Light The Torch

You Will Be The Death Of Me

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Genre: Metalcore.
Released: 25/06/2021
Via Nuclear Blast

Album Review: Light The Torch – You Will Be The Death Of Me

Light The Torch are back with their second full-length album titled ‘You Will Be The Death Of Me’. Fronted by former Killswitch Engage singer Howard Jones, the band has already amassed a decent sized fan base that is eager to hear the successor of the bands 2018 release Revival. This album comes with some high expectations surrounding it so I’m just gonna jump straight into it. Here is my review of Light The Torch’s ‘You Will Be The Death Of Me’.

Due to the nature of the record, it’s safe to say fans were expecting a plethora of memorable melodies and riffs and thankfully, the album delivers in bucket loads. Tracks like ‘Let Me Fall Apart’ and ‘Something Deep Inside’ are your go-to songs if you’re looking for a memorable and familiar sound. These tracks get the basics done brilliantly while having some added personality with the way the instrumental melodies complement Howard’s vocal delivery. 

For those of you a bit more adventurous, ‘Becoming the Martyr’ is certainly different. The use of synth on the vocal track makes the song sound cosmic in nature, and the track boasts an intriguing instrumental that is engaging and full of potential. If that’s not your style, check out ‘I Hate Myself’. A more conventional metal track that has added emphasis on emotion, and some unique use of effects, to separate itself from every other standard metalcore track. 

Speaking of standard metalcore tracks, this release has a few. ‘Living with a Ghost’ is a heavy number that seems to come across as very generic with its progression, while songs like ‘End of the World’ and ‘Denying the Sin’ just aren’t all that. From unmemorable hooks and choruses to uninspiring instrumentals, these tracks don’t do anything for me and I’d have to recommend giving these ones a skip. 

The climax of the album is interesting, to say the least. ‘Come Back To the Quicksand’ is a decent track that has a greater focus on Howard’s vocals while the instrumental ties the track together, yet I find it a bit odd that the band have chosen to close the album with a cover of Sananda Maitreya’s ‘Sign Your Name’. I think the cover is actually quite good however, its placement in the album really breaks the flow and I can’t help but think it would have been better positioned somewhere in the middle of the pack. Ahh well, I guess. 

Overall, I think the album is a decent entry into the band’s discography however it’s far from perfect. Despite having its moments, the album ultimately feels a little dull and I feel that some fans will be left quite disappointed in it. You can’t strike gold every time and it looks like Light The Torch will have to keep trying.