Interview: Trivium Frontman Matt Heafy Talks Gear And New Album Plans

Guitarist discusses his favourite guitars, and talks about new Trivium album   30-May-13

Matt Heafy interview/page 2

You trolled fans a bit with a few Spinal Tap references on your Facebook page, saying the lead single would be called 'Hellhole'. Have you decided what the album will be called yet, and do you have any idea when it will be released?

"We've been telling fans that it is called "Shark Sandwich". I have no idea why I used that reference first - but I have loved all the fan-made-art that has been floating around on the internet. We have all the info of the record, but none of it will be released until we choose the time. Third quarter of this year is where we are shooting to release."

There was a great instagram photo taken by Paolo which shows you sat at a mixing desk with David Draiman, you've got your Les Paul, and it looks like it's running through a few Boss pedals and into a 5150. For those of us who don't have the pleasure of working with David, can you just set the scene of that photo? What's he like to work with, and how killer does the 5150 sound when it's being miked up and running back at you through huge studio speakers?

"David was a truly incredible producer to work with. He pushed every single one of us beyond the bounds of where we typically go. David has been a fan of Trivium since 2005, and us fans of his since Disturbed's first record. After hearing In Waves, David approached us and said that he felt the five of us could make something monumental.

"I consider David a friend and a mentor. We lived at David's home in Texas, living only a couple second's walk from the studio itself. It was great to be fully immersed in the album. The guitar tone is beastly - you'll have to wait and see.

"The rig I used for rhythms was my classic Les Paul Custom with EMG 81/85, into a Maxon Overdrive pedal (the big, light green one), into an original block letter 5150, into a Mesa 4x12, with a 421 and 57 mic. Colin Richardson and Carl Bown tweaked the sound further in the mixing process and made it even more crushing."

Finally, Matt, thanks for talking to us! Here's a standard Sonic State question we ask everyone - if you could only use one guitar, one pedal and one amp, for recording and for gigging, what would they be?

The exact one I used on this record: Gibson Les Paul Custom, Peavey 5150, Maxon OD, Mesa 4x12

Go to Trivium's website for latest updates on the forthcoming album

For info about Matt's favourite amp, the Peavey 5150, click here