In The Court Of The Dragon

Trivium followed What the Dead Men Say with In the Court of the Dragon, another album produced by Josh Wilbur. The opening “X” leads into the title track, with tightly coordinated guitars and drums, establishing the record's combination of precision and scale.

Longer songs such as “The Shadow of the Abattoir” give the arrangements room to change direction. Matt Heafy's clean and harsh vocals move with those shifts, while the closing “The Phalanx” extends the album's interest in elaborate song structures.