The Famine - The Architects of Guilt

Artist: The Famine
Album: The Architects of Guilt
Release Date: 2/15/11
Label: Solid State Records

This is gonna be one tough album to beat. It's only February, but I don't think anyone will be able to make an album that will be able to compete with this one for the top spot on my year end list. With The Architects of Guilt, The Famine have proved the axiom of good things that come to those who who wait. Weathering the loss of front-man Kris McCaddon and a devastating fire that destroyed their recording space, their gear, and their previous recordings for the album, The Famine also showed a great deal of perseverance and mental toughness.

Musically, The Architects of Guilt is a full-grown beast of a metal album, with rapid-fire double bass drumming, pummeling blast beats, and quirky, disjointed guitar solos abound. Vocally, Nick Nowell is a much more dynamic vocalist than the departed McCaddon. Nick transitions from high shrieks to deep grunts and growls, then back again effortlessly. In my opinion, they give the songs both added depth and that much more of a brutal edge.

Lyrically, The Famine give an extreme tongue lashing to both the church, for their abuse and distortion of God's Word for financial and political gain, and the political and military leaders for doing the same at the expense of the people. However, those who buy into the mass deception are not exempt, and are let have it as well.

While every single song is amazing, I do have a few personal favorites. "The New Hell," with its explosive death metal sound and dueling vocals at the end of the song, "Ad Mortem," which has well done alternating vocals, a nice guitar solo, and a very well done breakdown, and "VII The Fraudulent," which has a nice groove and great vocal delivery. Both "Turner Classic Diaries" and "A Fragile Peace" are standouts as well.

Overall: The Architects of Guilt is a perfect example of brutal death metal. The songwriting, musicianship, and production are all top notch. In comparison to their previous effort, The Raven and The Reaping, The Famine have improved immensely. The Architects of Guilt is heavier, faster, and more cohesive than its predecessor, which was a great album itself. This is one of the best, if not the best, collection of brutal, modern death metal I've heard. The Architects of Guilt will also be the first album to get a perfect score from me. Well done guys. Bravo.

Rating: 10/10

Reviewed by Matthew Alexander

Tracklisting:

1. The New Hell
2. Ad Mortem
3. We Are The Wolves
4. Turner Classic Diaries
5. Bigger Cages, Longer Chains!
6. The Crown and The Holy See
7. VII The Fraudulent
8. A Pavement of Good Intentions
9. A Fragile Peace
10. Pyrithion House
11. To The Teeth

(Buy Here)