The Sky, the Earth & All Between
Architects
Architects sound determined to get a reaction on The Sky, the Earth & All Between. The heavier songs push hard, the choruses reach for bigger spaces, and Sam Carter moves between the two with plenty of conviction. The band have several versions of themselves available now, and this album tries to make them work together.
Elegy sets that up well. Its atmospheric opening and big melody give way to a much harsher second half, establishing that the guitars won't be spending the record in the background. Whiplash follows with a more immediate attack. Carter's delivery gives the song a real sense of frustration, and the rhythm keeps that feeling moving.
Blackhole is a highlight because the different elements feel properly connected. The electronics add movement, the chorus has scale, and the guitar solo gives the arrangement another point of interest. There's more going on than a heavy verse waiting for a clean chorus.
That variety is where producer Jordan Fish's involvement makes sense. The electronic details are part of the songs, and the strongest tracks have a clear sense of how to build towards their bigger moments. Brain Dead provides a shorter, more abrasive jolt, while Judgement Day leans into a more industrial feel.
Some of the writing is less distinctive. Everything Ends falls back on familiar shapes, and Evil Eyes brings its Deftones influence close enough to distract from the band's own voice. The album has plenty of force, but force alone doesn't make every song equally memorable.
Seeing Red is the clearest expression of its attitude. The song turns the argument around the band's direction into something direct and angry. Whether you share that frustration or simply want a strong heavy track, it does the job.
This is an accessible Architects album with some serious aggression inside it. The strongest songs connect the band's recent ambitions to the weight that made them stand out. A few less convincing moments remain, but there's enough purpose here to make the combination work.
