Architects Turn the Crystal Ballroom into a Sea of Sound and Sweat (Gallery + Show Review)

Sam Carter of Architects performs at Portland, Oregon's Crystal Ballroom

Halfway through their North American tour, Architects brought the fire to Portland's Crystal Ballroom this month. The UK heavyweights have been a staple of the metalcore scene since the mid-2010s, and with the release of their 11th studio album, The Sky, The Earth & All Between, earlier this year, it's clear why they continue to carry the torch.

Holywatr kicked things off with some atmospheric heaviness, followed by ERRA, who took the crowd from zero to circle pit in minutes. By the time Architects came on, the air was electric and sweaty.

They opened with “Elegy” for a slow burn into chaos, before tearing through a set stacked with new album highlights like “Brain Dead” and “Everything Ends,” and fan favorites like “when we were young” and “Doomsday." Frontman Sam Carter’s vocals hit with both precision and raw grit, while the rest of the band kept the energy high around the stage. The band closed out the show with "Seeing Red," from the new album, and the all-time favorite, "Animals."

The crowd packed wall-to-wall as they shuttled crowd surfers to the barricade and bounced along to every breakdown. As the set came to a close and fans filed out, the room was a haze of sweat, ringing ears, and exhausted smiles.

Check out the full gallery below, and don't miss The Sky, The Earth & All Between, here!