The Classic Symptoms Of A Broken Spirit

Architects seek out new horizons beyond the metalcore gates

EPITAPH

Brighton’s metalcore A-listers plot their big escape

NEXT YEAR WILL be the 10-year anniversary of Bring Me The Horizon’s Sempiternal. It says much about the quality of that album and the shadow it casts that, even a decade after its release, it’s still often the go-to record for bands desperate to break out of the metalcore ghetto. Brighton’s Architects, though, were never one of those bands happy to ride along on the coattails of the leaders. They have a wonderfully diverse back catalogue of modern metal, and they’re a rare example of a band capable of crafting something distinct and instantly recognisable. But even they aren’t immune from Sempiternal’s gravitational pull.

The qualities that make Architects stand out haven’t gone away here on their 10th studio album. The Classic Symptoms Of A Broken Spirit is still full of those thick, crunching, stomping guitar riffs; some hugely propulsive, techy grooves; and Sam Carter remains one of the most dexterous and singular voices in metal. But, the evolution and the size of Architects – this coming off the back of 2021’s For Those That Wish To Exist topping the UK album charts – has led the band to a place where they clearly want to capitalise with a big, instant, booming, pop-hook-filled modern metallic rock album.