Quite often, tragedy and loss result in some of the most passionate and inspired music -- and if you're a metal band, certainly some of the most vitriolic. Thus is the case with the debut album from
Architect, 2007's
All Is Not Lost. Some members of
Architect were previously in Word as a Virus -- a band that broke up after singer Shaun Luu passed away due to brain cancer. As a result, there is quite a bit of sonic venom detected throughout the album. Hardcore vocals, rubbery riffs, and death metal drumming are the key ingredients throughout, with the intensity only increasing as the album progresses. ~ Greg Prato