Architects - Hollow Crown [Album]

Century Media

March 18, 2009, 12:42 AM

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Hollow Crown is the third release from Brighton boys, Architects, being put out by Century Media for which this is their second Architects release following Ruin back in 2007. Architects have had a very smooth transition through albums, never sticking to the same genre set but still staying true to their sound. Originally being very influenced by a more technical/math metal styling, Architects have developed in to an incredibly well rounded band, taking their prior influences and embellishing the view that you don’t have to be busy and loud all the time. The acquisition of vocalist Sam Carter, who joined after the bands first album, has added another dimension to the sound with his ability to sing and scream.

Like Architects previous release Ruin, Hollow Crown sees the band change their guitar tunings again. This time favouring the ‘Pantera’ tuning style, this being when the guitar is tuned to a certain key in standard tuning, in this case Db standard, and then to tune the lowest string down to Ab so that previously where you had fifth intervals between the 1st and second string you now have octaves. This gives the ability to create a really heavy low end sound on the bottom but still give a comfortable degree of tension on the higher strings and thus creating a very distinctive and unmistakable sound. The opening track ‘Early Grave’ gives a very good example of this sound. A few other bands use this styling such as Sikth, Mastodon and Bring Me The Horizon.

This album has several aspects, the first is this heavy, off beat groove, tech metal, the second is the faster more hardcore edged side and the last is the best facet of Hollow Crown, the melodic side. Architects have really hit creative gold, by diversifying their sound to be slightly more widely accessible they have delved in their creativity and made a truly special album. There are hints of Alexisonfire and Thrice throughout and by no means do they come across as second-rate copies, these songs really do stand up against the big players in their own right. Architects transition reminds me of the transition Thrice went through, from being a metalcore band to completely opening their spectrum to take in any genre or style they wanted, which allowed them to create some very intense music.

Hollow Crown is just the tip of the iceberg. The Architects have proven their ability to just get better and better, not only on their records and writing but live as well. Many new bands don’t sustain even one album cycle and let alone three. These boys know what they are doing and it is quite simply music to my ears!

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