Architects: Live @ Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff - Distorted Sound
Architects live @ Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff. Photo Credit: Serena Hill Photography
A date that has been rescheduled numerous times due to the dreaded C-word, metalcore giants Architects were finally able to embark on their first ever arena tour this month. An ambitious feat in itself, they were looking to impress fans old and new, and their Cardiff date was an extremely strong attempt at doing so.
Malevolence live @ Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff. Photo Credit: Serena Hill Photography
Sheffield-based Malevolence had the task of warming up the crowd and they did exactly that, exploding onto the stage at the Motorpoint Arena. As one of the most exciting bands to come out of the last few years, they have been no stranger to success over the last few months and waste no time in reminding everybody why this is with a set that is packed full of aggressive energy. The entire set is bruising, and frontman Alex Taylor takes command of a venue that has nearly filled out just to see this opening set. It becomes apparent why this is when he orders everyone front to back to open a pit, whipping the crowd into a frenzy with possibly the biggest pit this venue has seen. Not able to help himself at the sight, Taylor throws himself into (or onto) the crowd in a state of pure disbelief. This display of power in itself is a clear indication as to why Malevolence is playing arenas and why they should be headlining them soon.
Rating: 9/10
Sleep Token live @ Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff. Photo Credit: Serena Hill Photography
Just as the crowd have managed to calm themselves down, Sleep Token seemingly glide onto the stage. 95% of the band glide onto the stage – their guitarist seems to forget that the floor is slippery when you’re only wearing socks and bodyslams the floor before they even have chance to play a note, completely ruining all the intrigue and mystery that surrounds them. Donned in cloaks and masks, those in the audience who don’t know what they’re going for are understandably confused. It seems a massive departure from the artists they are sandwiched between, but that is exactly what it is. Their music is a mix between a chorus line that stands at the back of the stage and downtuned bursts of breakdowns – an odd mix that could only ever work for them. This confusion does little favours for them, and the crowd is subdued throughout. They finally find their feet two songs before the end, realising that they can move to their melodies, but it seems to be too little too late, as by the time they get into it, the cloaked figures are silently skulking back off stage the same way they came on.
Rating: 8/10
Architects live @ Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff. Photo Credit: Serena Hill Photography
By the time Architects make their entrance, the audience is raring to go. Their latest album, For Those That Wish To Exist, makes up most of the set. It’s an album that has broadened the horizons of their devoted fans and showed the range of talents among the band members themselves. Though this may be their first arena tour, Architects fit comfortably within a venue of this size and stature. They have no issue proving that they belong in these spaces as a now very well-established band. Many metal & rock bands have made this step to larger venues over the last few years, but Architects have proved that they are ready for this big step into the more mainstream success that they so desperately deserve.
Architects live @ Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff. Photo Credit: Serena Hill Photography
Vocalist Sam Carter flawlessly switches between aggression and emotion, serenading the crowd in some of their newer tracks then switching to a lesson in flawless metalcore vocals with older tracks like Nihilist. He hands us these moments along with ones of pure emotion, most importantly a paying tribute to guitarist Tom Searle with Gone With The Wind in true Architects fashion with a venue-wide mosh pit. Carter constantly thanks the crowd throughout the night, in clear disbelief that this band is playing arenas and of the sheer number of people that turn up to see them play. This gratefulness is a core theme of the night and by the time they are done they have exceeded all expectations put upon them. With an encore of latest single When We Were Young and lead single Animals, Architects close out the night with pure chaos and some of the strongest crowd reactions so far, proving once and for all that they are ready for bigger and better things.
Rating: 10/10
