Hollow Crown

Hollow Crown is the third studio album by British metalcore band Architects. It was recorded at Outhouse Studios, Reading. On their YouTube channel, there are several videos documenting the band's recording sessions. The album was leaked on the internet on 12 January 2009. It was officially released on 26 January 2009 through United by Fate, Distort and Century Media Records. The album was produced by John Mitchell and Ben Humphreys. Kerrang! magazine gave it their maximum KKKKK rating.

This article is about the 2009 album by Architects. For other uses, see The Hollow Crown.

Hollow Crown
Studio album by
Architects
Released26 January 2009
RecordedJuly 2008
StudioOuthouse Studios, Reading, Berkshire, UK
Genre
Length41:10
Label
Producer
Architects studio album chronology
Ruin
(2007)		 Hollow Crown
(2009)		 The Here and Now
(2011)

Background and recording

The vocals for the album were recorded in 14 hours.[1] On 18 July 2010, it was announced from the band's Facebook account that they would be re-releasing Hollow Crown (in the UK only) as a deluxe edition on 16 August 2010. The deluxe edition was to include a DVD documentary on their previous 18 months of touring/ recording and a remix of the title track "Hollow Crown" by the guitarist and drummer Tom and Dan Searle.

Composition

Style and theme

This album marks a change in guitar tuning for the second time, now using C# standard on a majority of the tracks (drop B tuning being used on Ruin) and an alternate tuning similar to C# standard, but with the low C# tuned to G#. This tuning is featured on the tracks "Early Grave" and "Borrowed Time". Also, they use a 7 string baritone (ESP LTD SC-607B Stephen Carpenter Signature) on the track "Dead March", which is tuned to drop A.

Stylistically, the band considered Hollow Crown as a natural progression from its predecessor.[2] Hollow Crown album displays a significant increase in clean vocals from Sam Carter, as well as a change in his harsh vocals, from the lower register on Ruin to more high-pitched screams. Also in this album, there is a further departure from the band's mathcore roots, utilising more traditional song structures, simplified riffs and more melodic musicianship,[2] as well as a fair usage of keyboards and drum programming.

Carter has stated that the lyrics on the album are of a personal nature. He has said that he wrote about everyday life and things that happen to him, these are as simple as sitting in a car with friends or hating girls.[3]

The album title has had different value to each member of the band.[4] Dan Searle in interview was asked why the band gave it the title and he stated to him it refers to "those people you meet in life that earn nothing, but are given everything."[4] During an interview in October 2009, vocalist and lyricist Sam Carter stated that the inspiration for him when picking the name was because despite the band's hard working nature they never seemed to progress, saying "we've always felt like we were a band that worked really, really hard and we never got appreciation for it".[3]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AbsolutePunk(83%)[5]
AllMusic[6]
AltSounds89%[7]
Alter The Press![8]
Exclaim!(favourable)[9]
Kerrang![10]
Rock Sound8/10[11]

The album was well received by critics. Kerrang! magazine described it as a "carefully layered and brilliantly crafted [record]".[10]

In 2012, British publication Rock Sound added Architects' album Hollow Crown into their 101 Modern Classics placed at number 76. They considered the album more of a classic than The Offspring's Americana and Bullet for My Valentine's The Poison. Stating that "back when they were young, hungry and out to impress, Architects wrote this face-melting collection of rippers and made the world sit up."[12]

When Sam Carter was asked in 2018 whether the band would re-visit the album in full in-line for its ten-year anniversary he was dismissive, saying "I don't see that us as that band. Also it would never be the original line-up, it would never be what it was. I love Hollow Crown because I was a really angry 18 year old that didn't know how to look after his voice. And that was part of the charm to it."[1]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Sam Carter; all music is composed by Architects

No.TitleLength
1."Early Grave"3:32
2."Dethroned"3:06
3."Numbers Count for Nothing"3:50
4."Follow the Water"3:40
5."In Elegance"4:16
6."We're All Alone"3:01
7."Borrowed Time"2:30
8."Every Last Breath"3:28
9."One of These Days"2:34
10."Dead March"3:47
11."Left with a Last Minute"2:57
12."Hollow Crown"4:24
Total length:41:10
Bonus track
No.TitleLength
13."To the Death" (2008 re-recording; original version from Nightmares)2:38

Personnel

Architects

  • Sam Carter – lead vocals
  • Tom Searle – lead guitar, keyboards, programming
  • Tim Hillier-Brook – rhythm guitar
  • Alex "Ali" Dean – bass
  • Dan Searle – drums, percussion, programming

Additional personnel

  • John Mitchell – production, engineering, mixing
  • Ben Humphreys – production, engineering
  • Matt O'Grady – engineering
  • Alan Douches – mastering
  • Leander Gloversmith – management
  • Janalea Hoffman and George Vallee – publicity
  • Melanie Schmidt and Ray Harkins – A&R
  • Empty Design – artwork

Charts
Chart (2009) Peak
positions
UK Albums (OCC)[13] 117
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[14] 5

References
  1. Danni Leivers (9 February 2018). "Make A Difference: Architects' Sam Carter Speaks To Clash". Clash Music. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  2. "EXCLUSIVE – ARCHITECTS INTERVIEW". Rush On Rock. 2 October 2010. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  3. "Architects UK – Sam Carter, Ali Dean". Way Too Loud. Xtremely Media. 26 October 2009. Archived from the original on 6 April 2010. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  4. Richard G. (September 2008). "Architects | Interviews | Lords Of Metal". Lords Of Metal ezine. Retrieved 21 July 2012. It's called 'Hollow Crown' which has a bunch of different meanings to it, depending on who you ask in the band! To me it refers to those people you meet in life that earn nothing, but are given everything. Our band has earned everything that we have, I'm really proud of that and I think it shows in our fans. We have really loyal fans and I think when some bands just get plucked from myspace and signed to a major it can bring them a great deal of success but really it means nothing, no one cares two years later.
  5. "Architects - Hollow Crown - Album Review - AbsolutePunk.net". AbsolutePunk. 17 February 2009. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  6. Alex Henderson. "Hollow Crown - Architects : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards : AllMusic". Allmusic. (Rovi Corporation). Retrieved 15 July 2012.
  7. Jack Stovin (17 March 2009). "Architects - Hollow Crown [Album] Century Media". AltSounds. Archived from the original on 21 April 2009. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  8. Selina Christoforou. "Alter The Press!: Album Review: Architects - Hollow Crown". Alter The Press!. (Spin Media). Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  9. Dave Synyard (March 2009). "Architects - Hollow Crown". Exclaim!. Toronto, Ontario, M6G 1M3. Retrieved 12 July 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  10. Coare, Sam (29 March 2014). James McMahon (ed.). "Exit: Night Enter: Light". Kerrang!. Bauer Media Group (1506). ISSN 0262-6624.
  11. Kevin Stewart-Panko (6 January 2009). "Architects - Hollow Crown | Reviews | Rock Sound". Rock Sound. (Freeway Press). Retrieved 15 July 2012.
  12. "Rock Sound's 101 Modern Classics: 101 - 75". Rock Sound. Freeway Press Inc. 20 June 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
  13. "Chart Log UK 1994–2010: A – Azzido Da Bass". zobbel.de. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
  14. "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. 1 February 2009. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
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