Trapt’s recent release of their Live! album is just as its title entails, a retooling of some of their biggest hits. Live! incorporates two new studio songs, “Stay Alive” and “Everything to Lose,” to round out an interesting collection of songs.
The real punch of the album is the live versions of songs from both of Trapt’s previous albums, Trapt and Someone in Control. The songs they selected, mostly the best songs of those albums, bring about the usual energy that accompanies live performances. Trapt manages to enrapture their audiences in the tracks off of some of their earlier works. This can be readily seen in “Headstrong” where the audience sings parts of the lyrics to the song instead of their lead singer.
While the concept of a live album doesn’t necessarily ring bells for fans who are waiting for new material from Trapt, it does satisfy the appetite of those fans that are dying to hear something new. “Stay Alive” is definitely a song that harkens back to the days of Trapt. The song has elements that speak of “Headstrong,” especially listening to the guitar riffs that are ever-present in the song. The other studio song, “Everything to Lose,” is completely opposite of “Stay Alive.” It’s heavier and riddled with more of a downplayed tone.
Unfortunately this is where one must cease lauding the album; as Trapt is only a mediocre live performance band. While it goes without saying that there are only a few bands that can perform live as they do in the studio, Trapt still doesn’t manage to inspire the same feelings of angst, loss, and triumph as they do when they are in the studio.
That being said, the real kick in the teeth is that Trapt’s first album in over two years is a live compilation with two studio-recorded tracks. The sheer disappointment of Trapt having released a live album before a studio recorded album is that die-hard Trapt fans are looking to wait even longer before they see a brand new album by them.
All in all, the album isn’t bad but it’s not really that good either. If you are a die-hard Trapt fan then this album is for you. On the other hand, if you are a casual fan of Trapt then I’d suggest that you just purchase the two studio songs from Live! as they are the best songs on the album.