Label - Nuclear Blast
Release Date - 25th June 2021
Metalcore is a heady drug. Enough ‘heaviness’ from the metal/hardcore to satisfy the most hardened user with soaring choruses to provide euphoric high. The lack of development its 15 years of being surely means that we are seeing the final days of the genre. Light the Torch features a bona fide metalcore legend in Howard Jones, previously at the vocal reins of several of Killswitch Engage’s most successful albums. Despite band, personnel and name changes (LTT were formerly known as ‘Devil You Know’, but changed following a legal wrangle with ex-member John Sankey) and well publicised health problems over the years, he retains one of the best vocals in the business. On this incarnation of LTT he has a strong supporting cast, Francesco Artusato as usual on guitars and newly including Whitechapel’s Alex Rudinger on drums and Bleeding Through’s Ryan Wombacher on bass.
The opening four tracks are in essence excellent metalcore tracks, showcasing Jones’ vocals and provide potential for academy-sized sing-alongs. Energy and memorability have always been a friend of this style of music, and are well executed by seasoned campaigners in LTT. Modern production tricks (vis-a-vis BMTH) and keys/synths are employed to make this record sound fresh, notably on Wilting in the Light and Death of Me. There are few bad moments on the record on the while and it doesn’t particularly run out of steam towards the end. The now obligatory 80s pop cover Sign Your Name is a stinker and can be safely skipped. Overall, there are no great innovations here but this record will certainly rewards the listener with some upbeat, commercial metalcore with repeat listens.
Whilst the street value of metalcore has been plummeting from years of over abundance, a well-made album still can hit the spot.
7/10
Ven
FFO – KSE
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