Architects @ O2 Academy, Glasgow, 17 Jan

"We’ve been around for a long time and we’ve experienced a lot of shit," Architects frontman Sam Carter admits towards the end of his band's impassioned set. Despite consistently releasing bruising, genre-topping records year after year, the band has also experienced horrendous tragedy through the loss of guitarist and chief songwriter Tom Searle to skin cancer back in 2016. The band’s most recent release, Holy Hell, is an emphatic homage to Searle, his unfinished work with the band and the strength of the group – particularly his brother and drummer, Dan – for carrying on in his absence. Holy Hell as a record was, for many within the scene, the alternative album of the year in 2018, and so anticipation for their first tour following it could not be higher.

Before that, support comes from Aussie metalcore group Polaris and rugged Ohio punks Beartooth, who both deliver deadly sets. The former dive straight in with growling, sludgy tones, whereas Beartooth – a favourite for many judging by the vast movement in the pit – carry a rougher, rawer sound, matched with an admirable ability to write relentless hooks, supplying some of the most memorable choruses of the night.

Architects, in entering the stage to Death Is Not Defeat, undoubtedly establish themselves as a cut above the rest. The band stand on designated podiums across the stage, while Carter races back and forth, dishing out scathing screams as if he doesn’t even need to stop and breathe.

While much of the setlist is dominated by newer tracks, fans of slightly less recent material aren’t forgotten about either. Coarse tracks like Nihilist, A Match Made In Heaven and Downfall from All Our Gods Have Abandoned Us and the noise of Lost Forever // Lost Together’s pulse-raisers Naysayer and Gravedigger turn the middle part of the floor into a sea of flailing limbs.

The visuals for this tour are unabating, and emphatically enhance the group’s doom-filled sound. A giant screen with a white circle akin to their newest album cover displays post-apocalyptic imagery as the band punch through the best of their back catalogue. Add to that the choregraphed (and perfectly timed) roar of smoke canons and soaring flames on their boiling breakdowns, as well as some truly tricky laser work and flashy strobe lighting, and you’ve got a display worthy of an arena, let alone an Academy.

Yet, after a truly pulsating set, the most beautiful moment of the night comes at the end of Gone With the Wind. As the track concludes, a slow rising heart with the initials T.S. emerges and every pair of hands in the room are raised above heads to applaud Tom’s legacy. Carter, almost taken aback by such a powerful show of affection, pays thanks to his band – and in particular drummer Dan for his strength – before diving straight back into Doomsday, Tom’s final work with the band and a perfect way to end a faultless show.