Earlier this year, I was fortunate enough to see Trivium celebrate the 20th anniversary of their album Ascendancy on a co-headlining tour with Bullet For My Valentine. Now, Trivium has graced North America with a second end-of-year headlining tour, Struck Dead Tour. Fans, myself included, can never get enough of Trivium, and we packed the Riverside Municipal Auditorium on a cold December night to enjoy even more music from this mighty band. Joining them on this tour were Ukrainian heavyweights Jinjer and English newcomers Heriot, making their North American debut. The cold breeze outside was no match for the heat these bands brought to the stage.

Opening the night was Heriot, performing in the U.S. for the first time. For many fans, including myself, this was our introduction to the band. They kicked things off with their song “Foul Void,” as vocalist and guitarist Debbie Gough unleashed a visceral scream that felt like it clawed into our very souls. Her voice demanded attention, waking us up and setting the tone for the night. Fellow guitarist Erhan Alman delivered heavy, chug-laden riffs with a beatdown flavor, while bassist Jake Packer added guttural screams and backing vocals. Drummer Julian Cage, far from being confined to his kit, acted as the band’s hype man, locking eyes with the crowd and roaring unamplified to summon our inner demons.

Heriot’s set was an amalgamation of genres, blending metalcore, thrash, and slam in songs like “Siege Lord,” “Demure,” “Commander of Pain,” “Mourn,” and “At the Fortress Gate.” Their raw brutality made it clear why Trivium chose them to open the show—there was no escaping the intensity of their performance.

Next up were Ukrainian goliaths Jinjer, promoting their newest album Dué. They opened their set with the album’s title track, as vocalist Tati Shmayluk graced the stage in Victorian-esque attire. Her regal appearance was quickly juxtaposed by her ferocious screams, proving she is anything but ladylike when performing. This duality perfectly encapsulates Jinjer’s sound—a mix of melodic and groove metal with heavy breakdowns and spine-chilling screams.

Guitarist Roman Ibramkhalilov delivered piercing guitar lines that felt like an assault on the senses, while bassist Eugene Abdukhanov brought groove and emotion to his basslines. Drummer Vladi Ulasevich kept the beat flowing with powerful double-kick patterns, crafting grooves that made you want to stomp and dance simultaneously. Jinjer’s setlist included “Green Serpent,” “Fast Draw,” “Hedonist,” “Teacher, Teacher!,” “Perennial,” “Rogue,” “Someone’s Daughter,” and ended with the fan-favorite “Pisces.” While they continue to be a standout support act, here’s hoping 2026 brings us a full Jinjer North American tour.

Finally, it was time for the headliners, Trivium, who wasted no time kicking their set into high gear with “In Waves.” Normally a closer, this fan-favorite opener sent the crowd into a frenzy, with mosh pits forming almost instantly.

Vocalist and guitarist Matt Heafy was a Jekyll and Hyde on stage—intense and ferocious while screaming, yet playful and goofy during solos, sticking his tongue out and headbanging like a mischievous cat. The crowd loved both sides of him. Fellow guitarist Corey Beaulieu headbanged relentlessly while delivering an onslaught of solos, and bassist Paolo Gregoletto worked the stage like never before, engaging with the crowd at every turn.

Drummer Alex Rüdinger, who recently replaced Alex Bent, had big shoes to fill but proved he was up to the task. He navigated Trivium’s bombastic songs and somber melodies with precision, ensuring the band’s live sound remained as powerful as ever. The setlist spanned their entire discography, including hits like “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,” and “The Sin and the Sentence.”

During December, Riverside transforms into the Festival of Lights, with Christmas decorations adorning the downtown area. While holiday revelers strolled joyfully outside, the Struck Dead Tour made the night unforgettable for us metalheads. The ballistic sounds of Heriot, Jinjer, and Trivium radiated across the city. Despite the cold California weather, there wasn’t a dry body in the building by the end of the show. Whether from moshing or rocking out, everyone was drenched in sweat—either their own or someone else’s. For many, this was the last concert of the year, and it was the perfect way to close out 2025.