieu stated:

Paolo Gregoletto stated on "The Making of Shogun": [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6z3yRqmhdVU Trivium The Making of Shogun 将軍] ]

Promotion

On June 16, 2008, Trivium posted a bulletin on their MySpace profile titled "New Album Update" with an embedded YouTube video, [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFpVOd00Ayk Trivium's YouTube video showing new album release date] ] implying that the album will be released on September 30, 2008, by Roadrunner. On July 31, 2008, the first track from the new album, "Kirisute Gomen", was made available as a free digital download through the Roadrunner Records website for 24 hours only. On August 8, 2008, the cover art for the album was revealed. On August 12, 2008, the fourth track from the new album, "Into the Mouth of Hell We March", was made available for purchase on iTunes. On September 1, 2008, the third track and first single from the album "Down from the Sky" was made available for purchase on iTunes, as well as in stores.On September 3, 2008, the music video for "Down from the Sky" was released (exclusively) on MySpace. The band would later upload "Throes of Perdition" to their MySpace page on September 17, 2008 and on September 23, 2008 the complete album was added. [cite web|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=104889|title=TRIVIUM: Another New Song Available For Streaming|date=2008-09-16|publisher=blabbermouth.net|accessdate=2008-09-17]

Musical and lyrical themes

"Shogun" features the return of Matt Heafy screaming vocals, also the band's first album produced by Nick Raskulinecz, in a interview for About.com, Heafy described the album's musical direction as a combination of various aspects including: "the past, present and future of Trivium, all on one CD" and that is the "next evolutionary step".cite web|url=http://heavymetal.about.com/od/interviews/a/trivium2008.htm|title=Trivium Interview: A Conversation with Matt Heafy|last=Bowar|first=Chad|date=2008-09-27|publisher=About.com|accessdate=2008-10-09] When asked about the change in his singing-style, he said: "It’s the kind of thing that happened naturally."

Similar to The Crusade which had some songs focusing on famous and controversial murders/crimes, the album has a few songs that deal with ancient Japanese/Greek Mythology. The songs usually have hidden meanings which are to be interpreted by the listener. Themes based on the stories of Prometheus's punishment, Sea monsters Scylla and Charybdis, and the nymph Callisto are present.

Critical reception

"Shogun" sold 24,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release, and debut at number 23 on the "Billboard" 200 chart.cite web|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=106423|title=Trivium: "Shogun" First-Week Sales Revealed|date=2008-10-08|publisher=Blabbermouth.net|accessdate=2008-10-08] The album was critically acclaimed by their fan base and generally received positive reviews, with Chad Bowar of About.com praising the band's progress on songwriting, as well as their musicianship.cite web|url=http://heavymetal.about.com/od/cdreviews/gr/triviumshogun.htm|title=Trivium - "Shogun"|last=Bowar|first=Chad|work=Review|publisher=About.com|accessdate=2008-10-08] Bowar finishing its review stating: "Shogun won't silence Trivium's legions of critics, but I think most fans will like the harsh vocals along with the great riffs and memorable melodies." Eduardo Rivadavia of Allmusic described "Shogun" as "Trivium's most challenging and ambitious album yet".cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:fpfexzwkldte~T10|title=Shogun > Review|last=Rivadavia|first=Eduardo|publisher=allmusic.com|accessdate=2008-10-08]

Track listing

# "Kirisute Gomen" – 6:27
# "Torn Between Scylla and Charybdis" – 6:49
# "Down from the Sky" – 5:34
# "Into the Mouth of Hell We March" – 5:52
# "Throes of Perdition" – 5:54
# "Insurrection" – 4:57
# "The Calamity" – 4:58
# "He Who Spawned the Furies" – 4:07
# "Of Prometheus and the Crucifix" – 4:40
# "Like Callisto to a Star in Heaven" – 5:25
# "Shogun" – 11:55

pecial edition bonus tracks

12. "Poison, the Knife or the Noose" – 4:14
13. "Upon the Shores" – 5:21
14. "Iron Maiden" (Iron Maiden cover) – 3:43

pecial edition DVD

* The Making of Shogun - A behind-the-scenes documentary capturing the making of the album
* Shogun: The Riffs - Instructional videos for guitar and bass

Personnel

* Matt Heafy – vocals, guitar
* Corey Beaulieu – guitar, backing vocals
* Paolo Gregoletto – bass, backing vocals
* Travis Smith – drums, percussion
* Nick Raskulinecz – producer
* Colin Richardson – mixer

Chart positions

References

External links

* [http://www.metalinjection.net/tv/view/977/trivium-making-of-shogun-episode-1 "Making of Shogun" Webisode 1]
* [http://www.metalinjection.net/tv/view/978/trivium-making-of-shogun-episode-2 "Making of Shogun" Webisode 2]
* [http://www.metalinjection.net/tv/view/1067/trivium-making-of-shogun-episode-3 "Making of Shogun" Webisode 3]