Architects: Pioneers of Modern Metalcore
Architects are a British metalcore band from Brighton, England, whose technical precision and socio-political commentary have defined a generation of heavy music. Their 2016 album All Our Gods Have Abandoned Us and its 2018 follow-up Holy Hell achieved critical acclaim and commercial success, with both records charting in the Top 10 of the UK Albums Chart and across Europe.
Early career
Formed in 2004 by twin brothers Dan and Tom Searle, Architects quickly established a reputation for a complex, math-influenced sound on their early releases. Their debut album, Nightmares, arrived in 2006 via United By Fate Records, followed by Ruin in 2007, which showcased a relentless, technical approach to metalcore that set them apart from peers.
Breakthrough
The band's breakthrough arrived with their third album, 2009's Hollow Crown, released on Century Media Records. This record refined their sound with sharper songwriting and melodic hooks, gaining significant traction in the European metal scene and establishing a dedicated fanbase that propelled their future growth.
Key tracks
These Colours Don't Run — This anthemic track from Hollow Crown became a definitive early setlist staple, encapsulating their blend of punishing riffs and soaring melody.
Gravedigger — The lead single from 2014's Lost Forever // Lost Together marked a shift towards a more atmospheric and architecturally grand sound, earning the band their first major radio play.
Gone With The Wind — A poignant and deeply personal single from All Our Gods Have Abandoned Us, its lyrical themes resonated powerfully with fans, becoming one of their most streamed tracks.
Doomsday — Written after the passing of guitarist and primary songwriter Tom Searle, this 2017 single became a monumental hit, symbolizing the band's resilience and earning gold certifications in several European countries.
Animals — This 2021 single from For Those That Wish To Exist became their highest-charting UK single, debuting at number 20 and showcasing a more accessible yet fiercely critical industrial-tinged direction.
The tragic loss of Tom Searle in 2016 was a pivotal moment, with the band choosing to continue. The subsequent album, 2018's Holy Hell, processed this grief and debuted at number 6 on the UK chart. Their ninth studio album, 2021's For Those That Wish To Exist, debuted at number 1 on the UK Albums Chart, a first for the band, and expanded their sound with electronic and orchestral elements.
Fans of Architects' intense, melodic, and technically proficient style should also explore similar UK heavyweights. Bring Me The Horizon share a trajectory of constant evolution and massive mainstream crossover within heavy music. While She Sleeps offer a similarly passionate, DIY-informed approach to modern metalcore with anthemic choruses. Bury Tomorrow deliver a classic yet refined blend of melodic death metal and metalcore from the British scene. Northlane complement Architects' later work with a focus on atmospheric depth and technological themes in metalcore.
The music of Architects maintains heavy rotation on a wide spectrum of radio stations featured on this website. Their powerful anthems are staples on modern rock and alternative rock radio stations, while dedicated metal and core online radio streams frequently feature deep cuts from their extensive catalog. Independent music radio stations champion their earlier, rawer material, ensuring their full evolution is represented on air.
Listeners can discover the formidable discography of Architects, from their mathcore beginnings to their chart-topping modern anthems, through the dedicated rock and metal radio stations available on onairium.com. Tune in to hear the band's genre-defining tracks in regular rotation across our network.
