It’s not incredibly common to see metalcore bands in the Top 10 of the Genius Top Songs chart, but that’s what’s happening this morning, as the U.K. group Architects piles up the pageviews with their gnashing new single “Seeing Red.” The foursome’s first new tune of 2023 serves as a clapback at fans who like to talk smack on the internet.
As with many bands that trade in heavy music, the issue here is that some fans have accused Architects of getting too soft and poppy in recent years. These criticisms don’t feel great, as frontman Sam Carter—who wrote the song alongside drummer Dan Searle—screams about in the opening verse.
You oughta know that I’m like a broken machine
I’m not as bulletproof as you all paint me to be
The pre-chorus is sung from the POV of fans who insist they know what’s best for Architects.
We’re all you need
We’ll make you royalty
We’ll be the best of enemies
On the chorus, Carter facetiously thanks and apologizes to his harshest online haters.
Read me all my rights
I’ll never grow tired of your great advice
Won’t somebody tell me what I believe?
I’m sorry for your sacrifice
In case anyone has missed the subtlety up to this point, Carter goes more direct on the second verse.
We’re like one big family
Gee, thanks so much for the death threat
Do you hear the audacity?
You dummies only live on the internet
On the breakdown, which echoes the intro, Carter continues to reject the notion he always has to “see red,” or make the kind of mega-aggressive music that a segment of his fanbase craves. (Even though this song goes pretty damn hard.)
Oh
“Are you happy now?”
Rent-free living in your head
“R.I.P.,” they commented
I felt it when they said
“We only ever love you when you’re seeing red”
“Seeing Red” arrives with a music video that features the band thrashing away in a dark strobe-lit room. The single also comes with news of an upcoming North American tour, which will precede a bunch of previously announced European dates with Metallica.
You can read all the lyrics to “Seeing Red” on Genius now.
