Architects - Ruin (2007)^{Release ID: 3211}

If I were to choose which is Architects' best era, I would say the mid-2010s. Now don't get me wrong, I like this 2000s era as well. However, while most people say they've gotten better throughout the late 2000s, to me it sounds like they've gotten a bit worse, hitting its lowest point in 2011's The Here and Now. Ruin begins that descent...

In the extreme metal realms, death/black metal reigns in Europe, mostly in Scandinavia, and metalcore/hardcore reigns in the US In between, the UK, known as heavy metal's true birthplace, has a fair share of bands from both ends of the metal spectrum. Architects is an essential band in the British metalcore scene. Ruin continues their metalcore evolution while discarding most of the mathcore noise from Nightmares. Though the violence could've been greater if they had some of that Hatebreed groove.

Opening track "Buried at Sea" is a total crusher. The guitars are tuned down from the debut's drop C to drop B. Brutal breakdowns and dynamic chords spread through, along with the deathly riffing of Bring Me the Horizon at that time, maybe even reminding some of Cannibal Corpse. A solid heavy start! And there's more of that chaos in "Hunt Them Down". The punchy "You'll Find Safety" has an anthemic chorus alongside melodic singing and chords, like what In Flames was doing in their alt-metal transition back then but better. "Always" is almost like Killswitch Engage on steroids, and no, that's not an exaggeration.

The dense interlude "Sail This Ship Alone" sails through haunting ambience. "Heartless" explodes in Converge-like mathy metalcore while adding in some melody from A Day to Remember and God Forbid. "North Lane" isn't totally exceptional, but at least I know where the name of Australian band Northlane comes from. "I Can't See the Light" is almost like As I Lay Dying on steroids, and that's also not an exaggeration.

An unfortunate filler track is "Low", their first time dropping the lowest string to G-flat. Of course, the tuning isn't the problem, but this track just falls f***ing flat and ruins an otherwise entirely listenable album. "Running from the Sun" has a less technical angle, while still hammering through riffing brutality. There's more of the screaming anger courtesy of then-new vocalist Sam Carter, occasionally mixed with clean singing without becoming post-hardcore. "Save Me" continues the whole "Killswitch Engage on steroids" things with a dash of what Cane Hill would later have. Bonus track "Broken Clocks" sounds not too far off from another later band, Oceans Ate Alaska.

I wish I could say that Architects' Ruin would qualify as one of the best metalcore albums of 2007, but I have to speak my true opinion. It's not as memorable as most of their 2010s albums and even Nightmares. Still there are some good songs that make these 43 minutes never a waste of time. If anyone thinks North America is the homeland of metalcore, you may be right. Though we can't forget about Architects leading their own metalcore anarchy in the UK....

Favorites: "Buried at Sea", "Hunt Them Down", "You'll Find Safety", "Heartless", "Running from the Sun", "Broken Clocks"