Roadrunner "Ascendancy [Special Edition]" - Trivium

I know the album has been out for over 3 years by now, but it still one of the few albums released in the last decade worth caring about. The guitar riffs are elegant to say the least; combining unrivaled speed with masterful flow and God-like melody. The skill held by the band as a whole is remarkable, but when you take it down to the individual you realize Trivium has taken skill to a level that used to seem out of reach. Matt Heafy strikes heart stirring power chords while singing, Corey brings a harsher and swifter guitar style to balance out Heafy's smooth melodic style, and Paolo somehow manages to keep up with the hurricane that is Travis Smith. They may not have the sales to become the next Metallica, but they easily surpass their idols in every way from lyrical depth and vocal control, to straight up guitar skill and drum speed. The next Metallica? Perhaps not. But they hold the potential to become a band that didn't sell as well but has long been treated like Gods in terms of musical prowess. Trivium may be the second coming of the ensemble of Gods that was Iron Maiden.