Dive further into the record and the marching beat of spit the bone has quite the tonal shift with an almost jovial feel, burn down my house is a much slower, moodier affair, shrouded in static, and living is killing us conjures images of speeding through a futuristic cityscape with synthwave beats buried deep in the mix. Layers stack up throughout the album, never content to stick to one idea, this isn’t meat and potatoes metalcore – this is gourmet Architects.
Sure, not all of it hits the spot – all the love in the world tries to achieve heights it can’t quite reach and there are moments the band almost feel restrained, neglecting to go too heavy at times when it could have been a real benefit, but there are genuine flourishes here that will no doubt be setlist mainstays for years to come. The gargantuan when we were young is begging to be belted out in arenas, so too is the stomping chorus of born again pessimist, while new moral low ground is pure circle-pit fuel (and that solo is joyous).
Undoubtedly, the classic symptoms of a broken spirit will divide opinions amongst the Architects army. Those wanting them to try and recapture the magic of AOGHAU are shit out of luck, but those willing to join the metalcore heroes on their never-ending journey of discovery will find much to uncover. And if you’re sat there thinking they’ve forgotten how to be metal, closer be very afraid will change your mind. It’s a ferocious, fearless record from one of Britain’s best.
Verdict: 4/5
For fans of: Bring Me The Horizon, While She Sleeps, Bury Tomorrow
the classic symptoms of a broken spirit is out now via Epitaph