Around 17 years ago, Architects formed. They were a metal band with lyrical axes to grind and a fierce sound to boot. But fast-forward to present day and they’re collaborating with vocalists from other outfits and experimenting by percolating their heavy standard with electronics and orchestral elements. While it might not be for everyone, I certainly think it’s clever, masterful stuff, so I’m glad there’s a whole album of it. 

‘For Those That Wish To Exist’ kicks off with the explosive ‘Do You Dream Of Armageddon?’, a slowly piercing track that has an apocalyptic feel to it — a sense they clearly intended to harness here. Through the lyrics and the softer instruments, you can detect a different mindset already on this record, which adds a level of excitement, don’t you think? They’ve spoken out about the influence derived from legendary film score composer, Hans Zimmer, here — another easily identifiable feature. 

You can’t beat the punchy raucousness of the singles, ‘Black Lungs’, ‘Animals’ and ‘Dead Butterflies’, either. ‘Black Lungs’ is probably more typical of their original sound, with a refined, modern vibe. And if you’re big on the gym like me, it works nicely on a cardio playlist.

Since first spinning the album on Friday, I’ve become really into ‘Giving Blood’ (critical punctuation marks there). The pacy, thumping drums follow a sprint-esque rhythm, forcing a wildly energetic tempo. But it has its slower parts too, which are particularly reflective before the storming chorus and the siren sounds that blare. 

As the collaborations go, they’re wickedly good. ‘Impermanence’ is full-throttle metal, with a chorus that Metallica or Slipknot would be chuffed with. It features Parkway Drive’s Winston McCall, too, which is massive. By contrast, the electronics rammed down our throats on ‘Little Wonder’ — a sort of dance party track for head-bangers — are incredible. And the whole thing’s topped off with outstanding vocal input from Royal Blood’s Mike Kerr. Also mixing the metal with the electronics, ‘An Ordinary Extinction’ balances the scales for fans of both. 

While there’s a ferocity to ‘Goliath’, featuring Biffy Clyro’s Simon Neil, you’ll find the stripped-back, acoustic style of ‘Dying Is Absolutely Safe’ completely spellbinding — probably for its vast difference to the rest of their material. It’s a calmer, more blissful way to round of this cool, creative record. 

If you only download one track, let it be: ‘Black Lungs’