The Trigger (band)

Lore & Background

The Trigger was formed in 2005 by guitarist Dušan Svilokos Đurić, vocalist Milena Branković, and bassist Petar 'Pera' Popović. Keyboardist Marko Antonić and drummer Zoran Jović 'Đavo' soon joined, and the five-piece entered the studio in 2006. Their debut album Ljubav (Love) was released in December 2007 through PGP-RTS as a concept album about the dark sides of love, receiving mostly positive critical reactions. The promotional video for 'Jedan dan' won first place on several charts, and the band began concert promotion with an appearance at Belgrade Beer Fest. In 2008, they won the Discovery of the Year Award from TV Metropolis and were polled Best Young Band of 2008 by Radio 202 listeners.

In 2009, the band released the live mini-album Metropolis Live, available for free digital download, and won the Metal Album of the Year Award at the Sarajevo Indexi Awards. They also appeared on a New York City Hard Rock Radio Live compilation. In 2010, Đurić and Branković, as Disparador, contributed a gothic industrial song to a various artists album. The band's second studio album EX (2012) consisted of covers of former Yugoslav new wave songs, released in three free-download parts. After EX, keyboardist Antonić left, and the band continued as a four-piece.

In July 2013, the single 'Ne hrani ljudoždere' featured Downstroy vocalist Darko Živković. After further singles, the band's third album Vreme čuda was released in 2015 on the Odličan hrčak label, with new second guitarist Božidar Mladenović and numerous guest musicians. The album was named domestic metal album of the year by Serbian Metal and included on Balkanrock's best regional rock albums list for 2015, showing a shift toward modern metal with less electronic and gothic influence. In 2019, the band signed with Massacre Records, changed their name to The Trigger, and released their fourth album The Time of Miracles, featuring reworked material from previous albums with English vocals.

Reader's Guide

The Trigger's significance lies in their evolution from a Serbian-language concept metal band to an internationally oriented act. Their debut Ljubav established them domestically with a thematic album about love's dark side, earning early awards and chart success. The band's willingness to experiment is evident in EX, a covers album of Yugoslav new wave songs, and in Vreme čuda, which blended modern metal with progressive and ambient elements, earning critical acclaim as the top domestic metal album of 2015. Their shift to English-language material with The Time of Miracles in 2019, alongside a name change to avoid legal issues, marked a strategic move toward the global market. The Trigger's legacy includes a dedicated domestic following, recognition from Serbian metal critics, and a body of work that spans gothic, hard rock, and modern metal styles. Their use of guest musicians and free digital releases also reflects a community-oriented approach within the Serbian metal scene.

Did You Know?

• The band originally performed as 'Trigger' until adding 'The' in 2019 for legal reasons before their first English album.
• Their debut album Ljubav was a concept album about the dark sides of love.
• The band won the Discovery of the Year Award from TV Metropolis in 2008.
• Vreme čuda was named the domestic metal album of the year by Serbian Metal.