“Like Light to the Flies” by Trivium

The title of this song (“Like Light to the Flies” is actually a metaphor. The titular light is symbolic of, in Matt Heafy’s own words, “all forms of tragedy”. And “the flies” are meant to allude to human beings. And we all know that flies tend to be attracted to light. 

So the idea that Trivium is putting forward in this song is that tragic events tend to appeal to people just as light does to flies. And generally speaking, they do not seem to approve of this course of action. Rather the lyrics appear to insinuate that those who seem to derive pleasure from other’s misfortunes will likewise “be burned”. And the addressee seems to be one of these people, i.e. a “hypocrite” who has a “self-denying avarice for blood”.

So if nothing else, we can say that the vocalist does not approve of the idea of people using, once again in Matt’s own words, “murder, violence, war, cruelty”, etc. as means of entertainment.

Facts about “Like Light to the Flies”

The music video to this song featured Brent Young (who left the band in 2004) on bass.

Moreover the audio featured in the video is actually the demo version of “Like Light to the Flies”. That particular rendition can be found on an album entitled “MTV2 Headbangers Ball, Vol. 2”.

The proper version of this song was released, by Roadrunner Records, as part of the Trivium’s album “Ascendancy” on 15 March 2005.

This track was written and produced by Trivium’s leader Matt Heafy alongside Jason Suecof.