ALBUM REVIEW: No Eternity In Gold – Like Moths To Flames

If one sound defines the last decade of metalcore, it’s the technical riffing and huge choruses of a band like LIKE MOTHS TO FLAMES. While neither the first, nor the most popular, they have nevertheless remained a consistent feature of the 2010s metalcore landscape. From 2011’s When We Don’t Exist to 2017’s Dark Divine, they’ve put out consistent, well-produced, often crushing records. Now, they enter their second decade as a band with their fifth full-length, No Eternity In Gold.

It’s clear from the beginning that this is very much business as usual for LIKE MOTHS TO FLAMES. Opener The Anatomy Of Evil swiftly grabs listeners by the throat with its hard-hitting technical riffs. Vocalist Chris Roetter gives a strong performance, flitting between savage screams and epic melodic cleans. The next couple of tracks continue in much the same vein. Both feature pummelling verses with Roetter‘s harsher vocal stylings, combined with more expansive melodic choruses. By the time we get to fourth track Flourescent White, which is a little different but not by much, new listeners will probably feel like they have LIKE MOTHS TO FLAMES sussed out. The songs are all good, but they can feel a little derivative at times.

Despite this, there’s no denying that LIKE MOTHS TO FLAMES have always known their way round a massive vocal hook. No Eternity In Gold is no exception. Third track Burn In Water, Drown In Flame’s massive chorus line of “Where did it all go wrong? Is it all for nothing? Send me a sign to put me out of my suffering” feels particularly huge. It’s guaranteed to be a big sing-along when performed live, as are the choruses of seventh track Killing What’s Underneath and album closer Spiritual Eclipse, among others.

Fifth track God Complex provides the record’s first real highlight. The song features stabs of djenty riffs amid driving distorted bass and atmospheric ominous guitars. It’s enough of a shift that even the obligatory massive clean chorus hits a little differently when it does come in. The track ends on another display of hyper-technical, crushing riffing for one of the heaviest moments on the record.

After this, the next few tracks are more of a return to normal fare. They’re all well crafted, well produced and technically impressive, especially YOTM, but again none feel particularly new. Fortunately, LIKE MOTHS TO FLAMES change things up on ninth track Demon Of My Own. This one is easily the most dynamic song on the record. On it the band create a particularly ominous atmosphere which backs Roetter‘s melancholy cleans. It still features another massive chorus, and Roetter does opt for more abrasive vocals at one point, but it definitely shows a side of the band we haven’t heard before.

Demon Of My Own is also enough of a palette cleanser to help the album’s final two tracks land well. Selective Sacrifice is quite a fast paced track, with more hard-hitting breakdowns and big choruses. The already mentioned Spiritual Eclipse ends the album on a high note. As well as it’s memorable chorus, it shows LIKE MOTHS TO FLAMES at arguably their most savage of all. There’s plenty more punishing metalcore, and the spaced out stabs of the closing breakdown couldn’t be more moshpit-ready.

One other feature of No Eternity In Gold that’s worth mentioning is the impressive lead guitar work. While there are moments of awesome leads on LIKE MOTHS TO FLAMES‘ previous releases, it feels like they’ve really gone for it on this record. The lead work on eighth track A Servant Of Plague definitely deserves a shout in particular. On many others, the leads add elements of soaring melody or distant atmospherics. All in all, they’re a welcome addition to the band’s already high standard of musicality.

Ultimately, how listeners will feel about No Eternity In Gold will likely come down to what they expect from metalcore. If you’re a sucker for technical, crushing breakdowns and big sing-along choruses, then you’ll definitely enjoy this. If you prefer things a little more unpredictable and unhinged, this album is unlikely to be the one for you. Either way, No Eternity In Gold is a record which reveals a band who are still among the best for what they do.

Rating: 7/10

No Eternity In Gold is set for release on October 30th via UNFD.

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