Hailing from Brighton, metalcore band Architects have just released their sixth studio album ‘Lost Forever // Lost Together.
Architects are made up of vocalist Sam Carter, guitarist Tom Searle, bassist Alex Dean and drummer Dan Searle. The band originally formed in 2004, when Matt Johnson was lead vocalist and Tim Lucas was on bass; Carter took over from Johnson in 2007, and Alex from Tim in 2006. The band’s second guitarist, Tim Hillier-Brook, left the band in 2012.
They released their debut album ‘Nightmares’ in 2006, followed by ‘Ruin’ in 2007, which was their first album featuring Carter on vocals. Ruin, compared to Nightmares, included more cleaner vocals and changed from the earlier mathcore influences, which features in bands such as The Dillinger Escape Plan, to more of a metalcore sound.
Carter’s vocal style changed with the release of their third studio album ‘Hollow Crown’, which not only featured more clean vocals, but his harsh vocals changed from the low register on ruin to more high-pitched screams.
‘The Here and Now’ changed once again to feature more melodic hardcore sounds than Hollow Crown. There is a wider use of harmonies and electronics in Architects’ fourth album, and has included “discordant guitars and Sam Carter’s combination of fierce roars and clean, soaring vocals”.
During the development of the The Here and Now the band felt a lot more positive and appreciative of the level of success they had achieved. This had an effect on the band style, but also a significant influence on the album's lyrics, which became far more positive.
Fast-forwarding to May 2012, we saw the release of ‘Daybreaker’, the band’s fifth studio album. The main genres worked into Architects’ follow up to The Here And Now included metalcore, post-hardcore and progressive metal.
The album is defined by its contrast of both singing and extreme metal singing, melodic chorus’ complemented with “soaring” vocals, technical guitar work with palm muted breakdowns, and the use of string instruments and piano to generate atmosphere.
Daybreaker has been said to have fused the styles of The Here and Now and Hollow Crown, and how they have also been returning to their heavier, more technical roots.
So what now? On March 11th 2014, Architects released ‘Lost Forever // Lost Together’.
The track listing includes Gravedigger, Naysayer, Broken Cross, The Devil is Near, Dead Man Talking, Red Hypergiant, C.A.N.C.E.R, Colony Collapse, Castles in the Air, Youth Is Wasted On The Young and, my personal favourite, The Distant Blue.
The band consider their sixth album the heaviest so far. There is noticeable influence from post-rock bands Sigur Ros and This Will Destroy You, creating a sound that “weaves in ambient elements that sometimes verge on gauzy and dreamlike”.
The lyrics on Lost Forever // Lost Together drift away from Daybreaker’s political lyrics and focus on big theme pictures which people can relate to far more.
Architects kickstarted their tour in March with support from Stray From The Path and Northlane, playing academy venues in England before moving on to European dates, which they are currently playing.
‘Lost Forever // Lost Together’ is available now!
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