It's fair to say that the last 18 months have been the most successful that Brighton-based Architects have ever experienced. Having established themselves as a ferocious live act over the past few years whilst cementing their position as one of the most important metal bands in Britain today, their third album, 2009's
Hollow Crown was picked up by Century Media, bringing the band a whole new level of exposure. Rave reviews and triumphant tours around the world have followed, including another immense performance at Download last year, but throughout a rigorous global touring schedule, the band have still found time to write and record their fourth album in America with renowned producer Steve Evetts (Every Time I Die, Dillinger Escape Plan). With a few more years experience and maturity under their belts, album number four (originally rumoured to be called
Choking, which has since been dismissed) is shaping up to be a definitive release for one of heavy music's brightest and most unique lights. We might still be some way off a projected release of early 2011, but there's still a final UK tour in support of
Hollow Crown on the way beginning in late September to enjoy first. With that and the production of a new record to discuss, Subba tracked down guitarist Tom Searle in America with the band in the middle of touring with the likes of As I Lay Dying and Underoath.
Hello fine sir, how do we find you on this day?
Good man, just played a great show in Dallas and now I'm hanging outside having a BBQ, can't complain!
How’s the Cool Tour across North America been over the last four weeks?
Aside from some insane van problems, it's been great! It's a privilege to be on tour with so many great bands. If someone told me that we'd be touring the states with some of these bands 3 years ago my brain would have exploded!
You’ve just wrapped up recording on album number four in America, but from what I’ve heard it was a pretty harrowing experience. What can you tell us about it and when can we expect to hear the new material?
I wouldn't say it was a harrowing experience. Recording has always been a stressful experience for us and normally that stress only lasts 2 weeks. This time we spent 6 weeks, so there was just a longer period of stress! The material is pretty different to anything we've done before. We've never sat still creatively and never will. There's a lot of melody on the record, there's still a lot of energy and aggression in there too. The general sound of the record is a lot more natural than our previous records too. Hopefully people who 'get' our music will grow with us on this record.
When you experience problems like this when recording, how does it affect the music? Does it have a negative or positive effect?
Again, I don't think there were problems. Recording with Steve (Evetts, producer) was just different to what we've done before. His role was basically to tell us to chill when we were going OCD on the record! Sometimes it's difficult to see reason when you're so buried in the writing and recording process. I think we're guilty of chasing the idea of 'perfect' when there is no perfect in music, no right or wrong. We could spend forever trying to make a record flawless when maybe we'd just be making it stale. That's something that Steve definitely believed in. The tension in the studio was essentially the result of us breaking out of our usual frame of mind.
Hollow Crown really propelled you onto another level when it was released last year, musically and professionally. Can you see Choking having a similar impact?
Just for the record it's not actually called Choking! Thats some rumour or something. I dunno where that came from. I don't want to set myself any expectations on the success of this record. Whatever happens, happens. However, it's definitely our most commercial record, so who knows. We'll wait and see.
You’ve stated that you’re somewhat done with being seen as a ‘tech’ band, so what can we expect from this new album musically?
Yeah, that's a big part of our history I guess. I don't want to say we're done with it, I still very much enjoy technical music, but we're moving forward and exploring other aspects of our music right now. The new record still has technical elements to it, but we've focused on just making good songs. Some songs are heavy, some are ballads. It's a really diverse record. Every song is its own entity.
Do you guys actually ever stop? From what I can see, you tour your asses off, record and release a new album every 18 months, tour some more and then repeat!
We get time off here and there. We all gave up and are still giving up things in our lives to do this. We might as well do it properly.
Looking at the British metal scene over the last decade, there’s certainly been some fantastic individual bands who’ve gained a good level of popularity that sound like no one else. Why do you think British metal bands have such unique sounds?
There's a lot of copycat bands in America just following what's popular at this moment, which is making everything pretty stale. Fairplay to those bands. They can do what they want to achieve their 15 minutes of 'fame'. I don't think that mentality exists so much in England. Bands like us, BMTH, Enter Shikari and Gallows have always stuck to our guns and done our own thing regardless of what other bands around us are doing.
The end of September will see you guys touring the UK with Norma Jean and Devil Sold His Soul. Is there still some excitement within the band to be touring around home?
We're more excited about touring the UK than anywhere else in the world. Sometimes it's what drives through the tough times touring elsewhere. The shows are always getting better and better back home and we appreciate everyones support there so much.
Now the touring and promotion behind Hollow Crown is pretty much at an end, how do you view the last 18 months as a whole?
Pretty wild! We've been all over the world, which blows my mind, I'm so thankful to be doing this. Sometimes I'll stand on stage, even when the crowd has no idea who we are and just stop and think about how insane this all is. I'm in Dallas, Texas right, when did this happen?! 3 years ago I thought playing in Leeds was crazy.
Finally, the question on everyone’s lips: is there going to be a DVD for (bassist and legend) Ali Dino?
I wish!
Big cheers to Tom along with Sarah @Century Media
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