Triple Header: Trivium, Bullet For My Valentine, and August Burns Red - 5/5/25
Official video from Trivium
*Volume warning for the Spotify preview
Official video from Bullet For My Valentine
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Music video from August Burns Red
*Volume warning for the Spotify preview
It's Metal Monday again everyone! If you have not seen this series before, I try to post every Monday about a metal track that I believe resonates with our individual professional journeys and to help those of us who struggle to get going on Mondays. (Plus, I get to share some of my favorite metal music with you all!)
May is Mental Health Awareness Month in the United States. For this month, we’re going to touch on songs relating to mental health. This is a topic that is close to me for a lot of reasons that I won’t get into here. To start off this month, I wanted to pick a song from each band I saw at a concert I went to over the weekend in Laval Quebec. The concert happened to land right on my birthday (my 30th birthday at that) and was co-headlined by two bands that I’ve followed for a long time; Trivium and Bullet For My Valentine. The show was opened by August Burns Red and Bleed From Within, two bands I had never heard before.
Trivium: Departure
Bullet For My Valentine: 10 Years Today
August Burns Red: Standing In The Storm
As far as concerts go, this has been one of my favorites. Not only were the band fantastic, but the crowd’s energy was some of the best I’ve ever experienced. The arena was full by the time August Burns Red was playing, which is not something I see often at shows. This is one I will remember and cherish for a long, long time. Before we get into each song, I want talk about this month and it’s significance.
History and Significance of Mental Health Awareness Month
Since 1949, May has been recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month in the United States. This observance was initiated by Mental Health America (then known as the National Association for Mental Health) to raise awareness and educate the public about mental illnesses, including conditions like depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. The goal is to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness and promote understanding, treatment, and prevention.
Over the years, various organizations, including the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), have contributed to these efforts. Campaigns and events during this month aim to highlight the importance of mental health, share resources, and encourage open conversations about mental health issues.
Importance of Mental Health
Mental health is just as important as physical health. It affects how we think, feel, and act, influencing our ability to handle stress, relate to others, and make decisions. Good mental health is essential for overall well being and functioning. It impacts various aspects of life, including:
Emotional Well-being: Mental health influences our emotions and how we manage them. It affects our ability to experience and express feelings like happiness, sadness, and anger.
Cognitive Functioning: Mental health affects our thinking processes, including memory, problem-solving, and decision-making. Poor mental health can impair these cognitive functions, leading to difficulties in daily life.
Social Relationships: Mental health plays a crucial role in how we interact with others. It affects our ability to form and maintain healthy relationships, communicate effectively, and empathize with others.
Physical Health: Mental health and physical health are interconnected. Poor mental health can lead to physical health problems, such as chronic illnesses, and vice versa
Questions to Inspire Your Journey
With all of that said, let’s get into the music. As you read through this article, think about how you can apply these songs relate to your personal and/or professional life, no matter your position or role, and feel free to share your thoughts in the comments on the LinkedIn post! Here are some questions to get you started:
In what ways can you apply the message of standing firm amidst internal storms to your professional challenges?
How do the lyrics of "10 Years Today" highlight the importance of addressing grief and loss in a healthy manner?
What actions can you take to support a colleague who may be struggling with mental health issues?
How can you create a supportive environment at work that acknowledges and addresses mental health challenges?
What steps can you take to prioritize mental health in both your personal and professional life?
I am not the type to be on my phone during a concert, but I knew I wanted to write this post using songs from bands at the concert, so I took a picture of each band we saw. (We missed the opening band “Bleed From Within”.)
Trivium: Departure
Lyrics:
This weight is so unbearable, caving my lungs
All my life seems to be flashing in front of my eyes (in front of my eyes)
Run away from all the pain, all the pain of life
Run away from all the pain of life
I casually listened to Trivium for a long time, first learning about them around 2008. It wasn’t until 2020 with their album “What The Dead Men Say” when I realized how much I liked them. That likely overlapped because that was around the time Matt Heafy started streaming over on Twitch. During an audience Q&A in an issue of Metal Hammer, Matt Heafy stated that Departure is one of the most personal songs he has written. The song deals with intense depression, suicidal ideation, and other mental health issues. Heafy has described it as a reflection of his own struggles with mental health, including anxiety, OCD, and ADHD. He has mentioned that writing "Departure" was a way for him to confront these issues head-on and find encouragement to tackle them .
Bullet For My Valentine: 10 Years Today
Lyrics:
On and on although you're gone
Candles burn without a flame on
Our final call to you, I know you're listening
How could you leave us that way?
Where did you go? (Ten years today)
I originally found Bullet For My Valentine in about 2012-2013 while I work working a summer job in high school. I’ve been following them ever since, but never got the chance to see them live until this weekend. For those who don’t know this song, "10 Years Today" was written about a friend of Matthew Tuck, the lead vocalist, who tragically committed suicide ten years before the song was written. The song explores the effects of suicide on those left behind, including feelings of guilt, anger, and unanswered questions. It is a powerful reflection on grief and loss, capturing the emotional turmoil that follows such a tragic event.
August Burns Red: Standing In The Storm
Lyrics:
It's okay not to be okay
But we can't stay here in this place
Nothing more to do
Nothing more to say
I'm afraid I'm going insane
I'm losing my mind
There's no rain, just lightning and thunder (Lightning and thunder)
Nobody wins when we'vе lost one another
Seeing August Burns Red at this concert was my first time hearing them, and I now have their songs in my Liked Songs on Spotify. I found "Standing in the Storm" yesterday while doing yardwork and thought it was a good fit for this article. Looking into the song, it was written during the recording sessions for August Burns Red's album "Guardians." The song addresses themes of resilience and battling through mental health struggles. It reflects on the internal storms one faces and the strength required to stand firm amidst them. The main progression of the song was inspired by a riff from the band Caspian, which left a lasting impression on the band members.
Conclusion and Wrapping Up
As we wrap up this week's Metal Monday, let's reflect on the themes of mental health explored in Trivium's "Departure," Bullet For My Valentine's "10 Years Today," and August Burns Red's "Standing in the Storm." These themes are not just lyrics in a song; they resonate deeply with our personal and professional lives.
TL;DR: "Departure" by Trivium delves into the struggles of depression and suicidal ideation, reminding us of the importance of confronting our mental health issues head-on. "10 Years Today" by Bullet For My Valentine explores the profound impact of grief and loss, highlighting the emotional turmoil that follows such tragic events. "Standing in the Storm" by August Burns Red emphasizes resilience and the strength required to weather internal storms, inspiring us to stand firm amidst challenges.
Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments on our LinkedIn post—I’d love to hear your stories and insights. By fostering a supportive work environment and encouraging open conversations about these themes, we can create a culture where everyone feels valued and understood. Remember, it's okay to ask for help and to take time for self-care. By addressing these themes head-on, we can build resilience and find the strength to overcome any challenges that come our way. Let's use this Metal Monday as a reminder to prioritize our mental health and support one another in our journeys.
Stay tuned for next week's Metal Monday! Until then, keep rocking and stay strong!