Architect
All Is Not Lost


4.0
excellent

Review

by cvlts USER (90 Reviews)
January 28th, 2008 | 37 replies


Release Date: 2007 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Suck it Corporate America!

Metalblade Records has without a doubt introduced the underground metal scene of today with both cliche, excellent, and downright lame sounds of genres ranging from all types of metal. But usually, as most of us can relate, there have been shining stars in large indie labels that have stood out from all the rest. I can honestly say that Architect is one of them. Perhaps what gives them a fair advantage to the game is their signing to Metalblade's more "intense" sub-label, Black Market Activites, (runned and owned by The Red Chord's own Guy Kozowyk) but what really seems to make Architect stand out in their debut release is their complete and unbridled ferocity and anger.

However, unlike the dilluted and dryed out agressive music that has become mainstream and streamlined these guys don't play by the rules of todays agro-metal. They are not some Californian "deathcore" band and you could make a good guess by saying that you wouldn't see these guys at Hot Topic anytime soon. These guys are the real deal... real life pissed off dudes that have a huge grudge and they make it clear.

While some parts of their album take from the somewhat overdone conventions of todays metal/hardcore scene, they send their message true and clear like an atomic bomb. The opening of their first song "The Awakening" starts out with an ultra-soft intro for the first 40 seconds but is completely destroyed by an onslaugt of heavily distorted guitar AND bass with heavy double bass. After the intial pouding their is nearly a 5 second break with heavy feedback before the next track, "Sic Semper Tyrannis", pummels your ears. With grinding loudness and riffs that will make Kurt Ballou proud, the ominous "11" comes in play which sets the stage for the brutality of "Trepanning For Oil" followed by the next ominous track "13". With the end of a nightmarish sample, "Hell Of The Upsidown Sinngers" comes in with a heavy drum roll and it consistently loud and angry the entire track.

"The End Of It" is almost a continuation to "Hell Of The Upsidedown Sinners" and shows that Architect can make breakdowns that can stop hearts. "Collapse Of The War Machine" comes next and takes plenty of infulence from Norma Jean and Pig Destroyer even and is ended by the next ominous track 33 that prepares your ears for "Broke Dick Dog" that starts out with the saying 'You won't make it' followed by a slow, ultra-heavy, chugging breakdown and even shows the technicality of the band in great ways, it also contains probably the greatest breakdown in the album that follows the same lyrical phrase from above. After the destruction of "Broke Dick Dog" is the semi-epic track "The Giving Tree" which shows how versatle the band really is and how they can make even soft like riffs more heavy then most band these days.

By no means are these guys your average tech-metal, Dillinger-wannabee-with-breakdowns band. Their references are all over the place, taking guitar-like riffs from Converge, ferocity from Dillinger, and their vocalist Keith Allen even sounds like a better, more pissed off version of Slipknot's Corey Taylor. Yet while their influences are over the board, they do so with a uniqueness that is unheard of. Architect grinds like Pig Destroyer, and slams out like Edison. You can actually listen to this entire album without becoming bored of listening to the same scales in a million different time signatures and are guaranteed that every breakdown will never be used twice. These guys are loud and angry and they bring a new level of heaviness backed with super low drops.

Keiths lyrics are probably the most solid in this release, making it fully apparent that this band is 110% political, anti-religious and has a disgust with consumerism and conservatism. They blame and point fingers to large industries rather than indiviuals but whichever you believe in more is your opinion. Probably the only real thing that people might find annoying is the super thick and heavy production that makes the disc loose some of its potential rawness but when your signed to Metal Blade you can't expect anything less.



Recent reviews by this author
Full of Hell Garden of Burning ApparitionsRegional Justice Center Crime and Punishment
Cult Leader Lightless WalkSufjan Stevens Carrie and Lowell
Entheos (USA) PrimalMisery Signals Absent Light
user ratings (64)
3.8
excellent


Comments:Add a Comment 
Confessed2005
January 28th 2008


5987 Comments


Needs paragraphing to improve structure but decent review.

This sounds really interesting. I'll give it a listen sometime soon.

cvlts
January 28th 2008


9943 Comments


haha ya obviously my first review... thanx for the input =]] but dont take my word
for it! Seriously check these guys out!This Message Edited On 01.28.08

ingenting
January 31st 2008


5 Comments


Awesome album. Filthy, crushing production. Definitely one of my favorite noisecore records of the last few years.

LifeInABox
February 3rd 2008


3709 Comments


Pretty cool album. I saw these guys live in a Masonic Lodge, it was great.

i am the robots
February 4th 2008


1027 Comments


theyre decent

Confessed2005
February 4th 2008


5987 Comments


Yeah, they're pretty good. I heard some good stuff on their myspace.

Essence
February 28th 2008


6730 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

My only gripe with this album is the singing;

He has one tone. That's it.

I had a review for this half written.... oh well.

Confessed2005
March 2nd 2008


5987 Comments


Finish it man. And yeah - but its like Architects and Meshuggah. Same tone most of the time, but it kicks serious anus.

LifeInABox
March 3rd 2008


3709 Comments


It's ok. The album itself is full to the brim with filler

Let's Chop Cats!
March 3rd 2008


142 Comments

Album Rating: 2.0

band sucks and the singer owes me a hundred bucks

Confessed2005
March 5th 2008


5987 Comments


lol

Band is cool and I'll have your £50.

weareshadenow
October 22nd 2008


175 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Good stuff, But I seem to recall a band sounding strikingly similar...



Eh, It'll come to me.

ekajsk8er
October 27th 2008


4 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Broke Dick Dog is so fucking intense.

xNintendoCorex
October 28th 2008


1269 Comments


hmmm, might check this out sometime

Unskathed123
July 4th 2010


368 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

ONE PURPOSE DOES DRIVE THIS ENGINE!



Band fucking rues.

LilLioness
November 15th 2012


3695 Comments


"Broke Dick Dog" is quite possibly my all time favorite metalcore/hardcore song.

Pennywise_M
February 8th 2014


7504 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

This goes hard as fuck. Thank you spooky, awful good rec m/

wacknizzle
June 14th 2014


14555 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Fuck that 3, album slays. So angry

Pennywise_M
June 14th 2014


7504 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

A 3 for me means i like it btw, haha

wacknizzle
June 16th 2014


14555 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Oh well, I think this is certainly excellent



You have to be logged in to post a comment. Login | Create a Profile





STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS // CONTACT US

Bands: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z


Site Copyright 2005-2023 Sputnikmusic.com
All Album Reviews Displayed With Permission of Authors | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy