Riff Tone

Ascendancy

Trivium

Guitarmetal2000s

Original Gear

GuitarGibson Les Paul Custom (likely 2000s model, passive pickups)

AmpPeavey 5150 or Peavey 6505+ head into Marshall JCM900BV 4x12 cab

PickupsEMG 81/89 (possible), but most sources indicate passive humbuckers for Ascendancy era

Amp Settings

gain8.5

bass6

mid5

treble7

reverb0

presence6

Effects & Signal Chain

overdriveMaxon Maxon OD808 Overdrive

noise_gateBoss Boss NS-2 Noise Suppressor

Notes

Studio recording, 2004-2005. Multiple sources confirm Peavey 5150/6505+ with Marshall JCM900 cabs for the album. Guitar is a Les Paul Custom with passive pickups (not Fishman or EMG actives, which came later). Maxon OD808 or similar overdrive used as a boost. No evidence of time-based or modulation effects in the riff section. Settings estimated based on typical 5150/6505+ metal tones of the era.

Tone Character(10)

tight and percussiveaggressive palm mutinghigh-gain saturationscooped but present midsarticulate note separationchunky low endrazor-sharp attackminimal ambiencefast alternate pickingfocused, modern metal rhythm

Difficulty

The riff section requires fast, aggressive alternate picking with tight palm muting and precise synchronization, typical of modern metal rhythm guitar. The tempo and technical demands place it at a hard (4/5) difficulty.