The ruthless trio from Orlando, Trivium, brought their prog melodic death metal and thrash mixture to The Eagle’s Ballroom in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, advertising the “Ascend Above The Ashes Tour” with Jinjer, and Heriot.

The ballroom is a special place, having a palette of different artists, so having Trivium here was perfect. They came on stage opening with “Capsizing The Sea” and moving straight into their legendary single “In Waves.” During the tour, they kept taunting the crowd on who would be the best crowd of the tour, mentioning Quebec City as the reigning champion – the ultimate tactic to get the sea moving.

Trivium recently released a new three song EP titled Struck Dead, which includes the single “Bury Me With My Screams,” a modern taste of their legacy album Ascendency. Since their music now doesn’t have that style anymore, it is a refreshing twist of an old chapter. A notable mention is Trivium’s current drummer, Alex Rudinger, who was one of the original members of Whitechapel. He stepped into the band with little time to prepare, learning the brand-new Struck Dead EP, writing new material, and performing a full headlining set that included multiple expert-level songs such as “Pull Harder on the Strings of Your Martyr” and the closer, “Sin and the Sentence.” Another noticeably huge move was the giant iron maiden sized inflatable that blew up halfway through the set, which resembles the creature on the Ascendancy album.

Jinjer is a Ukrainian progressive metalcore band known for their technical musicianship and their powerhouse front-woman, Tatiyana Shmailyuk. Jinjer came on stage in the dark with such a high energy and brutal heaviness. I heard in an interview with the singer of Trivium that Tati won’t write songs in a good mood, and you can tell these are built off frustration and disparity. They blend groove, djent, jazz, and metal into complex, dynamic songs that shift throughout. Jinjer has built one of the most unique international followings through relentless touring, releases, and their one-of-a-kind performance. The band formed in 2009 and has obviously built a reputation, pushing boundaries and borders, especially with albums King of Everything and Macro, solidifying their spot as one of the most innovative and globally recognized bands in heavy music. They are on the path to be one of the craziest bands to catch live.

Heriot was the first band of the night, and the crowd was not expecting what was about to happen. This band, originally from Britain, brought their own version of heavy. No fancy light or strobes, just straight beat down metalcore. In 2019, the band found their current singer/guitarist, Debbie Gough, and in 2024 dropped the album Devoured by the Mouth of Hell through the label Century Media Records.

If you’re a fan of a metal band with great guitar work, powerful caveman chugs, and no clean vocals, then “Ascend Above the Ashes Tour” is the show for you, offering a personal and heavy experience that captivates the audience from the very first scream. The live performances of these three are a true spectacle, blending aggressive rhythms with intricate solos that leave fans in awe. Each band’s raw energy and unyielding passion make every song a journey through heavy riffs and relentless beats, ensuring that you’re not just a spectator but a part of the exhilarating atmosphere. Trivium’s bass player, Paulo, mentioned in an interview that this is the best time to see Trivium, given that the highest amount of effort, rehearsal, production, and overall raw talent of each band member together makes each stop that much more special.

Follow TRIVIUM | WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | SPOTIFY | APPLE MUSIC