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Everyone's Replaceable, Rampant Rumors

RUMOR OF THE DAY: TRIVIUM LOSES TRAVIS?

 Tuesday, December 15th, 2009 at 10:30am by

0107_TRAVIS_SMITH1

If you hit up Trivium’s most recent U.S. tour with Chimaira, you may have noticed an absence of drummer Travis Smith. When the tour started, the band said that Smith “will not be joining us on this leg and is home taking care of some personal business.” Filling-in for him on the tour was his drum tech, Maruta’s Nick Augusto.

Meanwhile, we’d heard some rumors from a pretty reputable source that Smith wasn’t coming back at all. We didn’t say anything at the time ’cause sometimes someone tells you something off the record and it’s not cool to print that kinda thing (even we’re not that dickish)… but now that Metal Underground is reporting the rumor, fuck it. We don’t think Smith is coming back to Trivium.

What does this mean for the band? Really not that much, I imagine. Will all due respect to Smith, I think he was Trivium’s weakest link in a live setting, and it seems to me that Matt Heafy and Corey Beaulieu can go on writing perfectly fine Trivium material by themselves.

What was the cause of the split? Is Augusto the band’s new drummer for good? Does that mean Maruta needs a new skinsman? Who shot J.R.? These answers and more as we get ‘em…

-AR

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  • chris

    trivium is fucking terrible. i’ve had to see them three times and they are on e of the worst live bands ever.

    • Matt

      You must be an idiot. TRIVIUM is THE best live band I’ve ever seen. I’ve seen ATR, Slipknot, etc. Granted, Trivium suck in Arenas, you’ve gotta see them in a club, they get the crowd going like no other.

      and on top of that they write some of the best music out there (except for the Crusade) that cd was subpar for them. Ascendancy, Shogun, and Ember to Inferno were amazing.

      also, I’m not sure that Travis was the weakest link, creatively maybe, but he was talented and could tear up the drums.

      • chris

        hahahahaha, your comparison for them being great is to compare them to all that remains and slipknot. slipknot fucking blow live. it was like watching a cartoon version of the band i thought they were. you must be like 13 and just getting into metal if you like trivum, slipknot, and all that remains. don’t worry, one day you will find better metal to listen to. oh and travis is a shit drummer, i haven’t heard more basic drumbeats in a long time.

        • Matt

          actually I’m 20. and i’ve been into metal for 5 years. these guys are the real deal. unlike most of the shit that is called metal these days. let me correct that, most new bands are shit. these guys along with ATR, Slipknot, the Haunted, BTBAM and In Flames are the best new(er) bands out there.
          In Flames is also badass live.

          • Matt

            also, Hatebreed and Nile. I forgot to toss those up there too.

            I feel like the one’s i mentioned are destined to become greats, i.e. (old) Metallica, Slayer, Iron Maiden, Pantera, etc

          • Zoker

            To Matt:
            In Flames and The Haunted (I don’t care about Slipknot) are not that new, you know… In Flames are alive since 1990 or something… you can say new(er) but you can’t put them in the same list with BTBAM I think…

            To Chris:
            “you must be like 13 and just getting into metal if you like trivum, slipknot, and all that remains. don’t worry, one day you will find better metal to listen to”… what the hell does it mean?? There are 50 years old men who sing along to Green Day… I don’t see the connection between age and musical tastes…

          • orbital

            In Flames and The Haunted are not new(er) bands. LOL

            you were 1 when In Flames formed and 7 when the Haunted formed.

          • chris

            little poser thriteen year olds listen to all that remains and trivium. they are shit metal for shit people. that is all. oh and in flames totally fucking blows now

          • ferocious_fetus

            I’m not trying to hate on your taste’s but aside from BTBAM, none of those bands have been relevant for years.

          • Trux

            err…umhhh… just for you to know…. In flames has been around for like …15 years…that makes them a veteran act..

            just sayin….

          • Zoker

            I can’t believe there’s still people who use the “poser argument” in a discussion…

          • CARTER

            Hey Matt, check you facts, retard.

            In Flames? Newer?

            Anyone that uses ATR and Slipknot as a benchmark for a live metal performance needs a new scale. You are an idiot.

          • Matt

            you can also through Machine Head in there by the way. I defend my choices, such as In Flames and The Haunted as being New(er). because they’re from the nineties. the only true veterans/old metal bands are from the 80′s or before. you know like Maiden, Pantera, GN’R (not new shit), Metallica (old shit), Anthrax, Slayer etc. Just b/c I use a different scale for age, doesn’t make what I said right or wrong. the fact is Trivium as well as some other bands (that may or may not be considered newer) are doing what’s right for metal. Metal does not have to be balls out brutal [Immortal, Behemoth, Nile, etc] to be good.

        • http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/46e389eb8b79606050d3d447431ff6ac?s=80 Nate

          Dude, trivium is fucking amazing, and this is coming from someone who scorns the mainstream of metal, and submerges himself in obscure, overly-tech death. They have fucking 5-part harmonies for fuck’s sake! If you honestly didn’t find Shogun to be anything less than jizz-inducing, then you sir, are a fool.

          • The Ogre

            Agreed

          • Geekbeater

            Agreed 10000 percent. They got fucked on ever year end list last year. Such an overlooked sick record.

        • Noodle

          dude grow up, your like what 16? i like trivium and i’ve been a metalhead as long as i can remember, and no just because i like trivium doesnt mean i like shitty bands like slipknot and atr. favourite bands = slayer, metallica n machine head. granted on triviums songs travis doesn’t pull off his true ability but no one can deny he has a talent that he is yet to pull off, and anyway he aint left for good hes getting married

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/William-Morley/618112437 William Morley

        Trivium are a terrible band, as are Slipknot. I wouldn’t call ATR terrible but they’re definitely nothing special. Get some decent taste!

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Rik-Powell/286400508 Rik Powell

      I’ve seen Trivium twice and they were both the worst live band I’ve seen and one of the best.

      The first time I saw the was at Download 2006, during The Crusade era, and they fucked up all their old songs. I saw them again at Download this year, and they played a flawless set, and only played one song from The Crusade.

      • I love boobs

        Jesus Christ. The arguments on both sides here are just terrible.

        my opinion:
        if you like Trivium: GREAT!
        if you hate Trivium: FANTASTIC!

  • johnnywhoopass

    i agree with the above comment i saw them in a club and they ripped the shit up!

  • John

    This had better god damn not mean that Maruta needs a new skinsman. I’ve been waiting for another full length for a hot minute. Trivium fucking blows, If I wanted a half retarded lamb of god I’d listen to lamb of god post as the palaces burn. This just made me extremely angry

  • Johnny Death

    A close friend of mine mentioned that he was gone for good after he met the band while on this tour. If the guys are saying that to guys who are just fans then well…

  • Skeletonwitchcraft

    i like trivium, but i get bored with their albums quick.

  • Frampler

    He’s an awful live drummer and looks like he’s got AIDS.

  • cougar party

    I am a big fan of Trivium; mainly Ascendency and Shogun. Travis’ drumming was always great on the albums, but it seemed that live he wasn’t as tight. Sometimes he’d even skip some double bass stuff and play easier beats.

    Either way, it will be a big loss for the band. Travis has been with the band forever.

  • http://www.fuckoffmyself.blogspot.com Jedsan

    BOAT!
    RUDDER!
    STRANGE!
    MOUNTAIN!
    STOMP!
    UKRAINE!
    THIS!
    LIIIIIIIME!

    • http://www.myspace.com/ihopeyourot DemiGod

      I AM HERE TO RIDE BIKE!!!!

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jeremy-Sanchez/512283152 Jeremy Sanchez

        YOU WILL SQUEEZE UP THE WINE!!!!

    • joshkid

      HAHA that is some real funny shit right there!

  • Joe

    Rumor has it that Derek Roddy is available :)

  • Jim Flames

    I always considered Travis to be the weak link in the band, not to see he was a terrible drummer at all but he never seemed to bring anything that most metal drummers couldn’t whereas the rest of the band all seem to be at the top of their game.

    Regardless to what you think of this band (because someone listens to Trivium instead of Darkthrone doesn’t mean they’re a 14 year old), Matt, Corey and Paolo are all great musicians who’ve made a couple of great albums. No need to belittle them because they’re young and achieved success quickly, can’t think of a person who wouldn’t happily swap places with them.

    • Noodle

      your opinion is probably the best one i have seen on here! kudos to you!

  • Sean Williams

    you can say you hate trivium, whatever whatever, but you can’t deny that are extremely talented musicians and they do make good, catchy songs, especially on shogun. not up in like the tier of my favorite bands but hey, when i wanna hear some cool solos and battling guitars and some metal i don’t have to think to hard about i’ll flip on trivium.

    • cougar party

      True. You don’t have to like their style, but they can shred and play better than most of their peers.

  • jason

    Mediocre drummer out of mediocre band. Nothing to see here folks.

  • C.

    He didn’t get shot, did he?

  • johnny

    bring on the hate-sauce

  • blah

    once again with the shameless driving of traffic to the other shitty sites in the blast beat network

    god forbid you guys actually credit the site that broke this news (the prp)

    • http://www.last.fm/user/markandrew78 materialist

      haha yeah i noticed that too…

      one could infer there’s some anitpathy for the prp by this site for some reason

  • Alex_P

    Hey, isn’t this site supposed to focus on metal?

    • Alex_P

      (12-year old mode active)

      BURN!

      (12-year old mode inactive)

  • RobotScythe

    With that half-wit facial expression, goofy neck tattoo and AIDS-chic physique, I thought for a split second that was Travis Barker.

  • Alkahest

    Dont care much for them anymore. Grew out of them.

  • http://myspace.com/northwestroyale Blake

    Travis was never that good to begin with. We opened for them last summer and his playing was REALLY stiff; could barely play fills.

    Best wishes to whoever their new drummer may be.

  • politude

    I like how people bash Trivium, specifically because their fan base is a bunch of young kids that are trying to get into metal for the first time. For fuck sakes, you guys are straight assholes, anyone that came up in 2000 had to listen to bands like Slipknot, Disturbed, Static-X and Mudvayne, to get to the meat and potatoes of metal, I was one of “those” kids. I am okay with Trivium, if you want to judge them by The Crusade, you are a typical, fanboy behind a COMPUTER, EVERYONE IS TOUGHER BEHIND THE SCREEN.

    Hell, if I had a nickel for every cumdumpster that comes on here, bashes a band and tells me to listen to some Norwegian, black-pagan, speed-doom, band that just released their first song on myspace… I’d have like 50 bucks.

    • msv81

      1

    • \m/Eluveitie\m/

      There’s “speed-doom” now? I’m in!

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jeremy-Sanchez/512283152 Jeremy Sanchez

      Truth.

  • moses valenzuela

    Trivium can’t decide if they want to be Cannibal Corpse or Disturbed. (That is why they are “poser” status.) Yes I have seen them live!

    • msv81

      Really? I’m not even a fan of the band so I couldn’t care less if you bash them or not. But they sound absolutely NOTHING like either of those bands you named.

      Jesus christ, people. Metal is metal is metal. Get the fuck over it. Listen to what you enjoy, ignore what you dislike. Is it that hard? I guess everyone needs their opinions validated sometimes; it does get over the top absurd sometimes, though.

  • Art Weingartner

    Who cares, Travis is probably one of the least talented drummers around. He’s like a David Silveria Jr, very simple and boring.

    • http://myspace.com/northwestroyale Blake

      Ya know, I agree with the first half of your statement but respectfully I have to say – when I hear David’s playing, I can tell it’s him. Travis has no discernible sound or style of his own. Not to my ears, anyway.

  • http://www.last.fm/user/wrath_of_vishnu Dillon

    Maruta’s way too good to have their members play for a band like Trivium.

    • John

      I’m so glad that you’re offended for the right reasons. I don’t give a fuck about Trivium, but I really, really like maruta. Though, from what I hear dude has kids to feed, so if he can do that using his abilities rather than wasting them working a stupid 9-5 I guess I can deal with it. As long as Maruta still does albums every once in a while.

  • Geekbeater

    I am waiting for Matt Heafy’s side death metal project. If I remember correctly hes doing it with Jason Suecof. Kirisute Gomen is as close to a death metal song as Trivium will get…nonetheless its a great track.

  • joshkid

    What an awesome band they are. I saw them twice (arena and club), and both times they were fuckin amazing! Matt Heafy is one sick frontman and these dudes know how to fuckin play.
    Travis is an awesome drummer, but I’m sure he can be replaced.

  • Tim

    I saw trivium for the second time a few weeks ago; it was a solid show. The stage lights went out, but they killed it for the rest of the show with only house lights. The bassist was dressed like he thought he was Bono or something though… I don’t know what that was about…

  • mike

    The PRP broke tihs news, not metalunderground

  • ITTOA666

    Who gives a fuck if you dont like trivium or how old you are. It seems that you’re damned if you like em, damned if you don’t on these comments.

  • Xenogia

    Travis was always sloppy, I watched a few Modern Drummer clips of him and he plays like a 15 y/o. All of his chops seemed to come from Mike Portnoy’s simple 2 kick 2 snare 4 kick 4 snare type rolls. The guy had no style or individual sound. Maybe he should start practicing find his own sound.

  • d00shc00gr

    Nothing like a little Trivium to get the haterade flowing. I personally worship at the altar of Ascendancy, and thought the crusade was cool until I listened to the lyrics. I didn’t get shogun.
    Regardless, I’ve seen Trivium 6 times, and Travis Smith is one helluva drummer. I’m excited to see him in a band that isn’t Trivium

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Rufino-Castaneda/100000171789334 Rufino Castaneda

    ive’ seen trivium live a couple of times its alright there not the best live band but there music is pretty good Corey can shred that fuckin guitar.

  • southern discomfort

    Talk about real metal.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Colin-OConnor/1491245262 Colin O’Connor

    Trivium is not good or bad enough to merit the praise or hate. They are just meh…

  • JRTME

    I actually like Trivium and have seen them live twice. They were HORRIBLE live.

  • Hetfield

    listen to Nel Monteiro man! he has the one of the greatest drummers in the world!! Lars what? Joey who? Travis what? man…you got to listen to that..its really unbelieveble!!! Nel Monteiro Rulezzzz!! \m/

    • Noodle

      funny how no one has heard of these bands people are saying to listen to. saying “listen too this because no one has ever heard of the band before and when they get big and teens start enjoying their music i will hate them”. EVERYONE GROW UP!

  • Hetfield

    listen to Skullpture, Slither, Revolution Within, Echidna, Dokuga, Warchitectt and you´ll see great bands that aren´t recognized because they dont do music to sell …. underground!! \m/

  • http://www.myspace.com/ihopeyourot DemiGod

    Maruta is such a sick fucking name for a metal band.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unit_731

    There’s the historical pretext for the name.

  • Ohsnap

    Nick agusto has kids??? Is that true? And does Anyone know how old he is?

  • 7thSacrement

    They should just hire Shane Gaalaas to replace Travis ..

  • dimentian

    KEVIN FUCKING TALLEY. I will now start listing MY favorite bands. (1) DUUURRRRRRRR. (2) BLLLAAAAAHHHH. (3) SHAFTDODGER. (4) CHRISTPUNCHER.

  • http://jas09.deviantart.com JAS09

    Travis sucked.
    Here’s hoping Trivium fetch someone with real talent to replace him.

  • Charlie-Cash

    Travis being a “basic” drummer is news to me… i always thought he was pretty creative in making trivium have their own individual sound. Personally I think Travis was pretty damn good. I’ve seen trivium 3 times. once with all that remains and 36 crazy fists. which btw i didn’t even stay to watch all that remains because i fucking cant stand studio enhanced bands such as ATR. 36 crazy fists i hadn’t heard of them till that night but they had good stage energy. even though they dont classify to me as a technical metal band. Another time i saw trivium was at Family Values. and omfg Did they put a riot in the pit. The third was mayhem and that was off the charts. Travis is definately not the WEAK point of Trivium like all you ignorant tone deaf fucks seem to think. If he leaves triviums. oh well. A greater drummer will take is place. There is always someone an inch better than you. Think about that. And where do all you concieted fucks get off saying Trivium blows? Hell i bet you fucks sit here at the computer ALL fucking day bashing people because you are talentless individuals. I dont see any of you fucks touring around the world having thousands of people talk good and bad rep about you. Get a fucking lives. And to bash on someones idea of metal. you guys are just beligerantly fucking retarded. (sp) btw. Metal is being ones fullest individual. And if u fucks think Trivium sucks. Get a fucking grip. I’d love to see some of you ignorant fucks try and sweep pick to obliques and slide tremelos. Fuck off haters. Trivium rocks.

    “bfmv” is better imo. :)

    but then again, BMTH, count your blessings, puts all them to shame..

    peace haters.

    • familyghost

      kill yourself fanboy.

  • Amorth

    your all idiots for arguing on a website……….how about going out getting in a band and touring and not arguing over ‘whos the most metal’

    • Noodle

      You sir are correct! fair play

    • familyghost

      so where is your band? how many records did YOU sell? typical retard argument, “if youre not in a successful band you cant say shit about them”, ignoring the fact that the people saying it are usually losers like the people they bitch about(the basement dwelling “haters”). so basically if youre not in band, you cant have opinion. so until i see a tour flyer and some records sales, i sugges you practice what you preach and shut the fuck up.

      • Noodle

        how do you know he is not in a band just staring out?

        • familyghost

          thats not being sucessful. youre only alllowed to voice your opinion if youre in a band and touring and doing well like this shit band.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Tre-Watson/506737562 Tre Watson

    I never understood why trivium catch so much flak. they have good chops, great songwriting skills, and they’re all chill dudes.

    i mean, there’s the borrowed riffs, thing, but name a band that hasn’t borrowed at least 3 progressions from another band?

    meh, if they’re not your thing, cool, but why HATE them? really?

  • Rufi

    you’re all discussing.. is not to challenge who is right or not, but to respect everyone’s opinion, the music was a matter of taste, no matter the age or even sex

    i can’t imagine that you’re all a good metalhead if you have a stereotype about the age and “what they listening to” or “what they playing to”

    come on it’s not a competition

    thanks,
    be respect..
    peace

  • craig

    Trivium….aka WORST BAND EVER

    • sean

      U mean the best the ever

  • sean

    Fuck everyone that says trivium sucks u guys can suck a fucken dick or sumthen look at slipknot and metallica these guys are getting old now and its time for the new bands to kick some ass like All that Remains…..Trivium is one fucken badass band jus like lamb of god.

  • Sean

    Suck it all of u guys trivium is one fucken badass band! All the other bands like metallica and korn and slipknot and bullet for my valintime they all suck now days. Trivium is fucken one kick ass band its better than the of bands i jus named.

  • Richard

    Man oh man, I haven’t seen so much hate since Justin Beiber entered the music industry.. Trivium isa great band and are extremely musically talented; facts show that as well.. Of course I don’t see that great of a loss with Travis gone as posted above, he doesn’t bring anything special that most metal drummers bring to the scene. Whether anyone likes it or not, Travis was recorded to have some of the fastest feet ever.. and Matt was the first to ever become endorsed for Gibson 7-strings and later soon created his own custom 6-string. I don’t feel that they have improved much since Ascendancy, but they still write some killer stuff. They don’t have the best riffs at all times, but if you guys have all the hate or distaste for them then go ahead and try to make some music of your own.. Talk is talk, but until you are as good as them or compose something of your own and post it quit talking crap. These guys write great riffs and solos, although everything after ascendancy is easily ear tiring as it just isn’t as good, and I’m sure many would agree. I see also that most of you people are trying to compare bands like BTBAM which are a completely different sub-genre and they have a completely different style, as trivium aims for anthom-ish/ballet songs with heavy riffs and extremely fast solos. Most of the bands that you guys compare also are mainstream, so of course all the hate is just going to come on out because once you go mainstream you’ve pretty much just killed your loyal fanbase(not all the time, but most of the time yes) which brought you to where you’re at. In the end, Trivium will continue to make music whether we like it or not and if you want to talk crap go do it in their faces, because on the net it’s nothing far from just cowardly.

  • Richard

    And for the record to the above posted comment, BMTH is just a piece of crap band, that skinny homo vocalist couldn’t even scream properly and blew his vocal chords.. Deathcore generic crap like them is what puts the metal industry to shame.

  • The Big One

    I like to eat POOP!