Watch: Sam Carter reveals Architects made 'For Those That Wish to Exist' in secret
See Sam's full interview with Loz Guest
Last updated 12th Aug 2021
Architects frontman Sam Carter says the band made their chart-topping ninth studio album ‘For Those That Wish to Exist’ in secret - and not even their record label Epitaph knew about it.
Shortly before the phenomenal album was released last month, Sam Carter caught up with Kerrang! Radio’s Loz Guest for a wide-ranging chat via the wonders of Zoom.
During the interview, Sam said that most of the searing record was written pre-Covid-19 and the pandemic didn’t shape ‘For Those That Wish to Exist’ musically.
“The majority of it was done way before (the pandemic), especially all the writing,” Sam said. “And we'd always plan to be writing in that period anyway, so it didn't massively change it. Lyrically it didn't change it either because a lot of that was sorted out before.
“It changed the way we recorded, because we recorded during the first lockdown. And we all had to record separately - like me and Dan (Searle) would record in Brighton together. Ali (Dean), Josh (Middleton)and Adam (Christianson) recorded their parts at home, and then they were sent to a studio and revamped.
“So, that was interesting like being apart from everybody. But because we've done so much work on the demos, it already felt like that sort of group camaraderie was there within the record and we all just knew what we needed to do.
“It was a shame to not be there for Dan when he was tracking the drums as well, because I used to play drums so I love being there for that – me and him manage to geek out and stuff - but again so much work was done in pre-production that you know he's gonna go and smash it.”
When Loz said he liked the way it seemed as though it was done in secret, Sam replied: “I always like that side of things (being clandestine). If you start talking about writing or when you're in the studio, it's like a year until it comes out and people are like ‘okay, where is this record that you've been promising us?!’
“I think this way you sort of have this freedom of like ‘well, if the record’s not done, it's not done.’ There's no time, there's no questions. We didn't even tell Epitaph we were doing it! We just did it!
“We were like ‘Here’s the record’, and they're like ‘Whoa! Okay, right, okay thanks very much!’ And we're like ‘We want to release on this day!’, which is amazing.
“I think it’s amazing that we have a label that supports us so much and feels more like a family. The individuals that work there are so amazing. But yeah, I love that, I love ‘Here's the song, here's the record.' Normally it's ‘here's the tour, here's the video, here's the pre orders.’
“I like it to just be like, out of nowhere that's like a massive Architects firework.”
Check out the full interview with Sam Carter below where he also discusses his beloved beloved Manchester United potentially buying Aston Villa's Jack Grealish, Architects’ Royal Albert Hall live stream, the future of live music post-pandemic, and how individuals and governments can make changes to help us all.
Watch Architects’ Sam Carter chat to Kerrang! Radio:
‘For Those That Wish To Exist’ is not only Architects’ first chart-topper but also their first Top 10 album in the UK.
Their previous highest charting record was 2016’s ‘All Our Gods Have Abandoned Us’ which reached number 15 on the Official Chart. 2014's 'Lost Forever // Lost Together' and 2018's 'Holy Hell' peaked at no.16 and no.18 respectively.
'For Those That Wish To Exist' Track-Listing:
Do You Dream of Armageddon?
Black Lungs
Giving Blood
Discourse Is Dead
Dead Butterflies
An Ordinary Extinction
Impermanence ft. Winston McCall (Parkway Drive)
Flight Without Feathers
Little Wonder ft. Mike Kerr (Royal Blood)
Animals
Libertine
Goliath ft. Simon Neil (Biffy Clyro)
Demi God
Meteor
Dying Is Absolutely Safe