Photo of Architects by Colin Williams
British metalcore band Architects crossed the pond this spring and began the twelve-night Broken Mirror Tour in the US. The tour kicked off in late April in Nevada and wove through modest venues as well as enormous DWP festivals (Welcome to Rockville & Sonic Temple) with direct support from upcoming alt-metal band Holywatr.
Midwestern Architects fans arrived early before their show at The Hawthorn in a queue that wrapped around the block nearly to the end of 22nd St., eager to hear new music off of Architects latest studio album The Sky, The Earth & All Between, released in early 2025.
Gaining traction and attention in the rock/metal industry, Holywatr were the only opening act before Architects on Tuesday night. Inspired by bands such as Deftones, Holywatr warmed the crowd up with music from their various singles, three studio albums, and EPs.
Holywatr’s sound is full of atmospheric melodies and heavy breakdowns. Alternating between guttural screams and clear harmonization, lead vocalist Patrick (a.k.a. Sir Mr.Holy) captivated fans in attendance and undoubtedly created several hundreds more throughout their eleven-song setlist.
Holywatr’s sound feels like Deftones meets Badflower and/or Highly Suspect, with deep rumbling distortion breakdowns and dynamically contrasting vocals. Despite a brief interruption due to a possible medical emergency in the audience, the band completed their set with two of their most popular 2024 singles, “Nail Polish” and “Loose Ends.”
With the crowd at The Hawthorn adequately primed, Architects took the stage on Tuesday to a packed house. Front man Sam Carter had puppies on the brain. Carter and the band visited the Humane Society of Missouri earlier in the day, praising their mission to rescue animals and encouraged the audience to consider adopting a pet.
With an extensive 13-song (+2 encore) setlist, Architects leaned heavily into their most recent 2025 album The Sky, The Earth & All Between, playing most of their biggest hits such as “Everything Ends,” “Seeing Red,” “Blackhole,” “Curse,” and of course “Broken Mirror” throughout the night.
Another favored album on the setlist Tuesday night was the band’s 2021 For Those Who Wish To Exist, performing songs “Meteor,” “Impermanence,” “Black Lungs,” and finishing the night and encore with one of their most popular songs, “Animals.”
Architects have exploded into the mainstream in the more recent years since the band’s conception in 2004. Evolving their chaotic “mathcore” rhythms and songs into a more radio friendly and modern alt-metal/metalcore sound.
Lead vocalist Sam Carter has arguably one of the best vocal ranges, singing melodic cleans, visceral screams, and deep growls seemingly effortlessly.
Architects showed up Tuesday for the Midwest metalheads and we were not disappointed. The band heads overseas on a months long festival run after Saturday, but their American fans hope to see them back stateside soon. | Colin Williams
