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There was a nagging suspicion that Architects<\/a> had snatched at, and missed, their big chance with 2011\u2019s ambitious but ultimately far from emphatic The Here and Now<\/a>; but the Brighton metallers have returned in dramatic fashion with Daybreaker. While last year\u2019s effort attempted to court the mainstream with slower, apparently more accessible songs, this fifth album showcases the full breadth of the band\u2019s talents, comprising a finely balanced end product.<\/p>\n The Bitter End opens the album with brooding menace before descending into raspy electronic rancour. On the face of it, it\u2019s a slow and abrasive entrance \u2013 but there are underlying currents of subtlety and beauty. The high-octane Alpha Omega offers something different, though: the track sprints through tumultuous riffs complementing Sam Carter\u2019s powerful roar \u2018til a shoulder-swinging chorus lands smooth, confident vocals over choppy, complex guitar motifs.<\/p>\n These Colours Don\u2019t Run is a heavy mosh which develops from an eerie intro into a song chock-full with interesting rhythms and powerful melodies. The way the band has learnt to punctuate their silences as violently as their most serious breakdowns is testament to their status as one of the UK\u2019s finest and most enduring tech-metal talents.<\/p>\n Another highlight is Even If You Win, You’re Still a Rat, featuring Oli Sykes of Bring Me the Horizon<\/a>. Bursting straight into chaos, the song ebbs and flows at will throughout its three minutes. The 11 songs only run for 41 minutes, but there\u2019s so much variety to be heard across these cuts that it\u2019s as full an experience as you\u2019re likely to get in contemporary metal.<\/p>\n Daybreaker is a great album. It\u2019ll go down as one of Architects\u2019 finest works \u2013 it\u2019s certainly their most well-rounded release to date \u2013 and will likely stand the test of time. Don\u2019t ignore this band.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n