Following on from the celestial might of 2021’s ‘For Those That Wish To Exist’, Architects have returned to Earth more jaded than ever. While previous work balanced ethereal orchestral movements with colossal breakdowns, Architects’ new record is set to rile in the dirt. ‘the classic symptoms of a broken spirit’ is an industrial revolution, swapping out strings for gritty synths and sharp-tongued howls of spite.
With their new record out on Friday, and a November tour supporting Biffy Clyro on the cards, Architects are primed and ready to pounce. We had a chat with Sam Carter about ‘the classic symptoms of a broken spirit’, reinvention and the importance of starting vital discussions.
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So, looking at the record, the most obvious thing is how stripped back the cover is. It’s far less intricate than previous releases – and the logo has had a switch up too! What inspired the rebrand?
I think the artwork for ‘For Those That Wish To Exist‘ was so thought provoking. I loved it so much. But it just felt like if we did anything similar, it would be like imitating ourselves – and I really hate that. That mindset of “oh, something’s worked – let’s do it again”. The challenge of being in this band is trying to take the harder route; we try to come up with something new.
I read a few interviews with the Beatles’ old manager, and I remember him talking about the release of the ‘Sgt. Pepper’ album. They had a meeting about the front cover, and he was like “do whatever you want – this record is so good, you could sell it in a brown paper bag.” And I just spoke to the boys, and I was like “let’s just fucking try something really simple.” And I sent the idea to our group chat of literally just a white background, just the title of the record in the middle.
Yeah, let the record and the songs sell itself, almost…
Exactly. Like, we like the record enough that I think it makes sense. And then our friend Nick, who helped with the last few records, came up with the idea of the new symbol. I wanted it to just be super simple. It’s really minimal, but it’s a full kind of ‘rebrand’ … But yeah, I think it’s kind of fun to have such a grandiose record that visually looks so simple.
Speaking of the Beatles, it’s sounding like your own White Album!
Ha! I’m gonna start calling it The White Album now.
The Era Defining Architects record…
Ha, exactly, exactly. But, yeah, I think it’s important to have this change. Like, even down to the Architects logo font – we’d had that for so many years. This is a new start.
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So was the mindset to scrap everything and start afresh? Because it seems like some themes definitely crossover from the last record.
I think some songs on the last record lead into this new record, for sure. But, yeah, the last record was so orchestral, and we’d obviously done the ‘For Those That Wish To Exist at Abbey Road’ and re-orchestrated all the songs… We’ve done that, and we’ve re-done that kind of sound, you know? So we were straight up like – no strings. None of that, not this time. Let’s really lean into an industrial vibe, let’s rebuild our own sound, bring in older stuff we used to do. And it was nice – because, you know, you can sometimes become reliable on certain sounds. If you’re struggling with a chorus, it’s easy to tap into stuff you know has worked in the past.
I guess it’s pushing yourself to evolve – you don’t want to make the same album a million times!
Yeah. And we’re not pros at industrial, so it has felt like we’re learning. Because we don’t know the ‘rules’, we’re really free with it. It was all trial and error, and I think that’s where you can often come up with your best stuff. You’re not bound to the rules, it’s just what feels good. That’s why some bands can come out and their first record is their best – they’re totally free of any rules and expectations.
So you’re embracing that ‘new band’ kind of approach?
Almost – it’s exciting. You know, after a while, you’ve got to switch it up.
Even the video for ‘Tear Gas’ felt very new for you – definitely a change! You often come across quite serious, it was nice to see you all in those awful wigs…
Like you say, we’ve always come across as a very serious band. And I think we’ve had a few very hard years, which have maybe made us come across even moreso. You know, we’ve wanted to come across in a way that is respectful towards Tom. But, as people, we’ve always been quite silly with each other. And I think, kind of linking with that mindset of rebuilding our sound, we had to realise that we’re not all that serious – it’s been fun to start this new era with a mindset of being experimental and free with ourselves. We’ve done a million ‘serious’ video shoots, so it was just so fun to shoot and act and be all dressed up. I think some people have said that they hear a different thing in the song after seeing the video… I think some people will think that we sound like like a boyband or something now because it’s quite funny, jokey video. But yeah, this whole era is about experimenting and doing what makes us happy, what makes us feel good.
Let’s think about the record itself then – what tracks are you excited for people to hear?
I can’t wait for ‘split the bone’ – that was definitely one where we just felt really free in the studio. Especially coming into the middle eighth of that song; it sort of sounds like the track is going somewhere, but then we just take it somewhere else. And I also really like ‘burn down my house’, even if it is super, super fucking depressing – but it’s important. It’s really laser focused on honesty, exploring depression and anxiety and sort of not wanting to be here anymore. I think that’s one that will hopefully start some discussions.
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As a band you’re very into starting discussions – you don’t shy away from a topic. I noticed quite a few crossovers with ideas of the internet’s toxicity around discussion on ‘doomscrolling’ and the last record’s ‘Discourse Is Dead’…
Oh yes, there is definitely a link. Theme and lyric-wise, we feel the same. We’re just a lot more jaded, a lot more 2022. Like with ‘doomscrolling’, that’s very 2022. Because it’s fucking hard to look away – wherever you look, there is bad news. But it’s important to be able to disconnect from that stuff; it’s easy to feel defeated with all this information.
Speaking just as myself, I’m very vocal about certain things that I think are important. But I also know that sometimes I feel a bit defeated, and I know I can’t involve myself – sometimes I don’t have the strength to comment. And, sometimes, I’m just not an expert, so I know I shouldn’t weigh in on a certain issue. It can be exhausting because there are lots of people that think they ARE experts in everything – sometimes they’ll say “you’re not educated on this”, so you’ll link them to something, and they just wont read it anyway because they think they know all the facts…
Oh, of course. You HAVE to have a degree to chime in on discourse, Sam…
People seem to think “I have a Twitter account, so that means I am qualified to discuss this.” And I’ll just be like, I’m walking my dog, I don’t want to get into an argument on Twitter right now!? So yeah, I think I just try and talk about things when I know enough, and I feel strong enough to do it. And I think a lot of the things that that I’m involved with and care about are quite like emotionally exhausting – animal rights and climate change issues can really affect you. You know, there’s just so much to consider. We’re told to recycle properly, even though actual big corporations that are responsible for like 80% of the greenhouse gases. Even in Brighton the other week we couldn’t even go in the sea because there was literal shit in the sea…. But sometimes you have to just be like, I can’t do that today. I can’t feel like that today.
Linking with the last record, this one also explores these kind of ideas. We’re so hyper focused on trying to be better and do what’s good for the environment and for this world that we live in, that the stress of it is all encompassing. Like, on ‘living is killing us’, we’re worrying about the environment… and, you know, it haunts you. You’re wondering how long we have left, of it we’re you’re doing the right thing, eating the right staff, you know.
I guess the record has its message about those ‘classic symptoms of a broken spirit’ whilst also being very cathartic…
Yeah, I think that’s where the record serves its purpose… And sometimes it can help bring people together when it feels like some other friends just don’t give a fuck.
Yeah, the fans you’ve surmounted definitely care about the topics and themes you’re passionate about!
Exactly. Sometimes you can feel super alone in what you’re going through, or what you’re thinking. But it seems like the fans have our backs. So yeah, it’s good to have the record to let it all out, and it’s good to know that we can share it with people.
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‘the classic symptoms of a broken spirit’ is out on October 21st.
Words: Emily Swingle
Photo Credit: Ed Mason
