Holy Hell (Architects album)

Holy Hell is the eighth studio album by British metalcore band Architects. It was released on 9 November 2018.[3][4] It is the follow-up to the band's previous album All Our Gods Have Abandoned Us, and is the first record without founding member and main songwriter Tom Searle, following his death in August 2016.

Holy Hell
Studio album by
Architects
Released9 November 2018 (2018-11-09)
Recorded2017 – 2018
Genre
Length42:36
Label
Producer
  • Dan Searle
  • Josh Middleton
Architects chronology
All Our Gods Have Abandoned Us
(2016)		 Holy Hell
(2018)
Singles from Holy Hell
  1. "Doomsday"
    Released: 7 September 2017
  2. "Hereafter"
    Released: 12 September 2018
  3. "Royal Beggars"
    Released: 3 October 2018
  4. "Modern Misery"
    Released: 28 October 2018

Background

Architects' guitarist Tom Searle passed away on 20 August 2016, after his three-year battle with skin cancer.[3][5] His death had a traumatic effect on the other members of the band. Sam Carter, the band's lead vocalist, noted at the final date of a European tour in the Brixton Academy in London he felt "this could be the last time I do this".[6]

On 7 September 2017, Architects released the song "Doomsday", which Tom Searle had started to write during the production of their seventh album All Our Gods Have Abandoned Us, as a single. However, it did not make the album's final tracklist[7] but it was later added to the tracklist of Holy Hell as the tenth track. An alternative piano reprise version of the song was released on 13 July 2018.[8] After the successful release of the song the band organised a one date, sold-out performance at the 10,000 capacity venue Alexandra Palace in London,[6] with support from While She Sleeps and Counterparts.[9] This was the largest headline performance the band had played in their career. Due to the close relationship Carter and the rest of the band had established with Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party, there was a discussion as to whether Corbyn could speak before their performance.[6] Much like how he had at Glastonbury festival, however it was decided against by the party.[6] Architects' drummer and brother of Tom, Dan Searle, addressed the crowd and thanked them for their continued support.[10]

Writing and recording

Following the band's performance in Brixton Academy on their 2017 European tour, Josh Middleton, Sylosis guitarist and touring member for the band, sent demos of songs to Searle. Middleton along with Searle became dominant songwriters on the record.[11] This period of writing new music brought confidence to the band about continuing to perform.[12] By the time the band had selected "Doomsday" to release as a single they had written that and five other songs.[11] Tom Searle had written the main guitar riff "Doomsday" was based on.[12] Elements of songs used on the album are based upon writing Tom Searle had written before his death, however Dan Searle in an interview said that they do not want to disclose which songs were derived from Tom's work, saying "We don't want to say because we don't want people's perspectives of the songs to be swayed by having that information."[11]

Dan Searle had a major role in writing of the album's lyrics.[6] Searle stated the theme "for me, broadly speaking Holy Hell is about pain: the way we process it, cope with it, and live with it. [...] There is value in pain. It's where we learn, it's where we grow."[4] He was inspired by his brother's lyric writing, focusing on religion and particular juxtaposed metaphors "heaven and hell" and "angels and demons".[12]

Promotion and release

On 10 September 2018, Architects released teaser videos online which utilised instrumental versions of "Doomsday" and "Memento Mori", which were later that day taken down.[13][14] The band released the album's lead single, "Hereafter", in conjunction with the public release of the album art, release date and track listing. The album art was created by Dan Hillier.[15] Merlin Alderslade, when writing for Metal Hammer about the song, noted how it featured a more "streamlined" approach to Architects' musical style than previous work and was a greater indication of Holy Hell's sound than "Doomsday".[16] The second single from the album "Royal Beggars" was released 3 October,[17] then the third "Modern Misery" was released on 28 October 2018.[18]

In promotion of the album, the band announced the dates of the tour, starting in December 2018 in Russia and Ukraine. The rest of the tour dates for the United Kingdom and the Mainland Europe is set in January and February 2019, with support from Polaris and Beartooth.[4][19] Within days of the release of tickets, a second date at O2 Victoria Warehouse in Manchester was added.[19]

Reception
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic90/100[20]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[21]
Dead Press![22]
DIY[23]
Kerrang![20]
Metal Hammer[24]
Metal Injection[25]
New Noise[26]
NME[27]
Sputnikmusic[28]
Wall of Sound10/10[1]

Holy Hell has received critical acclaim. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 90, based on 8 reviews, which indicates "universal acclaim".[20]

Dave Stewart writing for Punktastic gave a favourable review of the album and its attention to detail and emotional intensity, saying "A mere two years since [Tom Searle's] passing, to even consider releasing a record is commendable. The fact that the record is so intricate and powerful is a credit to the band, both musically and mentally. To make something so impressive out of a situation so dire is beyond admirable."[29] Zach Redrup of Dead Press gave the album a 10 out of 10 score, praising the album's more frequent incorporation of electronic and atmospheric elements over previous albums.[22] Wall of Sound rated the album a perfect 10/10 stating "this album is magnificent. It not only wraps up Tom Searle's time within the band perfectly but also kicks off the next era without him."[30] In a 4 out of 5 star review, AllMusic concluded "Holy Hell is both a teardown and a rebuild, and while it isn't always an easy listen, there is some hard-won catharsis to be found in its attempt to distill the messiness of grief into four-minute blasts of sonic demolition."[21] Kerrang! gave the album a perfect score, calling it "gut-wrenching, hauntingly desolate and emotionally devastating."[20] The album was also nominated for a Kerrang! Award for 'Best Album', but lost to Ghost's Prequelle.[31]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Dan Searle and Josh Middleton; all music is composed by Architects[note 1].

No.TitleLength
1."Death Is Not Defeat"3:45
2."Hereafter"4:15
3."Mortal After All"3:39
4."Holy Hell"4:13
5."Damnation"4:08
6."Royal Beggars"4:01
7."Modern Misery"4:13
8."Dying to Heal"3:50
9."The Seventh Circle"1:48
10."Doomsday"4:08
11."A Wasted Hymn"4:34
Total length:42:36

Personnel

Architects

  • Sam Carter – vocals
  • Dan Searle – drums, programming, producer
  • Alex Dean – bass guitar, keyboards
  • Adam Christianson – rhythm guitar
  • Josh Middleton – lead guitar, backing vocals, producer

Additional personnel

  • Adam "Nolly" Getgood – engineering, mixing
  • Robin Adams and Joel Hamilton – editing assistance
  • Jordon Popp – additional editing assistance
  • Will Harvey and The Parallax Orchestra – strings
  • Peter Miles – strings engineering
  • Jordan Fish – additional production on "Doomsday"
  • Amelie Searle-Desbiens – additional vocals
  • Ermin Hamidovic – mastering
  • Dan Hillier – artwork
  • Jon Barmby – layout

Charts
Chart (2018) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[32] 8
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[33] 13
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[34] 34
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[35] 79
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[36] 72
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[37] 85
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[38] 34
French Albums (SNEP)[39] 108
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[40] 7
Italian Albums (FIMI)[41] 88
Scottish Albums (OCC)[42] 17
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[43] 17
UK Albums (OCC)[44] 18
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[45] 1
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[46] 5
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[47] 3
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[48] 14
US Billboard 200[49] 89
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References
Footnotes
  1. Several songs feature parts written by Tom Searle before his death, however the group has not disclosed which.[11]
  1. "Architects – Holy Hell (Album Review)". Wall of Sound. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  2. "Album Review: Architects – Holy Hell". Soundfiction. 8 November 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  3. Calum Slingerland (12 September 2018). "Architects Return with 'Holy Hell'". Exclaim!. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  4. "Architects Drop New Single; Announce New Album Holy Hell And Biggest-Ever Tour". Kerrang!. Wasted Talent. 12 September 2018. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  5. Sam Coare (2 February 2018). "'We Still Feel Like We're Tom's Band. And We're Very Proud To Be' – Sam Carter, Architects". Kerrang!. Wasted Talent. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  6. Danni Leivers (9 February 2018). "Make A Difference: Architects' Sam Carter Speaks To Clash". Clash. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  7. Redrup, Zach (12 September 2018). "NEWS: Architects announce eighth album, 'Holy Hell'!". DEAD PRESS!. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  8. Brii Jamieson (13 July 2018). "Architects Have Released An Emotional Piano Version Of 'Doomsday'". Rock Sound. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  9. Ben Gibson (5 February 2018). "30+ Photos Of Architects' Monumental Alexandra Palace Show". Rock Sound. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  10. Ian Gittins (5 February 2018). "Architects review – raging crusaders raise the roof with a tearful tribute". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  11. Danni Leivers (7 November 2018). "Hereafter: Architects On The Path To 'Holy Hell'". Clash. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  12. Roisin O'Connor (8 November 2018). "Architects interview: 'Grief isn't this journey from f***ed to better'". The Independent. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  13. Rob Sayce (10 September 2018). "Architects Are Teasing Something". Rock Sound. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  14. "Architects Are Up To Something…". Kerrang!. Wasted Talent. 10 September 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  15. "K!1739 – Architects' Holy Hell: The Only Interview". 12 September 2018. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  16. Merlin Alderslade (12 September 2018). "The first reaction to Architects' new song Hereafter". Metal Hammer. Louder. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  17. Beth Casteel (3 October 2018). "Architects Release Hard-Hitting New Single, 'Royal Beggars'". Alternative Press. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  18. "ARCHITECTS Release 'Modern Misery' Video". Blabbermouth.net. 29 October 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  19. "Architects Add Extra Date To Massive UK Tour". Kerrang!. Wasted Talent. 21 September 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  20. "Holy Hell by Architects Reviews". Metacritic. (CBS Interactive). 9 November 2018. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
  21. "Holy Hell – Architects – Songs, Reviews, Credits – AllMusic". AllMusic.
  22. Zach Redrup (7 November 2018). "ALBUM REVIEW: Architects – Holy Hell". Dead Press. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  23. Ben Tipple (8 November 2018). "Architects – Holy Hell". DIY. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  24. Luke Morton (8 November 2018). "Architects: Holy Hell album review". Metal Hammer. Louder. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  25. Leon TK (8 November 2018). "Album Review: ARCHITECTS Holy Hell". Metal Injection. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
  26. Caleb Newton (8 November 2018). "Album Review: Architects – Holy Hell". New Noise Magazine. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
  27. Tom Connick (9 November 2018). "Architects – 'Holy Hell' album review". NME. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
  28. "Review: Architects – Holy Hell – Sputnikmusic". www.sputnikmusic.com.
  29. Dave Stewart (7 November 2018). "Architects – 'Holy Hell'". Punktastic. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  30. "Architects – Holy Hell (Album Review)". Wall Of Sound. 8 November 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  31. "Kerrang! Awards 2019 Preview". SoundMouth. 10 June 2019. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  32. "ARIA Australian Top 50 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. 19 November 2018. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  33. "Austriancharts.at – Architects – Holy Hell" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  34. "Ultratop.be – Architects – Holy Hell" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  35. "Ultratop.be – Architects – Holy Hell" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  36. "Architects Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  37. "Dutchcharts.nl – Architects – Holy Hell" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  38. "Architects: Holy Hell" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
  39. "Le Top de la semaine : Top Albums Fusionnes – SNEP (Week 46, 2018)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  40. "Offiziellecharts.de – Architects – Holy Hell" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  41. "Album – Classifica settimanale WK 46 (dal 2018-11-09 al 2018-11-15)" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  42. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  43. "Swisscharts.com – Architects – Holy Hell". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  44. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  45. "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  46. "Architects Chart History (Top Hard Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  47. "Architects Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  48. "Architects Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  49. "Architects Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
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