Architects — the classic symptoms of a broken spirit — Album Review
Alternative | Metalcore | Rock
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“Please be good” was the general outcry from fans in the lead up to this brand new album from Brighton-based metalcore band Architects. Titled the classic symptoms of a broken spirit, this would be the tenth studio album in their discography.
And as some of you might know already, it is far from the first Architects album that I have heard, that honour would go to their sixth album, 2014’s Lost Forever // Lost Together. This album not only saw my introduction to the group; it’s release show would also serve as my first ever gig!
That being said, there’s no denying that Architects have taken up permanent residence in my heart, as one of my favourite local bands for certain.
But going back to the 2014 album for a second, Lost Forever // Lost Together was released in the midst of what I like to call “the true metalcore phase of Architects”. In short, I felt that it was with this album, a few prior, and some following after, in which the band could be pinned most closely to the aforementioned genre.
However, it feels safe to say that, while this style suited Architects best in my opinion, the band had been trying and testing said style for a long while. The “true metalcore phase” still stands as by far the longest running consistency of their style. Prior to this, was their heavier aesthetic which could be pinned far more closely to hardcore, and arguably spanned from their debut album Nightmares, to their third album Hollow Crown.
On the flipside, their transition to metalcore virtually lasted all the way from 2011’s The Here And Now (the fourth studio album from Architects), all the way to their eighth album, and tribute to founding member Tom Searle, Holy Hell.
Where Architects began to switch their style up once more, was with their ninth album, which was released last year. Titled For Those That Wish to Exist, this album arguably attempted to give itself a more accessible sound. This was done by enlisting more electronic elements, more melodic vocals, and an exciting cast of features which included Biffy Clyro’s Simon Neil, Parkway Drive’s Winston McCall, and Royal Blood’s Mike Kerr.
While this seemed like an exciting break from the norm on paper, For Those That Wish to Exist received less than satisfactory reception from new listeners and fans alike. While I personally would still deem the album enjoyable, many other listeners enjoyed the more melodic approach far less than what Architect’s have championed before.
And contrary to my enjoyment, I can kind of see where some people are coming from; the melodies often felt a little too similar to one another on For Those That Wish to Exist, to the point in which their new sound was already feeling a little tired.
The same can be said for many of the teaser tracks leading up to the classic symptoms of a broken spirit (with the exception of “when we were young”, which is a stellar track). Pairing that with the album cover, which is by far the most minimal in their discography, and you have the worry from fans posed at the very beginning of this review.
So is the classic symptoms of a broken spirit good; here are my thoughts.
Well, I’m sorry to say that the first half did rub me up the wrong way. A great bulk of the tracks on the classic symptoms of a broken spirit’s earlier half seemingly embodies all of the fears that fans have had towards the musical direction of Architects. The majority of them felt very melody-heavy, which I feel doesn’t serve the band too well; I could notice the effect that vocalist Sam Carter’s signature screams have had on his vocals, especially when trying to hit the high notes.
And while this seemed to lead this album into the pit of disappointment, things finally began to pick up on the later half, where I was able to enjoy quite the few gems, such as the aforementioned “when we were young”, “all the love in the world”, and the closing track “be very afraid”. It was with these tracks especially that I could pinpoint a few stylistic similarities between this band, and one like Bring Me The Horizon, for instance; it’s a style that I would love to see Architects pursue, going forward.
So all in all, I feel that this album is neither brilliant or terrible; it’s more of a mixed bag, so to speak. Following the recent post the band had made about their creative process, and creativity in general, the last thing I want to do is rag on it too much. But if I did have any say on the matter, I’m simply hoping that this album serves to bridge some kind of gap between one tried style and a brand new one. And if that’s the case, I’d love to see more tracks like those that make up the later half of the classic symptoms of a broken spirit.
Favourite Tracks: when we were young | all the love in the world | be very afraid
Least Favourite Track: burn down my house
Epitaph Records
