Like Moths To Flame is a band with experience from the Ohio area. Consisting of front man Chris Roetter, formerly of Agraceful, and the rest of the band, formerly of Terrafirma, these guys know what their doing in the metalcore arena. Mind you, for me anyway, it’s hardly anything new. Mind you its not really fair for me to say, especially since I cover hardcore music by the truckload, but its your basic formula for almost any hardcore band, only difference is, these guys make it sound good.

Their latest album, When We Don’t Exist, has an onslaught of angry vocals both straightforward and screamo, fast hard hitting drums, vicious guitars, and deep bass at its core. From the first track you know you’ve just stepped into something that’s going to be engaging for the fulfilling, nearly, 36 minute run time with synths offering up some kind of, what I can only associate with, Egyptian, like sound (think movies revolving around that general area). Then, pow, you’re on your way with some brutal beats that will have you nodding your head, even if you had no plans to do so beforehand. There’s some very slight harmonizing vocals tied in the chorus and some low end bass popping up here and there, an occurrence becoming the norm in the metalcore arena.

The comparisons that have been thrown around are Asking Alexandria, We Came As Romans, and The Devil Wears Prada. Since I haven’t listened to any of those bands I’d have to throw bands like Ice Nine Kills, only harder and with a better produced sound, Miss May I, and Demon Hunter. I was pleasantly surprised by the range the album has, not just relying on its driving hardcore spine and screamo vocals. Sometimes the vocals can be very coherent, that coming from not having a lyrics sheet in my hands to decipher some of the more undecipherable bits. The message is basically the same as usual, kids trying to find their place in a world they either don’t understand or understand to much, the angst that this causes and the raw rebellion of youth throwing up a big FU, and of course some relationship issue themes tossed in for measure. While I’ve had my fair share of these themes to last me a lifetime, Like Moths To Flame really do deliver their message with a focused animosity that feels sincere and vindicated. Having a sweet hardcore sound backing the message only helps all the more. In any case, I couldn’t suggest this album more. Good stuff.