Caskets - Lost Souls (2021) Hi-Res

It’s hard for metalcore bands to stand out in 2021. There are, frankly, loads of them. And when one of the scene leaders does something new – like add electronic or post-metal flourishes – in 12 months’ time the whole subgenre has shifted to include them, so as not to be left behind.

The debut album from Leeds’ Caskets too lives in the shadow of bigger, more daring bands – namely Architects and Bring Me The Horizon. This isn’t wholly detrimental, but it’s nothing you haven’t heard before. From the slightly-techy guitar riffs to the ethereal synths to the cathartic, chest-bursting choruses, Lost Souls finds itself awash with modern metalcore’s best bits, capably delivered and highly polished.

Indeed, the production is great, and the band sound huge. There is clear ambition flowing through the album’s dozen tracks, but while it’s practically bursting with hooky choruses, there’s a lack of ingenuity. Opener The Only Ones veers on the edge of Linkin Park territory, but feels too rudimentary, almost like the band are holding back, afraid to be even bigger and bolder, while Drowned In Emotion dances in some Amity Affliction-esque electronics, with its bounce and breakdown nailing it down to be a live favourite. But it’s tracks like Hold Me Now that are indicative of the formula Caskets have found themselves buried in, exercising the same ​‘loud/quiet dynamic before the big chorus at the end’ method over and again. In fact, it’s drummer James Lazenby who stands out most on the record, putting a pummelling shift in throughout.