Matt Heafy recently talked about Trivium parting ways with drummer Alex Bent and welcoming Greyson Nekrutman of Sepultura. He also revealed an unexpected condition set by Sepultura as reported on X (formerly Twitter).
The announcement revealed that drummer Alex Bent has departed from Trivium. Greyson Nekrutman of Sepultura is stepping in as a temporary replacement. Heafy explained the circumstances and the unique arrangement made with Sepultura.
“I gotta tell you something, today almost didn’t happen for Trivium. Unfortunately, a chapter of Trivium has just ended a couple of days ago,” Heafy said. “We had to say our farewells to our dear friend, the modesto monster, Alex Bent. He’s off to other things, off to great things. We wish him nothing but the best. We love him very much. We love every minute we shared with him, every record we shared with him. It was an amazing time.”
Heafy then praised Nekrutman for his quick preparation and dedication to helping Trivium continue their scheduled performances.
“So with that being said, there’s a man who saved the set. A man who is filling in for the next tour. Please make some noise for Greyson Nekrutman of Sepultura!” he continued. “So, we had to call Sepultura up and say, ‘Hey, can you lend your drummer to us, please?’ Greyson learned the whole set, flew down, had two days of rehearsal with us. So, once again, make some noise for Greyson Nekrutman!”
The frontman then revealed the condition Sepultura set for the arrangement.
“Now, Sepultura said that they had one condition. One condition if we’re borrowing Greyson, we have to play Sepultura during our set,” Heafy explained. “So, we’re going to do that.”
Nekrutman will perform with Trivium at Aftershock Festival and on their upcoming fall tour with Jinjer and Heriot.
The drummer change marks the end of a significant era for Trivium. Bent had been with the band for nine years since joining in 2016.
Consequence reported that Bent contributed to three of Trivium’s albums: The Sin and the Sentence (2017), What the Dead Men Say (2020), and In the Court of the Dragon (2021). These albums marked a significant period in the band’s discography. The split was announced on October 3, 2025, just hours before Trivium’s performance at Aftershock Festival in Sacramento.
Despite the sudden timing, Metal Insider noted that Nekrutman made his live debut with Trivium at the festival on October 4, 2025. This demonstrated his ability to quickly adapt to the band’s demanding setlist. The departure was described as amicable by both parties. Bent expressed gratitude for his time in the band and optimism for his future as a musician.
Trivium bassist Paolo Gregoletto emphasized the mature handling of the situation in statements following the announcement. Blabbermouth shared that Gregoletto stated the split was handled without drama. He highlighted the close personal and professional bonds formed during Bent’s time with Trivium.
“I feel like we ended on great terms,” Gregoletto said, emphasizing the mutual respect between the band and their departing drummer.
Nekrutman brings considerable experience to his new role with Trivium. The drummer has previously toured with established acts like Sepultura on their farewell tour and has also performed with Suicidal Tendencies. This makes him a seasoned professional capable of handling the demands of Trivium’s upcoming North American tour schedule.
