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11.14.23 Architects Ranked: Definitive Edition03.25.23 Spotify Removing Albums
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11.14.17 Albums to have consensual sex to09.18.17 NHL 18
06.25.17 Who Are Your Sput Arch Enemies?06.23.17 Hollow Crown Posted 27 Times
04.12.17 A List No One Clicked Even Though I Bum03.31.17 Yes! A Mastodon Guitar Solo
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Architects Ranked: Definitive Edition
1Architects
Hollow Crown

Released in 2009, this was more than just a record; it was a declaration that the English quintet had arrived. This album is massive. It is an auditory behemoth brimming with unapologetic negative emotion and energy. The galloping percussive force, coupled with the driving guitar riffs, assert themselves from the first few seconds of 'Early Grave,’ and continue throughout with breathable moments that provide the perfect amount of reprieve from the chaos. Vocalist Sam Carter truly distinguishes the albums sound with his tormented, punk rock style harsh vocals and the juxtaposed beauty of his soaring clean vocals. While the lyrics on paper may seem juvenile, it’s the execution of these seemingly simplistic words that makes them so relatable and authentic. (It's worth noting that Sam had only just reached the age where he could legally drink in the United States, after all).
2Architects
Hollow Crown

Brothers Tom and Dan Searle collaborated as if they shared a brain (or, you know, were identical twins), allowing them to keep the sound simple and accessible at its surface level while retaining their distinctive brand of technicality tucked subtly underneath. This is a metalcore band with a hardcore attitude who found the perfect balance of each. This is the sound that so many bands who came later on wanted to emulate. This is Architects.
3Architects
All Our Gods Have Abandoned Us

‘AOGHAU’ marked a crucial moment in the band's career. An opportunity to assert themselves as main eventers in a metalcore scene filled with mid-card talents. Dystopian and hopeless, the albums lyrics touch upon societal collapse, and the now sole lyric writer, Tom Searle, grappling with his own mortality. With the exception of the album's opener, 'Nihilist,' instrumentally, the band opted for a slight deceleration, placing a greater emphasis on groove rather than speed. Hints of industrial musical stylings are littered throughout the album as well as the most consistent vocal work heard on an album since ‘Hollow Crown.’ There isn't another human being on the planet who could have given voice to these lyrics like Sam Carter did here, and the task couldn’t have been an easy one. The poignant plea "Just let me live and die in peace" is the last we hear from him as the eight-minute epic closer, 'Memento Mori,' concludes, gradually fading away with an Alan Watts speech.
4Architects
All Our Gods Have Abandoned Us

This line serves not only as a fitting ending to the album but to the broader narrative and the real life events surrounding it. On August 20, 2016 Tom Searle passed away from skin cancer.
5Architects
Lost Forever // Lost Together

Looking to build upon the bands rejuvenated enthusiasm for playing heavy music, March of 2014 saw the release of ‘Lost Forever // Lost Together.’ Tom took over the workload for the majority of the lyrics and incorporated their themes into the albums sound. This shift contributed to a more cohesive musical experience with a focus on a spacey, dreary atmosphere. We observed experimentation with pitch screaming on 'Daybreaker,' and this time around, Sam fully embraced it, establishing it as his signature style for future albums. This technique, frequently used in their choruses, not only allowed the band to maintain a heavy sound but at the same time, a melodic dimension to their music. This pivotal chapter in their discography solidified that the band had regained their confidence and had a clear vision for their future direction.
6Architects
Holy Hell

In the aftermath of tragedy, the band continued on with ‘Holy Hell,’ an album that served as both a cathartic release and a testament to the bands resilience. It was predominantly written by Josh Middleton and Dan Searle. Despite incorporating some leftover guitar elements from the late guitarist Tom Searle, this marked their first album without his direct involvement. The themes on the album primarily revolve around grief and the complexities of life and death. Amidst the somber tones, there are fleeting glimpses of triumph, notably on the tracks ‘Death Is Not Defeat’ and ‘Doomsday,’ a testament to a band who persist and carry on, despite the heavy weight of loss. Sams vocals are as emotionally charged as ever, navigating the line between haunting melody and guttural intensity. Instrumentally the album follows a similar formula to the previous release with crushing riffs and driving percussion as well as dark atmospheric components lingering in the background.
7Architects
Holy Hell

‘Holy Hell’ stands as a testament to Architects' remarkable ability to channel their grief and transform it into a powerful listening experience, as well as the perfect tribute to a band member, a brother, and a friend.
8Architects
Nightmares

On May 15, 2006 Architects released their debut album ‘Nightmares.’ This was their only full length release featuring original vocalist Matt Johnson and original bassist Tim Lucas. With a sound reminiscent of their idols, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Architects began to cultivate a small but dedicated fanbase as they toured through underground clubs in the UK. Matt possessed a more traditional metal style of vocals with semi-spoken parts sprinkled in tracks like ‘In The Desert’ and ‘They’ll Be Hanging Us Tonight.’ This album also marked a rare occurrence: Yes! An Architects guitar solo! Concluding the track “You Don’t Walk Away From Dismemberment.” Chugging riffs and frenetic drumming are frequently complemented by hair-raising melodic sections, accompanied by lyrical content centred on violence and bloodshed as opposed to the more personal themes found in the subsequent albums that followed.
9Architects
Nightmares

Despite often being overlooked by both the band and many of its fans, this is a truly remarkable album that showcased exceptional talent from the band members at such a young age.
10Architects
Daybreaker

After receiving a mixed response from critics and a negative reaction from fans, Architects sought to rectify the missteps of 'The Here and Now' just a year later. Vocalist Sam Carter returned to a vocal style reminiscent of 'Hollow Crown,' albeit with a stronger emphasis on clean vocals. Guitarists Tom Searle and Tim Hillier-Brook showcase remarkable technical skill throughout the album, seamlessly weaving between blistering, palm-muted chugs and soaring, emotive leads while creating an atmosphere unique to any other Architects album. Lyrically we see a political bite that was absent up until this point as Tom joined Sam on lyric duties. "Daybreaker" really laid the groundwork for what internet fans affectionately term the "holy trinity" of albums that would follow.
11Architects
Ruin

Their sophomore release marked the introduction of their new vocalist, Sam Carter, and notably, the incorporation of clean vocals for the first time (excluding the semi-spoken vocals on 'Nightmares'). Though used sparingly, these melodic vocal passages introduce a new dynamic to songs that might have otherwise blended in, as heard in tracks like 'You'll Find Safety’ and ‘North Lane.’ Rhythmically, this album excels with outstanding drum work by Tom Searle, skillfully complemented by the addition of new bass player Alex Dean. The guitar work frequently adopts a frantic quality, eliciting a sensation reminiscent of a swarm of angry bees. Lyrically, however, this represents Architects at their absolute worst, most notably evident in 'I Can't See The Light' (go ahead, look them up if you're unfamiliar; I dare you).
12Architects
Ruin

Although adhering to a similar formula throughout, the raw and unrefined sound of 'Ruin' reveals a band with significant potential, hinting at a newfound greatness that would be fully realized only one album later.
13Architects
For Those That Wish to Exist

I remember the first time I heard the albums lead single ‘Animals’ and how hard I tried to convince myself that I enjoyed it. Regrettably, I didn’t. Its simplistic formula and arena friendly chorus felt like a deliberate attempt to secure heavy rotation on hard rock radio stations. FTTWTE features some really great songs, no doubt (see ‘Dead Butterflies’ and ‘Black Lungs’), but within its nearly hour-long runtime, it also generates a significant amount of filler. The album is the most experimental offering we've witnessed from Architects to this point, and to their credit, they manage to maintain a consistent atmosphere throughout, even with four different guest vocal spots. Instrumentally, the album places a heavy emphasis on its electronic and orchestral elements, but at the expense of the robust drumming and guitar work that had previously been a mainstay of the Architects sound.
14Architects
For Those That Wish to Exist

Drummer Dan Searle takes over lyrical duties for the first time, expanding upon the existential and environmental themes prevalent in the band's preceding three albums. Overall ‘For Those That Wish To Exist’ was a commendable attempt to shift away from their usual metalcore formula and venture into uncharted territory.
15Architects
The Here and Now

Two years after the monumental metalcore masterpiece that was 'Hollow Crown,' 'The Here and Now' arrived. Leading up to the albums release, the band hinted at their intention to explore a more melodic direction, and oh boy, did they ever. Gone were the ferocious vocal stylings that fans had become accustomed to, being replaced with a more generic and subdued performance. This was derisively labeled as the “Architectsonfire” era by many online commenters. Tracks like ‘An Open Letter to Myself’ and ‘Heartburn’, while showcasing a different side of Architects, were heavily criticized for diluting the band's distinctive edge. Although fans are beginning to view the album in a more positive light as time goes on, it was still a major disappointment at its time of release. *On a side note, the demo versions of the songs sounded fantastic, 'An Open Letter To Myself’ in particular, and some of them can still be found on YouTube. Oh, what could have been.*
16Architects
The Classic Symptoms of a Broken Spirit

Most recently in October of 2022, Architects released their weakest album to date. The problem doesn't lie in the album's lack of heaviness; instead, the majority of the tracks are simply forgettable. From the get go, it becomes apparent that the band have fully embraced an industrial/alternative metal sound, opting to prioritize accessibility over substance. The drum work has been simplified, often adhering to a bass-snare-bass-snare pattern, a deliberate choice seemingly tailored for a fist pumping live experience. The guitar work is repetitive and unremarkable, evidently making space for the electronic elements to take precedence albeit slightly redeemed by a commendable vocal performance. ‘The Classic Symptoms of a Broken Spirit’ lacks any real identity other than a collections of songs that might sound “pretty good, I guess” if they were to play on the jukebox at your local pub.
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