Architects - Lost Together // Lost Forever (Album Review)

Architects are one of Britain's standout metal bands. This isn't a statement for people to argue with, as they've consistently churned out great albums. It wasn't until their 3rd album, 'Hollow Crown' that people started to take Architects seriously. Containing gems like 'Follow The Water' & 'Early Grave', they set themselves on the fast track to metal's big leagues... And then they released 'The Here & Now'... Showing off a much softer edge to the band, lyrics about love and heartbreak were on show. Sam Carter was able to flex his lyric writing muscles, but the album was at the wrong time for the band, as they have since stated that it is one which they do not enjoy, looking back at it. Personally, I thoroughly enjoyed the opus, but it did feel like they were taking a side step instead of a step up. Fortunately, they rectified their 'mistake' by unleashing 'DayBreaker'. A monster of an album which put them back at the forefront of the next metal bands to take over.

We now come to this. March 10th, Architects released 'Lost Forever // Lost Together'. Continuing the heaviness from 'DayBreaker', but leaving behind the political angst displayed throughout, the band have hit a whole new level of musicianship. The speakers have been turned up to 12 let alone 11, and they finally sound comfortable again. Carter's taken more of a back seat in terms of writing lyrics this time around, and has allowed guitarist Tom Searle to come in and help. This gives the album a balance, and allows Carter to show off the best of his voice. The delicate croon and the ferocious scream which has become his trademark.

First single 'Naysayer' is a complete ripper. Everything that makes the band Architects can be seen on this song. Tom's brother Dan, is the drummer for Architects and this song in particular shows off his ability. The songs are led by his beats, and lock in with the riffs in a very intricate way, so much so that they feel like they're feeding off of each other. Throughout the album, Dan's drums are one of the many highlights and his ability is shown on every song. 'Broken Cross' was released a little while ago as the second single, and is a lot heavier than 'Naysayer', but this shows off the ferocity that Architects seem to have found within themselves once again.

The album starts off of at a very high speed, crunching it's way through many different riffs, beats and screams, and what gets me is that they never seem to slow down for long. Even when going slow, they're heavy as hell. 'Red Hypergiant' is an instrumental song which lulls the listener into a false sense of security, as 'C.A.N.C.E.R.' hits you in the face like a mallet. 'Red Hypergiant' also acts as a barrier, in that the first 5 songs are all smash mouth, in your face, metal core tracks, then 'Red Hypergiant' allows a break for just over 2 minutes, before the last 5 songs hit the breakneck speeds once again. Every song on this album has the potential to become a live favourite. No questions need to be asked about that statement. 'Youth Is Wasted On The Young' may be one of the standout songs this band have ever released. Carter bellows about how 'The Past is Dead' and whether there'll be regret at the time of death. Such wide views of the world at the age of 25 are commendable, and the band have always been one to have a rallying cry for their fans. This is the biggest one yet.

Overall, Architects haven't changed the way metal core should be, but they've gone a long way to perfect their own sound, and probably have created the album of their careers. It'll be very interesting where this year takes them. Already confirmed to play Reading & Leeds, I wouldn't be surprised to see them graduate to playing venues like Brixton Academy. Be prepared to watch the band take over the metal world, just like their buddies Bring Me the Horizon have done.

Lost Together // Lost Forever - 9/10

Key Tracks: C.A.N.C.E.R. Youth Is Wasted On The Young, Broken Cross.

Metallica... 2nd Stage headliners at Glastonbury?!

Glastonbury is known as the grand-daddy of all the festivals worldwide. It can make or break your career, especially if you're given the headliner status early. Michael Eavis has a knack of finding the right bands at the right time to headline the Pyramid stage. Case in point, Kings of Leon headlined in 2008, just before Only By The Night took over the world. Some say that KOL were given the slot, due to Jay-Z controversially headlining on the Saturday, so all eyes were on him.

2014 will see Arcade Fire headline Glastonbury for the first time in their career. A strange pick, and one which has seen a lot of debate. Some say it's their time, and some are asking why they're headlining. I'm in camp 2. Arcade Fire headlined Reading 2010 alongside Guns N' Roses & blink-182. They were the oddball headliner, and as such, played to a vastly smaller crowd, due to Pendulum being on at the same time. In my opinion, they're not a headline band. Their songs are not commonly known, like Mumford & Sons' songs are.

The other rumours for the headliners are as varied as being Rihanna, Prince, Kasabian, Foo Fighters or Kanye West. All 5 of these bands are bigger than Arcade Fire. Whilst looking at eFestivals (a very reputable website for festival rumours) I noticed that a certain band are the strongest rumour to headline the Other Stage (Glastonbury's 2nd stage). A band who are known commonly as the biggest metal band of all time, and one who've become less of a band and more of a company recently, having recently released movies and books, and even having their own festival. Of course, I am talking about Metallica. Now, I am not a diehard Metallica fan by any stretch of the imagination, but even I can see that Metallica are WAY bigger and better suited to headlining than Arcade Fire. Metallica have been booked to play Sonisphere this year, for the 40th anniversary of Knebworth festivals. Surely this shows their credentials? The fact they've headlined many major festivals worldwide and the fact they've sold out Wembley Stadium. In recent interviews, the band have spoken of a desire to play Worthy Farm, as it's the last major festival they've not ticked off of their list.

So, why are they being rumoured to be playing the Other Stage? Metallica are a brand. They've got the fans to get their albums to number one for a week. They sell and have sold millions of albums. Metallica are the single biggest metal band in the world, and that makes them one of the biggest bands in the world by proxy. This surely means they should be heading up the Pyramid stage. Many are saying that they shouldn't play Glastonbury, because of the people who go to Glastonbury. I call BS. Metallica can more than play the festival, and excel at it. They've always been a band who adapt and change what they need to. They'd be ideal to headline Glastonbury, mostly because it'll get people talking again, like they did with Jay-Z headlining. And who doesn't want to see 'One' and 'Enter Sandman' being blasted out of the Pyramid's PA? It'll be a special moment. Metallica are as important to metal music as Led Zeppelin, and as Glastonbury is a festival of the arts, it would show a huge diversity to book them. To have them headline the Other Stage seems like an insult, considering they'd probably be louder than anyone else the whole weekend. Putting them on the second stage whilst someone like a Kanye West, or a Rihanna plays the Pyramid, would be a stupid decision to make in my honest opinion.

Now for the other headliner. The bookies have stopped taking bets on Kasabian being revealed as a headliner and I think it is their time. They've been knocking on the door for the last few years, and headlining the Olympic Park last year, along with Reading the year before, has finally shown that they're a threat to the crown of the UK's biggest rock band. Currently, you'd have to say that the crown belongs to Muse. Again, no where near a fan, but people LOVE Muse. People are starting to fall in love with Kasabian, due to the brashness, and Oasis-like swagger they have about them. The main difference is that Kasabian obviously love doing what they're doing. And the guys clearly enjoy playing together. Serge Pizzorno is one of the most talented song writers and guitar players in the country, if not the world. In frontman Tom Meighan, they've got a mouthpiece who isn't afraid to get his hands dirty and say what needs to be said. Everyone is jumping on the Arctic Monkeys bandwagon as the most important band in the UK. Kasabian are that. Unabashedly English, and completely uncorrupt of any outside influences, Kasabian are the spokesman for the next few years of UK rock.

Arcade Fire, Kasabian and Metallica. An artsy Indie band, an Indie rock powerhouse and the biggest metal band of all time. Glastonbury could be about to get interesting again.