Architects - 'For Those That Wish To Exist' - Album Review

Instant classic, unapologetically evoking all of those nauseating cliches like "seminal", "monumental", "genre-bending", "timeless" and "generation-defining". Quite frankly, it is all of that, and then some, and I stand guilty as charged for using all those labels right from the start. We are finally moving away from the heavily overused 'younameit'-core tropes of the 2010s and Architects are here to lead the pack with what contemporary metal could (and should) sound like.

Mixing influences, instrumentation and subgenre frameworks with ease, the Brighton quintet delivers a bold statement of professionalism, awareness and innovation. Having three ridiculously well-suited guest vocalists in Mike Kerr (Royal Blood), Simon Neil (Biffy Clyro) and Winston McCall (Parkway Drive), and not using them in pre-release promotional singles to boost numbers in advance is admirable, and a nice surprise. Also, moulding the tracks to their respective bands' signature styles, whilst framing them with that distinctive Architects-y vibe, is a masterclass in production and marketing.

The band lays grand orchestral instrumentation as a rock-solid foundation to build a modern record that makes the most of every production trick and technological advance available. In its very complicated self, putting a spotlight on lyrics and core message while delivering blistering instrumentation, and not neglecting emotive melodies and ferocious twists is, a milestone for them and for the entire genre. With 15 years since their debut Nightmares, Architects really have nothing to prove and are playing by their own rules (which obviously pissed a lot of people since you can't just do what you want without consulting all self-proclaimed gatekeepers).

Aside from all music aspects, there simply cannot be enough praise and recognition for bands that use their platform to raise awareness of environmental issues, now more than ever. In that line I have to point out In Hearts Wake's 2020 masterpiece Kaliyuga as an example alongside many others, but Architects joining in the fight againt ignorance and complacency with such ferocity and apocalyptic urgency is more than applaudable. We are long past the point of talking about possibilities and scientific reasoning, and screaming at the face of a meteor might just be what people need to wake up. It is now up to all of us to take this album as a call to action and not turn it into a requiem of a paradise lost.

All of this culminating in For Those That Wish To Exist grabbing a well-deserved and long overdue #1 spot at the UK's Official Albums Chart was a somewhat bittersweet price (considering it's theme and background) that still felt like a shared accomplishment for the entire community on that glorious day. Moreover, towards the end of 2021 Architects streamed the full concert from the iconic Abbey Road Studios and as hauntingly beautiful as it was, the live orchestral version of 'Animals' might as well be the soundtrack of our planet's obituary.

A spectacular change of direction and pace; rising from a life-changing tragedy stronger than ever, and completely refocusing all creative energy with a newly-found purpose, mission and sound to back them up. The nuances in each song are countless and simply majestic, which makes it very, very hard to analyse the album without sounding like its my own. This is also where Architects' biggest accomplishment lies - not only producing the absolute best album of the year straight from its first quarter, but letting us all share the anticipation, excitement and success of the whole process.

Dan Searle reinvents himself not only as the killer drummer and promising part-time producer he is widely known as, but a true force of nature, orchestrating the production of a masterpiece with global significance. Josh Middleton could not have blended better with the rest (while not neglecting Sylosis in the process), perfectly yet humbly filling a creative and emotional gap in the very core of the band. Alex Dean's bass progressions and Adam Christiansons' guitar riffs add depth and simply don't get enough credit for it. Last but not least, Sam Carter goes above and beyond on this one, and his and Dan's meticulous work on the delivery, range, details, whispers, harmonies, layering, and actual lyrical content is borderline phenomenal and worthy of academic recognition.

Architects played a huge part in shaping my musical taste for more than a decade. No, I did not see them in that venue when they released that album before they were big, but have been all over them ever since I heard 'Learn To Live' more than 10 years ago. I cannot go back to 2012 without hearing the chilling screams of 'Naysayer' and will always cherish the memory of screaming my lungs out to 'Doomsday' live. FTTWTE now opens a new chapter, as relevant and forward-thinking as you would want Architects to be, and one could only be excited for what is coming next.

Truly inspirational band, whose music reflects most of what I believe, feel and stand for at this moment in life, and who somehow managed to become even more important with this album. For Those That Wish To Exist delivered everything I wanted to hear in a metal record in 2021 and cannot be happier for the band. Big up Architects.

Architects - 'For All Those That Wish To Exists'

Country: England, UK

Released: 26 February 2021

Label: Epitaph Records

Tracklisting:

1. "Do You Dream of Armageddon?"

2. "Black Lungs"

3. "Giving Blood"

4. "Discourse Is Dead"

5. "Dead Butterflies"

6. "An Ordinary Extinction"

7. "Impermanence" (featuring Winston McCall of Parkway Drive)

8. "Flight Without Feathers"

9. "Little Wonder" (featuring Mike Kerr of Royal Blood)

10. "Animals"

11. "Libertine"

12. "Goliath" (featuring Simon Neil of Biffy Clyro)

13. "Demi God"

14. "Meteor"

15. "Dying Is Absolutely Safe" (featuring Liam Kearley of Black Peaks)