Matt Heafy has picked the three records that took him from metal fan to the musician who built Trivium, and one of the bands behind them will be on tour with him this fall.
Asked by Chris Garza on “The Garza Podcast” to name three influences, the Trivium frontman chose to lay them out as a progression.
“Let’s think of the three stages, from metal into death metal into metalcore,” he said (via Loudwire).
The first was the album that introduced him to Metallica, though he went back through their catalogue from there and ended up with a different favourite.
“I’m going to say Metallica Black Album because it was the first Metallica album I ever heard … Black Album because it got me into Metallica first, but if I had to pick a favorite of all time, I’d probably say Master [of Puppets].”
Metallica‘s self-titled record, commonly known as the Black Album, came out in 1991. Master Of Puppets was released in 1986.
His second choice was In Flames, and again he weighed several albums before settling on the one that changed how he thought about vocals.
“I know Whoracle was the first one I ever heard, Jester Race is my favorite, but I’d say Reroute to Remain because that was the first time I heard, ‘Oh wow, I can scream and sing in the same band,'” he continued.
The Jester Race came out in 1996, Whoracle in 1997 and Reroute To Remain in 2002.
The third was Heaven Shall Burn‘s 2002 album Whatever It May Take, which he credits with showing him what metalcore could say.
“That was the first time I ever heard and saw what metalcore could be where it still sounds very metal and lyrically becomes something that is societally important,” Heafy added. “That’s what I always loved so much about certain metalcore bands, certain hardcore bands and certain punk bands that they would go into sociopolitical or societal subject matter.”
The In Flames connection is about to become a practical one. The Swedish band are special guests on “The Crown In The Grave Tour“, Trivium‘s 32-date North American headline run that opens on November 5 at Jannus Live in St. Petersburg, Florida and closes on December 19 at The Fillmore in Charlotte, North Carolina. Orbit Culture, Fit For An Autopsy and Frozen Soul complete the bill. Trivium play a series of Australian dates in early October before the North American leg begins.
When the tour was announced in July, the band described it as the start of their next era and said they would debut new material on stage. It will be their first major North American run with drummer Alex Rüdinger, who took over after Alex Bent left in October 2025.
Trivium‘s most recent release is Struck Dead, a three-song EP issued in October 2025 and Bent‘s last recording with the band. Their last full album was 2021’s In The Court Of The Dragon.
Trivium formed in Orlando, Florida in 1999. The band are Heafy on vocals and guitar, Corey Beaulieu on guitar, Paolo Gregoletto on bass and Rüdinger on drums.
