10 Bands Who Weren’t Afraid To Change Their Sound

One of the success stories of the 2000s metal-core scene in the UK, Brighton’s Architects have been going strong since their debut album Nightmares in 2006. Diligently plugging away and rising up the festival bills with every album, they also found success with tours across the pond in the USA as one of the most in-demand heavy UK bands of the modern era.

But tragedy struck in 2016 when founding member, songwriter and guitarist Tom Searle died after a battle with cancer. They released the album Holy Hell in 2018, which was largely written by Searle and served as an emotionally sombre and melancholic tribute. But what came next surprised fans, and with their 2021 album For Those That Wish To Exist (the first to be penned without Searle’s input), Architects created a far more commercial sounding record.

Vocalist Sam Carter sang more than ever in place of his usual screams, and with a strong experimentation with synths and strings on the singles Animals and Dead Butterflies, the sound was a real diversion from their heavier past. However, the release was a springboard for the bands most successful commercial period, providing them with their highest ever charting record, whilst also seeing them embark on their first headline UK arena tour.