In the Court of the Dragon

In the Court of the Dragon is Trivium's tenth album, written and recorded amid isolation during the global pandemic. With Josh Wilbur as producer, it pushes further the direction established on the previous two albums while depicting a weighty, fantastical mythic world. As shown by the structure opening with "X," an orchestral overture handled by Emperor's Ihsahn, it is an ambitious work that boldly layers grand, dramatic color onto the aggression of thrash and metalcore. The lead singles "In the Court of the Dragon" and "Feast of Fire" were highly regarded as signature songs with racing riffs and anthemic choruses. From the seven-minute-plus "The Shadow of the Abattoir" to the dramatic development of the closer "The Phalanx," the album's constructive power shines in holding tension across long songs. Heafy's singing, interweaving screams and clean vocals, his brilliant twin leads with Beaulieu, and Alex Bent's robust drums act as one, vividly proving a creative drive undimmed even under difficult circumstances. A forceful gem, it is a fitting conclusion to the trilogy.