ARCHITECTS | Holy Hell | Album Review

Music is always a relieving distraction from grief after a loved one or best friend has died. British metalcore band Architects may take this to heart as their latest studio album "Holy Hell" gets put out through longtime label Epitaph Records. It's hard to believe that this band has been putting out albums since the mid 2000s and they are already on album number eight, but what is perhaps the most noteworthy fact about this album is that it is the first Architects have released after the death of guitarist Tom Searle. In August of 2016, we lost him to skin cancer which was even secretly alluded to in the lyrics and titles of previous Architects songs. So, in the wake of such a tragedy, there is definitely a more somber theme to be influenced by in the overall lyrics and tone of the album. As for my experience with Architects, it's sort of been rocky as I've definitely enjoyed select songs, but at first I found much of their records to be one note and not much different from each other. That didn't really turn me on to them but since anticipating this release, I have definitely respected this band a lot more and what they were trying to do on much of their records. There is a darkness that is present in their music combined with some very aggressive metalcore that borderlines on progressive metalcore similar to Northlane or Erra. A trait that also makes them stand out is their technical ability. With all of that and given the fact that this is the first album without Tom Searle on it, there is a lot riding on this album.

"Holy Hell" has been teased for quite a while, with the first real sign being earlier in 2017 with "Doomsday". To be honest, on my first listen to this song, I wasn't particularly blown away or drawn to it. It appeared to me as much more of a typical song from this band and I didn't really consider it anything to really praise extensively. However, after listening to this album in full, I now appreciate this song a lot more in context with the rest of this material. Don't get me wrong, this isn't one of my favorite tracks on this album, but as a song it really works. The vocals from Sam Carter are very aggressive but at times melodic and the riffage is great throughout the entire song. That will be an aspect I focus a lot on with this review because Sam Carter is truly amazing on this album. There is a lot of emotion in these screamed vocals, even if a song requires him to unleash throughout the entire runtime of the song. The other song I was familiar with before this album, "Royal Beggars", actually made me more excited for this album to come out. One of the tracks on this album that is more focused on melody, there are some fantastic moments on this song that stick out, particularly the verses which feature a prominent use of electronics and clean vocals, as well as the ending of the song which is comprised of one of the best breakdowns I've heard all year. It's basically the main riff played again but it sounds so awesome with that drum beat and the intense vocals coming from Sam Carter. It honestly could be one of my favorite songs this year but considering that this year has had many other contenders, it's a hard bet to make. 

As for the other stuff on the album, there is a lot to sink in within eleven tracks and 42 minutes of music. This album seems like it's a continuation of the sound heard on the last album "All Our Gods Have Abandoned Us", but several elements are thrown into this album to make it stand out from the rest of Architects' discography and really anything else in the market right now. Surprisingly, there is quite a bit of orchestral work that is noticeable in tracks like album opener "Death Is Not Defeat", "Mortal After All", "Modern Misery", "Damnation", and several other tracks. It is obvious that the lyricism in these tracks touches upon emotional pain and misery and it seems these sessions were a venting process for the band, and the music that goes along with it takes different tones through its entirety, whether that be relentlessly heavy or melodic. The heavier side being present in those aforementioned tracks but the more melodic side being showcased in the closing track "A Wasted Hymn", as well as moments throughout the entire album. It appears as though there was a lot of care put into this project, and the musicianship on each track is remarkable. I cannot say enough how great Sam Carter's vocal performance on this album is. Every vocal part on here compliments the guitarwork and drumwork perfectly and in parts where he is unleashed and yelling at the top of his lungs, it feels completely genuine and three dimensional. A fantastic example of Carter letting loose is in "The Seventh Circle", a near two-minute track and the shortest track on the record. Hearing his vocals on this song will make your throat hurt just thinking about it as he goes nuts with the aggressive musicianship behind him. 

With almost every great album comes a few setbacks. For one, some of these songs feel a bit too long. "Dying To Heal" is a great example of a track that could have been trimmed down at least a little bit, even though in its entirety it is a good song. There's nothing bad or even adequately decent to be found on this album, but this is one of those albums where certain moments will stick out much better than others. Tracks like "Royal Beggars" and "Mortal After All" stick out in a better way for me than "Hereafter" and even the title track itself. But, taking this in as a whole, there is no weak end to this project. There isn't a moment on this album that feels  disingenuous or fake and even on the tracks that aren't highlights there is still a ton of enjoyment to be had with this album. The band may have lost one of their founding members and in retrospect it will be hard to decide if this is the most well perceived album in this band's discography, but one thing is for sure and that is the fact that Architects have kicked the door down and are the best they have ever been with this project. It's one of those records where the fallen musician would be unspeakably proud of the band for moving on with their career and making a phenomenal project. Overall, if you want some great metalcore that has a superb amount of depth and dimensions to it, Architects have built you the musical heaven you definitely need to traverse this year.

RATING: 10/10 

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