ssmarcus
I think we can all agree that what the world really needed right now was yet another rock band yelling at us about what's wrong with us and the world. While all of us struggle, both individually and collectively through our overwhelmed political institutions, to withstand nature's latest device for knocking off humans, I am grateful to have Architects reminding us to pay attention to the world's real problems. For decades now, successful musical artists have an established tradition of warning their listeners of the imminent environmental collapse to befall us. As we the sheeple are just too caught up in the undertow of our own selfishness and quest for survival, its up to the artist, detached as he or she might be from frivolous shortsightedness, to educate and inspire us to action. For Those that Wish to Exist, with its totally savage takedown of apathy, will undoubtedly be regarded by history as the turning point.
As important and relevant as the messaging might be, it is further enhanced by the musical breakthroughs explored by the band on this release. By repeating the same formula in nearly every song, the message of imminent doom and the complete moral failure of the human race is drilled into the deepest recesses of the listener's brain. And, in 2021, who would expect a modern metal act to incorporate more and more industrial and electronic accompaniments to an otherwise standard metalcore foundation? Musically speaking, I really don't think it would be hyperbole to crown Architects as the Coldplay of metal. This is music for the masses of consumers looking for an experience of emotion without having to put in any of the work.
I thought about scheduling this review to post on April 1st but realized readers may think I was being sarcastic in my assessment of this record. So here it is a week late for your reading and listening pleasure...