Album Review | UK metalcore with teeth, heart, and zero fear ๐ฅ๐ค
Thereโs a certain moment in a bandโs journey where everything locks into place. The riffs hit harder. The songs breathe deeper. The confidence stops being loud and starts being felt.
Thatโs exactly where Before The Sirens land with As It Is Above, So It Is Below โ a release that feels less like a collection of tracks and more like a statement of intent.
This isnโt a band testing the waters anymore. This is a band diving in headfirst and daring you to follow.
๐ฅ HEAVY WHEN IT NEEDS TO BE. MELODIC WHEN IT MATTERS.
From the opening moments, As It Is Above, So It Is Below makes one thing clear: Before The Sirens know exactly who they are. The album balances crushing metalcore weight with melodic hooks that linger long after the final chord fades.
The riffs come thick and low, the drums hit with purpose rather than chaos, and the vocals walk that fine line between aggression and emotional clarity. Itโs heavy music that doesnโt just bludgeon โ it connects.
Thereโs a noticeable evolution here from earlier releases like Desolate Seas & Darkened Skies. The songwriting feels tighter, more deliberate. Every section earns its place. No padding. No wasted moments.
โก SONGS BUILT FOR BOTH HEADPHONES AND THE PIT
One of the albumโs biggest strengths is how alive it feels. You can hear the bandโs live DNA baked into these tracks โ the push and pull, the tension and release, the moments clearly designed to ignite a crowd before snapping back into something more introspective.
Breakdowns hit hard without feeling predictable. Clean passages donโt soften the impact โ they sharpen it. When the heavy parts land, they land harder because of the contrast.
Lyrically, the album wrestles with struggle, transcendence, and personal reckoning. Itโs introspective without being self-indulgent. Honest without being melodramatic. Thereโs weight here, both sonically and emotionally.
๐ค PERFORMANCE & PRODUCTION
Vocally, Alun Davies delivers with conviction, shifting seamlessly between force and vulnerability. The guitars โ handled by Davies and Chris Tidey โ are thick, layered, and precise, while Adam Aldridgeโs bass adds genuine depth rather than just mirroring the low end.
Behind it all, Alex Budgeโs drumming drives the album forward with intent. Itโs powerful without being overplayed, letting the songs breathe while still hitting like a hammer when required.
The production strikes a solid balance between polish and grit. This isnโt over-sanitised modern metalcore โ itโs clean enough to hit hard, raw enough to feel real.
๐ค FOR FANS OFโฆ
If your listening habits lean toward Killswitch Engage, Alter Bridge, Breaking Benjamin, or Metallica, thereโs plenty here to sink your teeth into. But As It Is Above, So It Is Below doesnโt feel like a tribute exercise โ it feels like a band carving out their own space within that lineage.
This is UK metalcore done with confidence, clarity, and character.
๐ง THE BIG PICTURE
What really makes this album stand out is maturity. Before The Sirens arenโt chasing trends or trying to out-heavy everyone in the room. Theyโre focused on writing better songs, and it shows.
This feels like a release that will age well โ the kind you come back to months later and still find moments that hit differently depending on where your headโs at.
๐ฅ THE RIFF REPORT VERDICT
As It Is Above, So It Is Below is the sound of Before The Sirens stepping up a level. Bigger ideas. Sharper execution. More confidence in both the quiet moments and the chaos.
Itโs heavy. Itโs melodic. Itโs thoughtful. And most importantly โ it feels honest.
Stick this on loud. Then go see them live and feel it properly.
This one deserves sweaty rooms, ringing ears, and a crowd shouting every word back.
Rating: ๐ค๐ค๐ค๐คยฝ (4.5 / 5)
Proper job, mun.
