Review Summary: A solid, angry album, but expect no new territory.
Despite a general lack of originality, Like Moths to Flames' latest record, "An Eye for an Eye" is a step in the right direction for the metalcore quintet.
Undoubtedly striking a chord with new listeners, "An Eye for an Eye" contains sounds similar to The Color Morale, August Burns Red and even Underoath. Much like the band's two previous releases, its primary emotion is pure rage. If you're easily turned off by angry, breakdown-laden records, this is not the album for you.
Vocalist Chris Roetter doesn't let up, with both his screams and his singing represent every emotion present in his lyrics, particularly in "A Feast for Crows" and "You'll Burn". The drums also deserve a mention, because they pound like a war anthem in each song, refusing to soften even in the slightly more mellow "In Dreams." The lead guitar is mostly just a background element, although it does keep the record from relying only on chugging breakdowns and clean choruses. The rhythm guitar and bass are used primarily to carry the choruses and deliver the pulverizing breakdowns that Like Moths to Flames is so well-known for.
To point out a few negative things, the songs occasionally fade together. The anger becomes one long screech across tracks if the listener lets their attention wander for a moment. The breakdowns, although well-executed, can honestly lose their specialness when they happen a dozen times in a single song.
All things considered, this is a good record, and one that could easily be much better with a bit more track-by-track diversity and innovation, two things that the metalcore genre desperately needs right now.
Highlights:
-You'll Burn
-The Blackout
-In Dreams
