Like Moths To Flames

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Like Moths To Flames

Like Moths To Flames "When We Don't Exist" album

- Release date : November 2011 -

"When We Don't Exist" is the debut full-length album from Ohio metal group Like Moths To Flames released on November 8, 2011 on Rise Records.

"When We Don't Exist" album tracks and lyrics

"When We Don't Exist" album reviews

Dark orchestration begins the album with the song "The Worst In Me." The mood set is already ominous and readies the listener for the abrasive guitar work that sets in shortly after. Unlike the Sweet Talker EP, there is a refined sound that is noticed immediately. Doubled Pod Farm guitar tones and layered screaming vocals are shot through, as vocalist Chris Roetter bitterly voices his frustration over the galloping kick of drummer Lance Greenfield who shines with spit fire rhythms. The track demonstrates a segmented guitar style that incorporates more alternative picking, illustrating an improved instrumentation that is painfully overshadowed by chugging breakdowns. Overall, a good glimpse of the album can be seen in this one song. There are sounds of promise with a talented drummer and better fret work.

Unfortunately, that's it. Promise, but little delivery. The lyrical complexity, or lack thereof, is evident in "GNF" which as the acronym hints deals with not caring, as noted when guest vocalist, Danny Leal of Upon A Burning Body, screams "I don't give a fuck about the way you're feeling." Of course with muted open note chugging and immature lyrics, Like Moths To Flames does little to distinguish themselves from a heavily saturated scene, especially blending with a generally mediocre roster Rise Records is infamous for. Tracks that especially become victim to this pitfall include "Your Existence", "Trophy Child", and "Real Talk", two of which are redone versions of tracks featured on their debut EP, and the lack of musical diversity is sorely apparent. The clean vocals, too, seemed to have regressed either by means of overproduction or by wear and tear on Roetter. The choruses sound lost and the voice, strained, as if Roetter was forcing a style that he hasn't fully developed. But the songs feature stimulating one line lyrics similar to that of "GNF" and low, stagnant breakdowns. Therefore, there is a flair that will appeal to the fan base and one that can translate into a dynamic show that requires any and all in the crowd to move. In a live setting, there would probably be little complaint, but, sadly, the music becomes repetitious and redundant on the album.

This double edged sword is somewhat diluted in the tracks "Faithless Living" and "No Hope" which work better for the band. The former's introduction emits a similarity to Bring Me The Horizon's "The Comedown" bringing an industrial tone to the song which helps disrupt the consistent breakdown pattern featured on the album. For a short time that is. Like previous songs, the track concludes with an unnecessary breakdown. "No Hope" allows the massive sound of Greenfield's kit, rolling in convulsions, to introduce the song and his skill shines brightly, alongside sliding guitar that again exhibit signs of progression, though not enough to break the mold.

"Praise Feeder" is another indication of this. But yet again, it brings musical advancement to the table only to be back tracked by a pointless breakdown. The song has the most defined chorus on the album and features its best guitar work, though it's still not anything genre bending. The drumming provides a stronger backbone than any other track, which allows it to flow cohesively (until the breakdown mid-song breaks its fluidity) as When We Don't Exist comes to an abrupt close.

*** By Absolutepunk.com ***