LIVE: TRIVIUM – Winnipeg, MB, CAN – November 22, 2025

Venue: Burton Cummings Theatre

City: Winnipeg, MB, Canada

Date: November 22, 2025

Review and Photographs by: Alejandro Penner (https://www.alejandropenner.ca/)

As I drove to the Burton Cummings Theatre, I couldn’t help but reminisce about the first time I heard Trivium. It was nearly 20 years ago, right around the release of Ascendancy, and from that moment on, I was hooked. Tonight—two decades later—I wasn’t just seeing them live for the very first time; I was also reviewing and photographing their set. Needless to say, this show was a big deal for me. Trivium is currently touring in support of their new EP Struck Dead on the Ascend Above the Ashes Tour. By the time I arrived, the floor was already filling up, and the merch lines were long; energy was high at ‘The Burt.’ The night kicked off with Heriot, a British metal / hardcore band who absolutely impressed me. There’s a clear reason they’re sharing a bill with Trivium and Jinjer—they warmed the crowd up perfectly with crushing riffs and ferocious vocals. A fantastic opener. Next up was Jinjer, the Ukrainian progressive metal powerhouse whose sound blends groove metal, hardcore, jazz, reggae, funk—honestly, is there any genre they don’t fuse together? Tatiana’s powerful, shape-shifting vocals echoed through the theatre, and hearing their genre-bending sound live was nothing short of phenomenal. They were the perfect middle act for this lineup.

Then, finally, it was time for Trivium—and I could hardly contain myself. It’s been a long time coming, and they did not disappoint. They opened with “In Waves,” the lone track from that album to make the setlist. As expected, the backbone of their performance came from Ascendancy—massive hits like “Dying in Your Arms,” “Pull Harder on the Strings of Your Martyr,” and my personal favourite, “Like Light to the Flies,” which was the second song of the night and absolutely badass. Other albums appeared with single-track moments: Vengeance Falls with “Strife,” and Silence in the Snow with “Until the World Goes Cold”—both huge crowd-pleasers. Their album Shogun got a well-deserved spotlight with “Into the Mouth of Hell We March,” “Throes of Perdition,” and “Down from the Sky.” We also got a taste of The Sin and the Sentence through “The Heart From Your Hate,” followed by the album’s title track as a powerful closer. And of course, they showcased new material from Struck Dead, including “Bury Me With My Screams” and the title track, which sounded incredible live. Trivium’s stage setup was equally impressive: two five-foot screens flanked drummer Alex Rüdinger’s platform. For those who may not know, Rüdinger—formerly of Whitechapel—recently joined the band after their split with Alex Bent. And let me just say: Rüdinger is an absolute monster behind the kit. His performance was flawless from start to finish. A massive full-stage LED screen displayed visuals tailored to each song, but the highlight came halfway through the set when a towering 20 or 25-foot inflatable of “Monte” rose behind the drums, wings stretching across the entire stage. It was so freaking cool! Vocally, Matt Heafy was on point the entire night—clear, powerful, and controlled, seamlessly switching between soaring clean choruses, harsh mid-range screams, and deep guttural growls. But Trivium’s sound is more than just Matt—it’s the chemistry of the entire band. Corey Beaulieu’s lead work cut through the mix with razor-sharp clarity, delivering fluid solos, harmonized melodies, and perfectly executed trem-picked passages that felt even more intense than on the record. Paolo Gregoletto’s bass tone was thick, punchy, and present—never buried—locking in tightly with Rüdinger’s drumming and giving the low-end real weight. Speaking of which, Rüdinger was a machine, driving each track with precision blast beats, rapid-fire double kicks, and intricate fills that elevated the old material while adding fresh energy to the new songs.

Musically, Trivium brought everything they’re known for: massive, anthemic choruses that filled the theatre, meticulously layered guitar harmonies, crushing palm-muted riffs, and seamless rhythmic transitions that shifted from melodic to brutal in seconds. The band played with an unmistakable confidence—tight, polished, and locked-in—yet still brought raw intensity and emotion. Every song felt larger than life, and you could feel the crowd feeding off that energy. Trivium has always been a band that bridges classic metal influences with modern aggression and hearing that hybrid sound delivered with such precision and power truly highlighted why they’ve remained a cornerstone of the metal scene for two decades. It may sound cliché, but this show was genuinely a dream come true for me. If you’ve never seen Trivium live, this is the tour to do it. And if you have seen them before—you’re going to want to see them again.

Setlist: In Waves – Like Light to the Flies – Strife – Into the Mouth of Hell We March – Throes of Perdition – Until the World Goes Cold – Bury Me With My Screams – A Gunshot to the Head of Trepidation – Struck Dead – Dying in your Arms – Pull Harder on the Strings of Your Martyr – The Heart From Your Hate – Down From the Sky – The Sin and the Sentence

[Show as slideshow]

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Category: Live Reviews, Photo Galleries