Holy Hell
by Architects
  • Record Label: Epitaph
  • Release Date: Nov 9, 2018
User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 139 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 125 out of 139
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 139
  3. Negative: 12 out of 139
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this album

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. MetalMayhem_STL
    Nov 9, 2018
    9
    While It's difficult to follow up All Our Gods Have Abandoned Us, they certainly gave it their best. The filler in the album is limited, with the weakest track being the title track. Punishing and melodic riffs cover the album, while Sam Carter continues to prove he is one of the best metal-core has to offer. A haunting tribute to Tom, and a staple of the modern metal-core sound.
  2. bsmith199731
    Nov 10, 2018
    10
    Arguably their best album to date, it is a level of sonic transcendence that only Architects could provide. To manage to temper loss and suffering into something that is just so well put together is a fitting tribute to Tom. It'd be hard to name a weakest track on the album, but on a level of personal taste it is probably Damnation. Strongest to choose is even harder, Death Is Not Defeat,Arguably their best album to date, it is a level of sonic transcendence that only Architects could provide. To manage to temper loss and suffering into something that is just so well put together is a fitting tribute to Tom. It'd be hard to name a weakest track on the album, but on a level of personal taste it is probably Damnation. Strongest to choose is even harder, Death Is Not Defeat, Mortal After All and Holy Hell are all worthy contenders, but the best two must be A Wasted Hymn and Doomsday.

    Architects have surpassed themselves yet again and Sam Carter has confirmed his place among the elite vocalists of the metal world. You can almost touch the malice and hurt in his voice. Get ready for the tour in the new year, as it is not one you will forgive yourself for missing.    … Expand
  3. Scamp4553
    Aug 1, 2019
    10
    One of the best metalcore albums of all time if not the very best. That is insane for a recent release but it's true. Definitely a recommended album.
  4. Andremax
    Nov 29, 2018
    8
    Holy Hell isn't really an Art Rock album, but it has a lot of refinement to be a Metalcore's stuff.
  5. RoachReviews303
    Apr 16, 2020
    9
    Ah the band who's known for it's signature "BLEH" & their one of a kind atmosphere's. This is another one of those groups who's already solidified itself in it's genre for years, but have only been in my life for less than two. While being on a heavy purge of obtaining new music, I came across the music video for "Hereafter". Not even 30 seconds into the tune & I knew that this was my newAh the band who's known for it's signature "BLEH" & their one of a kind atmosphere's. This is another one of those groups who's already solidified itself in it's genre for years, but have only been in my life for less than two. While being on a heavy purge of obtaining new music, I came across the music video for "Hereafter". Not even 30 seconds into the tune & I knew that this was my new favorite song & band. I grabbed the entire album soon after & had a very magical experience because of it. The album has elements & sounds unlike any other album i've ever heard. The chants, the chorus's, the screams. The synths, the riffs, the breakdowns. All of it is intensely intoxicating. When i finished listening to the album in whole for the first time, I was blown away. I truly didn't know what had just happened to me. I was so enticed & entranced by the quality of the material being presented to me, I had to go for another round. The second time around was only better than the first. That's what happens when you are in love with something as special as Holy Hell. I can put any song from the album on and i will always feel something & enjoy every second of it. That's refreshing for me to be able to find something of that nature, in a scene that is apparently "dying out". For lots of outsiders, it may seem like the genre is diminishing or not evolving or not popular, but it's far from the fact of the matter. In the last 5 years alone, metal/metalcore has taken a new path & has reached new levels of innovation. Holy Hell is one of the finer examples of this being so & that still rings true to this day. it's been close to 2 years since i first heard anything from Architects & it has shown me a new light within a realm of music I have already been very accustomed to. I find myself putting the album on whenever i truly need to escape & get lost. The fact that a band, such as Architects, can create an amazingly through-the-roof creative album & have it as consistent as it is, shows that the genre is anything but "dying out". If anything, it's better than it ever has been.

    Standout Tracks: "Hereafter" "Royal Beggars" "Holy Hell" "Mortal After All" "Death Is Not Defeat"
    Worse Track: "The Seventh Circle"

    Badges/Honors:
    - New Favorite Album
    - New Favorite Artist
    - Must-Have Album
    - Best Music Video: "Hereafter"
    - Best Album Artwork
    - Best New Song: "Hereafter"
    - Top 10 Metal Album
    - Beginning To End
    - Best Breakdown: "Holy Hell"
    - New Favorite Artist: Architects

    Listen, Learn & Love
    - RoachFM    … Expand
  6. ReyalsfoSwodahs
    Nov 14, 2018
    10
    A brutally honest return to form. Though Tom Searle is no longer with us, his music and impact carry on in what has no doubt become the best metalcore band in the scene: Architects.
  7. OmegaTheMan
    Nov 13, 2018
    10
    Arguably the most important record produced by Architects, Holy Hell already set high expectations with its singles "Doomsday", "Hereafter", "Royal Beggars" and "Modern Misery". The whole record is dealing with the loss of founding member and former guitarist Tom Searle who passed away 2016. The biggest challenge for the band was to full fill the expectations of their fans because TomArguably the most important record produced by Architects, Holy Hell already set high expectations with its singles "Doomsday", "Hereafter", "Royal Beggars" and "Modern Misery". The whole record is dealing with the loss of founding member and former guitarist Tom Searle who passed away 2016. The biggest challenge for the band was to full fill the expectations of their fans because Tom wrote most of the music on previous records. In my opinion Architects managed to produce a record worthy of Toms legacy, with great sound, great lyrics and very good athmosphere.… Expand
  8. ElCucuy
    Jan 26, 2019
    10
    To be honest, I was afraid that after the death of the guitarist who wrote almost all the music in the group, a recession is inevitable, and there were no special expectations from the album, but what a surprise it was when listening to this album, it turned out to be even better than the previous one, surprising.
  9. SaI_Reviews
    Dec 4, 2018
    10
    It's really difficult to cope with the loss of a band member and best friend, but Architects coped with the loss of Tom Searle in the most creative and appropriate way. That shows in tracks such as 'Doomsday, 'Modern Misery' and 'Death is Not Defeat.' There is not a song I can consider bad nor even 'meh' in that standard. A really solid album from front to back.
  10. haej
    Jan 25, 2019
    10
    While some bands evolve in rather flimsy manner, often changing their style completely in an attempt "to find something new", Architects proves once again that the genre of metalcore is not dead. Losing Tom could put a stop to the whole band, but this pain was instead used to fuel the entirety of this record. Memorable riffs, emotional singing and most importantly constant andWhile some bands evolve in rather flimsy manner, often changing their style completely in an attempt "to find something new", Architects proves once again that the genre of metalcore is not dead. Losing Tom could put a stop to the whole band, but this pain was instead used to fuel the entirety of this record. Memorable riffs, emotional singing and most importantly constant and never-stopping head banging.

    If a band "changes their sound" we can all hope they follow Architects. Without a doubt, an album of the century.    … Expand
  11. JoseofCatarina
    Oct 7, 2020
    10
    When this album was released, I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it. It was my very first time hearing Architects and I was instantly hooked by the instrumentals, and the vocals. The instrumentals are a symphony of down tuned instruments that infuse elements of both Metalcore and Djent, and even from more progressive genre's of metal. This album stands out by instrumentals alone, butWhen this album was released, I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it. It was my very first time hearing Architects and I was instantly hooked by the instrumentals, and the vocals. The instrumentals are a symphony of down tuned instruments that infuse elements of both Metalcore and Djent, and even from more progressive genre's of metal. This album stands out by instrumentals alone, but that isn't where Holy Hell shines. This album shines in the vocal, lyric and messaging departments. The pained delivery of these powerful vocals that convey a sound of hurting, longing, and desperation breathe so much life into extremely heartfelt and meaningful lyrics. This album attempts to delivers a certain messaging that couldn't be delivered by any other means, and it succeeds. This messaging of depression, anxiety, and addiction can be so cathartic at times, and as cliche'd as it sounds, it could even be life saving.

    I waited a long time since hearing this album to see how it would age before reviewing it, and not only did it age extremely well, but it would go on to be an extremely influential work of art that to this day, is still being ripped off by many bands. A true masterpiece, and a must listen for metal lovers of all genres.    … Expand
  12. Peacock106
    Oct 3, 2019
    10
    Best metal album of a generation, one of the best metal albums ever made. So much passion
  13. KimasV
    Nov 26, 2019
    10
    One of the best metalcore,that i ever heard,perfect vocal,nice lyrics and this guitar.....
  14. Rodenco
    Jun 20, 2020
    10
    It really surprised me how good the album was after they lost the main songwriter of the band ( RIP T//S). Is one of the best albums for Sam as the vocalist, I really feel like his voice is just getting better and better over time. The level of production is just as good as AOGHAU, even though I kinda missed the experimentation with sound that that album had. Also lyrically it's not theirIt really surprised me how good the album was after they lost the main songwriter of the band ( RIP T//S). Is one of the best albums for Sam as the vocalist, I really feel like his voice is just getting better and better over time. The level of production is just as good as AOGHAU, even though I kinda missed the experimentation with sound that that album had. Also lyrically it's not their best work, but I don't mind it since is an album dedicated to Tom and the feelings that surrounded his death. That being said you can feel the passion that the band put in the creation of every single track, they really wanted it to be special and a true love letter to Tom and his legacy and I think they achieved it.… Expand
  15. badassuncaoleo
    Jun 7, 2023
    10
    the best album as ever listen, soundly perfect and the atmosphere is impeccable, just 10 of 10!
  16. Peachboiii
    Aug 26, 2022
    9
    The second greatest album of the "greatness trilogy" as i call it, being HH, All Our Gods and Lost Forever. Architects at its best.
  17. Xathiahs
    Jan 21, 2022
    8
    A very good album, but it follows the footsteps of the previous work, so there's nothing in new in sound and riffs.

Awards & Rankings

3
#3 Best Album of 2018
75
#75 Most Discussed Album of 2018

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
90

Universal acclaim - based on 8 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. Q Magazine
    Nov 20, 2018
    80
    It's as an articulation of grief that this record speaks most powerfully. [Jan 2019, p.106]
  2. Sputnikmusic
    Nov 12, 2018
    70
    Architects have never shied away from clarion calls to action, but this is the band at their most inspiring and effectual, filling in the empty space left behind after a monumental loss. It is an epitaph that nonetheless suggests a bright future ahead.
    Read full review
  3. DIY Magazine
    Nov 9, 2018
    80
    It’s powerfully honest and refreshingly unfiltered, beautifully crafted and distinctive. Most importantly of all it carries the legacy of Tom Searle, and of the remaining Architects members, forward.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »