Trivium’s Matt Heafy has opened up about the bullying Trivium faced from other metal bands in their early years. He shared a heartfelt appreciation post for Papa Roach’s Jacoby Shaddix in a statement published on Instagram.
The post detailed how Shaddix offered Heafy crucial moral support during a difficult period in Trivium’s career. The band was facing hostility from peers in the metal scene following their high-profile “next Metallica” label in the UK press.
“Papa Roach / Jacoby Shaddix appreciation post: Back in 2005, I remember finishing Download Festival — one of our greatest shows ever — but I remember it being bittersweet because while the fans were insane, I had the lingering situation that most of our favorite bands in the metal scene hated our guys and bullied us in person when we’d tour with them,” Heafy said.
He went on to describe a pivotal backstage encounter with Shaddix that left a lasting impression on him.
“I met Jacoby backstage at Download — he was super kind and said how he dug our band — I thanked him but somehow I knew I could mention the bullying and crap we were dealing with,” he continued. “He told me ‘f the haters’ and that if we stick to our guns and stay true to ourselves — we’d rise above all of that. That kindness of one of my musical childhood heroes stuck with me forever.”
Heafy also reflected on a more recent reunion with Shaddix, noting that the warmth he experienced years ago remained unchanged.
“I ran back into Jacoby after years at Rock am Ring last week ish — he was just as amazing a human as ever. We were invited to do a show with them in Budapest. Their entire crew, org, and band treated us like kings. Jacoby and Papa Roach and their entire org are an example of how everyone should do this. Treat everyone as equals and with respect and kindness,” he said. “Jacoby. You’re a true star in every sense of the word. Seeing all the band’s kids out rocking to their parents made me so happy and excited for the future when my kids could one day join me on stage overseas as well. Y’all are incredible. I hope we can do more shows together.”
The comments come in the context of Heafy previously addressing the backlash Trivium received after being dubbed “the next Metallica” on a UK magazine cover when the band members were around 18 years old. That label reportedly stirred resentment among other acts in the scene at the time.
To fully understand why that label caused such friction, it helps to look at just how rapidly Trivium rose through the ranks — and how young they were when the spotlight found them.
As reported by Wikipedia, Trivium formed in 1999 and released their debut album Ember to Inferno on Lifeforce Records in 2003, before signing to major metal label Roadrunner Records in 2004. That trajectory — from local band to major-label act in just a few years — made them a polarizing presence in a scene where credibility is often tied to years of dues-paying. The speed of their rise, combined with the bold “next Metallica” comparison, made them an easy target for resentment from more established acts.
The band’s age only added to the tension. HeadBangers LifeStyle noted that when Heafy and Trivium first began attracting widespread attention, they had “just turned about 20” and were already being labeled the next Metallica. That tag defined their early image and, as Heafy’s recent statement makes clear, drew a hostile reaction from peers who felt the comparison was premature or unearned.
The challenges Trivium faced were not only social but also logistical. As Heavy Music HQ reported, Heafy has spoken about the practical difficulties of being underage while touring. He recalled that venues “did have problems with playing certain shows when I was under 21,” with clubs sometimes removing them immediately after their set due to age restrictions.
Metallica’s influence on Trivium runs deeper than the controversial magazine cover. Heafy has been open about the fact that Metallica was the band that inspired him to pursue music in the first place. That made the “next Metallica” label both a source of pride and an unintended burden. That Jacoby Shaddix — himself a rock veteran — chose to encourage rather than dismiss the young Heafy at Download Festival speaks to the kind of mentorship that rarely makes headlines but can shape careers. For Heafy, it clearly did.
