Paolo from Trivium interview

 

Originally formed in 2000, Trivium didn't release their debut album till 2003, then were swiftly picked up by Roadrunner.

Who are these people playing a mix of 80's and 90's-style thrash, a sprinkle of death metal and a touch of prog-rock and taking our kids by storm?

Cobie went along to Cambridge Corn Exchange to try to find out…

Cobie: So how's the tour going so far?
Paolo: It's been really great; we've never played here so we're really looking forward to it. There's been loads of places we haven't played before, and its cool to get out into the countryside.

C: What were the highpoints and low points of the tour so far?
P: Well there's been no low points really, little things I suppose than no-one would really know about, like they haven't quite mastered the art of bus making in England yet. The best bit is pretty much the cool stages we've got.

C: Who was your favourite band to tour with?
P: Hmm, well I guess doing a couple of shows with Metallica was pretty amazing, watching the show come together, with their massive stage and the really elaborate show and effects and that sort of thing.

C: So what do you think of the backlash from some magazines and websites that The Crusade received for "sounding too much like Metallica"?
P: Heh, I'm, not really one to be affected by it, its just an opinion, like in every art-form there's lots of opinions going round, as long as its not personal y'know? And a lot of people like it, I mean we've got a sold-out show and loads of these kids like it. So its just opinions, and we just do what we do and take the music wherever it goes.

C: What was the first song you learnt to play?
P: Hmmm, I think it was Wrong Way by Sublime. I played a lot of that sort of stuff when I first started playing bass, and in a way I think its really cool that I was into that stuff first before playing metal which came later.

C: Who's your favourite bassist?
P: My three favourites are Cliff Burton, Steve Harris and Billy Sheehan. But there's just so many different bassists and different styles, like John Paul Jones and Geddy lee are pretty awesome too, so there's not just one bassist who's my all time favourite.

C: What's your favourite song to play live?
P: Gunshot's probably my favourite, it's got everything in it. It's just a cool song and it changes a lot, I mean the hook doesn't come in until three minutes into it, and only repeats once, just neat stuff like that, it's what makes a song special.

C: With bands like Bullet For My Valentine and yourself breaking through into more mainstream grounds, do you think metal as a genre is beginning to be taken more seriously?
P: Yaeh I guess. I mean its always been around, it never went away. I suppose we're furthering the cause more, and the next 5 or 6 years will really tell. But its not about the whole mainstream thing anyway, its just a lot of fun.

Cobie

Thanks to Kirsten Lane for her help with arranging this interview.