Architects are a young British band who play a combination of metalcore and math metal with a few progressive influences. You'll hear the traditional metalcore breakdowns along with complex and unusual song arrangements. Sometimes dissonant and harsh, other times melodic, Ruin is all over the map. The vocals are also diverse, combining hardcore screams with harsh yells and melodic singing.
There are some really compelling and interesting moments on this CD, but there are also lulls. When Architects sticks too closely to the metalcore formula, things get monotonous in a hurry. Some of the complex stuff also gets a bit out of hand, with technicality overwhelming the other elements of the song.
The best songs on Ruin have that complexity and technical chops, but also infuse enough melody and catchiness to make them memorable. Architects are a band with a world of potential, and when they fully define and refine their sound could be a force to be reckoned with.
(released August 5, 2008 on Century Media Records)
