Architects – Daybreaker: Review
It’s been only a year since British metalcore act Architects dropped their last album, the fan dividing The Here And Now but they’re already back with Daybreaker. This is an album that promises to see the band ‘get their balls back’ but is this true or are we to face a slightly more feminine Architects?
They not have their balls back but the’re bigger than ever! Written mainly on the road, Daybreaker feels more like a sequel to 2009’s Hollow Crown while taking some of the best parts off The Here And Now.
The cinematic opener ‘The Bitter End’ starts with an almost film soundtrack edge to it before building to familiar territory as frontman Sam Carter proclaims “Tear down the walls built to divide, can you feel that fire growing”. It’s a great way to introduce the album and smacks of a band with confidence. ’Alpha Omega’ is the song that fans have been teased with recently and it’s where shit gets real. This is the sound the band have been aiming to perfect and it’s when they sound their best, the ‘stop, start’ riffing on the second verse is the stuff circle pits were made for.
Daybreaker sees a change in the subject of the lyrics with the band focusing on the bigger picture of the world rather than their own personal lives. Guitarist, Tom Searle says “We’re all so self obsessed. If you’re singing about your girlfriend breaking up with you, then you don’t have any problems. Most people on planet earth aren’t lucky enough to call that a problem.”
This is an album filled with highlights; from the guest appearance of Bring Me The Horizon frontman Oli Sykes on ‘Even if You Win, You’re Still A Rat’ to the technical as fuck guitar riffs on the ‘Outside Heart’. But it’s when the band mix things up that makes Daybreaker such a solid album. Rather than sitting back and playing to their strengths, they experiment with a different instrumentation and this works fantastically by preventing their otherwise by-the-book metalcore sound from becoming too formulaic. This is most evident on the piano heavy ‘Truth, Be Told’ where Carter shows off those vocal pipes that belie his 23 years.
Unfortunately Daybreaker isn’t completely flawless though, a couple of songs tend to stick close to the formula and ‘Behind The Throne’ aims high but slightly misses the mark. The album also doesn’t get the ending it deserves with closing song ‘Unbeliever’ ending the album with a small pop rather than a big bang.
By all accounts Daybreaker should be rubbish, there should be no way a band can write a decent album in a year filled with non-stop touring. But somehow Architects do it and not only do they produce a decent album, they come out with a serious contender for album of the year.
Daybreaker is available from May 28th on Century Media.
Summary: Don't even hesitate, go out and buy this album, support a worthy band because no bones about it this Daybreaker is fucking brilliant.
4
Ace
About the Author
Michael Glynn Absolute music addict. When he isn't stuffing his face with pizza he can be found losing his shit at gigs. Chart music makes him angry, angry music makes him happy.
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