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7.5
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Having started at the beginning of the last decade as one of the many interchangeable groups of the second wave of melodic metalcore, Like Moths To Flames have been able to evolve significantly over the past couple of albums, veering towards an increasingly mature proposal (as indeed can also be seen from the refined cover artwork) and emotional in the good sense of the term, definitively distancing itself from the adolescent refrains of Vans Warped Tour.
“The Cycles Of Trying To Cope” presents itself as an inner journey of the singer Chris Roetter divided into four parts – “LIMBO”, “FRACTURE”, “DISSOCIATE” and “MELANCHOLIA” – all united by a decidedly intricate riffing and drum fills complex, in line with the djent contaminations that are so popular today; this is combined with sporadic moments of lightening in the form of clean choruses or more atmospheric passages, useful for letting the listener catch his breath between one rhythmic storm and another.
Far from being pigeonholed into a predefined formula, convoluted songs like “Angel Sweep”, “Paradigm Trigger” or “To Know Is To Die”, thanks also to a lyrical concept halfway between self-analysis and the search for an entity superior, they follow ‘metaphysical’ metalcore groups like Currents or Polaris.
Let’s also add to the calculation the technique of August Burns Red (“Dissociative Being”, “The Depths I Roam”) and the emotional impact of the best Imminence and The Amity Affliction in the more melodic moments (“Gone Without A Trace”, “Kintsugi” ), confirming the full versatility now achieved by the Ohio band.
In a decidedly flourishing historical period for metalcore, Like Moths To Flames are more involved than ever.
