Album Review

Architects – The Here And Now

• 4th Jan 2011

Get up close and personal with Architects as their latest album, The Here And Now is the most passionately driven and emotionally inspired record they have crafted so far.

The ten-track album that was produced by Steve Evetts was built on the essence of living in the now rather than dwelling in negativity. Fuelled by optimism, this record reflects the ambitious and positive minds of five musicians from Brighton, conveying thoughts we can all relate to.

For a band that started off quite chaotic, they’ve progressed massively, pushing the musical boundaries to produce a record that focuses more on music technique and melody, as opposed to just creating a huge sound.

The first track, “Day In Day Out,” explodes straight into the fast guitars and screaming Architects are renowned for, along with the contrasting beautiful voice Sam Carter carries. It’s one of their bigger sounding songs with a huge chorus evolving around the idea of getting bored doing the same routine everyday.

Whereas songs like “An Open Letter To Myself” and “Heartburn” may surprise you as they take on a more heartfelt and minimalistic musical approach. They’re a lot more calm and toned down compared to the other tracks on the record, allowing you to enjoy Carter’s soft vocal side.

But the pace soon picks up again with “Stay Young Forever,” which features guest vocals from Comeback Kid’s Andrew Neufeld. Written on the feelings felt when watching your friend continually make mistakes, the use of harsh screaming vocals from both men throughout really captures the emotions conveyed in the lyrics. This makes this song one of the most poignant and personal songs on the record.

The album finishes on a high, as “Year In Year Out/Up And Away” is the biggest song on the record. It features brutal vocals from The Dillinger Escape Plan’s Greg Puciato, adding so much more depth and greatness to the track. It captures the core of the album in a nutshell, leaving you to just appreciate the fine creators Architects have become.