Review Summary: Don't - be afraid.
Blending genres can be tricky. There are many bands that choose to blend genres together but not all of them execute it in a manner that is listenable or amicable. However, when a group manage to pull it off, it can be seismic. As Living Arrows are relatively new on the scene and the band are definitely onto a winner. Their amazing mix of screamo, hardcore and post metal is as refreshing as it is brilliant and the band have created an album that is full of emotion, diversity and downright amazing music. They employ a very unique take on the aforementioned genres and it is quite a journey listening to this.
As Living Arrows have three wonderful guitarists, a very solid rhythm section and an absolutely superb vocalist. Every track bleeds emotion and creativity with the frontman being a similar to Jacob Bannon from Converge combined with some very well delivered clean vocals. However, their sound takes influence from lots of bands and subgenres of metal/hardcore - imagine Converge mixed with 90's screamo and Neurosis and you will get a strong idea of what the band sounds like. Album opener As Above, So Below introduces the listener to what I've mentioned in previous sentences. Fantastic focus on the balance between melodic and cathartic, as well making use of superb and calculated metalcore riffs that seem to just melt between the more melancholy and melodious leads. Choice cuts from the album include The Greatest Weight, Altruism, Our Meridian and Sun King. Altruism is quite possibly the best track on the album featuring an incredibly heartfelt and epic middle section as well some of the most beautiful melodies played on guitar you'll ever likely to hear from a band of this nature. Lyrically, the band focus on dark and depressing topics - but in all seriousness, the vocals and lyrics are great and enhance the music very well. Sun King ends on a particularly high note, featuring an incredibly brilliant end section that will stick in your head like a knife through the gut - these guys definitely know how to bring the feels. There are several moments here that will most likely give you an eargasm and they are in plentiful supply across the album.
All in all, these guys need to be known for all of the reasons discussed in this review. Their legacy deserves to be great. Talented, unique and full of excellence, As Living Arrows will hopefully blow up over the next few years. Quite frankly, they definitely deserve it. Great band - great album. Enough said.
