I hate to break it to you all, but I think this album is GOLD. As with anything, I have my own opinions on this and some people may disagree but I mean….. Can we all agree that this is such a great example of Architects’ evolution? It combines a mixture of their old and new sounds and I think being able to recognize that is what makes me such a fan of this album.
I’d like to say again – the following are my opinions and take-a-ways and in no way am I trying to pretend to be an expert in the genres, of the band, or anything of that nature. Just simply a girl who enjoys the chugs and riffs, death growls, screams, some clean vocals here and there and just raw emotion being portrayed through my favorite genre of music. I also am not going to sit here and use words I found as synonyms for the real words I originally used to make me seem smarter, more elegant or anything of that nature. You get what you get – so let’s get into this.
I have been a fan of Architects since the joining of Sam Carter and one thing I have also appreciated with the band is their depth within the themes of their songs, the passion they put into their projects, and their fluidity to adapt within the genre. When Architects released All Our Gods Have Abandoned Us I was hooked. I remember that being the album that made me LOVE the band, and Holy Hell further solidified that. For Those That Wish to Exist I had on repeat for months but I will say the classic symptoms of a broken spirit was NOT my favorite and that’s okay! However, The Sky, The Earth & All Between….? Incredible. I think this was an amazing way to come back, in my mind. If you loved the classic symptoms… great, more power to you. I did not, but I am loving the new release.
Architects started off strong with Elegy. I am so, SO glad this was not an early release song. I always get a little more excited for albums when they are released when the first song is not an early release and is as good as Elegy is. Sam Carter’s voice is beautiful when he is exhibiting his clean vocals, and I really loved the electronic-vibed opening. I do think the lyrics that sing “cause I gave you all a part of me” is going to end up being a meme for misheard lyrics because I could have SWORN it said “cause I gave you a lobotomy.” Which honestly? I need that. Okay back to seriousness, the full-body chill I feel when he sings “I took the fire to the fuse” – ridiculous.. Dipping into a magnificent chorus with little instrumental support, showcasing the vocals and emphasis on the emotion that is being released while singing and then just absolutely dropping into what we know Architect for, a heavy breakdown – brilliant. The song then makes its way into the heavy drops, guitar riffs, low growls, and just an absolute masterpiece of a song. Almost reads like a “fuck you” to those who thought they were changing for the worse and honestly? I was one of those people for a bit. It shows they are in control of their sound. The irony of the beginning of the album being titled Elegy and it reading “you guys thought it was the death of who we are, you judged us, and here we are saying you judged us too soon.” I love it.
An early release we received comes next with Whiplash. Starting off heavy and strong with “MOVE.” This song is pure defiance and outrage. It’s like the Mean Girls scene but in the metalcore genre of “I wish we could all get along like we used to in middle school” except there’s no Damien standing in the back screaming “SHE DOESN’T EVEN GO HERE.” Because let’s face it, Architects do go here, and they actually run this shit. The bridge and build up are incredible and when the breakdown hits there’s no way you just cannot headbang. This song is catchy and the message is needed. Also – can we PLEASE talk about the outro? Gordon Ramsey?! So fitting. I read this as “you’re pissed about my song calling you out? Well not as pissed as I am that the conformity agenda has gotten this far, DONKEY.”
Blackhole is intense and HEAVY. Gives me such old-Architects vibes with their modern twist and I appreciate it. It fits so well within the album and honestly I was obsessed with this song when it was originally released. The deathcore growls with the post-chorus “oh” had me doing a little stank face at first and Sam continues to surprise us through this song dropping into those lows throughout the song and just showcasing the beauty in the growls, even after all this time.
Everything Ends is so catchy? I think this is a much more modern take to their sound and gives me a little Crown The Empire vibes but I feel like it is such a great little ditty-bop proceeding how heavy Blackhole was. Since this was not an early release, I have found myself listening to this one more than the other tracks on the album so I am not sure if this means that its becoming a favorite or the lyrics are resonating with me more than expected or maybe am taking in the message being portrayed through the song, but I can say one thing – I am a big fan of it, The lyrics are relatable, the tune is very modern and I think it’s one of those songs that if you aren’t a big fan of the genre, you can just vibe with.
My least favorite song on the entire album? Brain Dead. Don’t get me wrong, it is a good song but I feel like its so misplaced in this album. Brain Dead brings a hardcore punk rock vibe into it and it is just awkward to me? House of Protection gives me major Stray from the Path vibes in this song and it just didn’t work for me I think. The song does bring a type of intensity to the album, as does the heavier part of Evil Eyes, but we will talk about that song in a moment. The music video fits the vibe of the song, which I can appreciate for sure and I did giggle a little at the end of the music video putting “put a logo here or something, idk.” As well as the heavy growls in the end and incorporation of the screams as well. Overall, I think Brain Dead was just a miss for me personally.
I will make fun of this song JUST A LITTLE but I need to make it clear from the beginning, I do love this song. Evil Eyes comes out pretty heavy and dips into a melodic chorus, and back up to an intense post chorus allowing such an amazing flow into the second verse and I think the flow of this just works so well. The flow from the separate segments are masterful. You can still hear amazing riffs as well and the bridge is introduced and I think this portion of the song shows how talented Sam Carter is as a musician and vocalist. Okay so the part I’m going to make fun of them about? In the first verse you hear the word “goodbye” sang twice and I can’t help but think about the the little girl going off to school joking around with her father going “BYE! BYE!” (I’ll link it below) unfortunately it is the only thing that plays in my head during this part.
I haven’t listened to Landmines as much as I believe it deserves to be listened to. I think the lyrics in this song are extremely relatable, especially to those who have lived a life that normally would have completely obliterated them yet they continue on day in and day out. This showcases cognizance within your own self of overcoming difficulties, resilience but also just being a ticking timebomb on your healing timeline. I normally read into things and dissect them a bit more than the average person but I recognize a message in this song and I find it translated so beautifully into this song. The breakdown really ties Landmines into the album as well and just the flow of the song, yet again is executed so well.
Judgement Day starts off with an electric and amazing instrumental segment leading in to Amira’s beautiful voice and Sam joins in, once again, showcasing his clean singing. “…in the God I fear” sang in his falsetto is probably one of the most chilling parts in this entire album. I think Sam and Amira blend so well and we are BLESSED with a stellar breakdown with low growls and the guitar chug that is in this part? Incredible. Amira Elfeky is a newer artist who is about to tour with Bring Me The Horizon, Motionless in White, and The Plot in You throughout America and I think this will be a big excelerant to her music career as well as the feature on this track. She reminds me of a mixture of Amy Lee from Evanescence and Lolo, who is also an underrated artist. But if Judgement Day and her own music, specifically Will You Love Me When I’m Dead are any indication of her capabilities, we will be seeing her name a lot more soon.
A softer track on the album, we are introduced to Broken Mirror. I understand there’s still a bit of heaviness in this song, but comparatively speaking, this is a softer song for the band and for the album. This yet again addresses the underlying message of “I am working on myself but I am cognizant enough to know I am still struggling with some aspects.” It shows recognition of faults, accountability of the struggle and making something beautiful out of the struggle and the work being put in.
Following up with an absolute banger, Curse. Another early release with almost a year passed since its initial release, this really showed how well Jordan Fish and Architects work together. I think it was mentioned somewhere this was the second time they collaborated since Doomsday, almost 8 years ago, and kept him around for additional songs on the album. I think this song starts out heavy and the holistic view of it is it definitely is an Architects song. All in all, this is what Architects is, from the lyrics, the instrumentals, the vocals, the breakdown, all of it just IS Architects and having this released early gave me hope that they were not losing their sound, they’re just GROWING.
The earliest release of this album is Seeing Red. This was such a “fuck you” to the masses when it was released. Due to the change of their sound over the last two albums, For Those That Wish To Exist and the classic symptoms of a broken spirit, there was a lot of controversy surrounding it. Architects starting out with acknowledging their fans thought their authenticity died and they were on a downward spiral. I’ve mentioned it a few times, but this album just shows that is not the case at all. Seeing Red shows the band is composed of real people, who have real emotions and feelings, and they are not just dancing monkeys here to appease the masses. The irony is is that the fans really did make them feel that they were only likeable for their angriness and harsh sound. For me? I thought FTTWTE was actually a top album of mine. I thought it was beautiful. Seeing Red has so many amazing elements in it within the flow, the addition of the choir acting as the fans voices, the guitar riffs, and the instrumental breakdown is honestly my favorite in the entire album. Even though this was initially released in 2023, it makes so much sense to be on this album due to their overall message of not losing their sound, they are just evolving.
Rounding this album out with a ballad, Chandelier, this gives me the vibes that I got when FTTWTE was released, specifically like Dead Butterflies. This album closer is lyrically my favorite. “One less light on the chandelier” reads to me that the world continues to turn when we cease to exist. The chandelier is still lit even if one bulb is out and that is deep. This is so fitting too following Seeing Red. Architects have been a HUGE influence in the metalcore genre, and the genre would still continue on if their sound changed and they continued on with the punky hardcore vibes. However, what I’d like to point out is if they did change their sound permanently, though a light would be out in the chandelier, their absence would be noticed monumentally. I don’t think this was the message they were portray, but its the way I take it.
Overall, I think this is a no-skip album. I can recognize the passion, the effort, and the authenticity put into this album overall. Architects are the rulers of their own music, and The Sky, The Earth & All Between shows that. The evolution of the lyrics, the sound and the brilliance behind the production of their music is just on a godly tier within the metalcore genre and Architects continues to show their relevance and influence. This is their balance. They acknowledge the old and the new. I am hopeful and definitely looking forward to the direction they are taking and where they will go from here. One things for sure, I will always remain a fan.
Her Metal Manifesto 
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