Sam Carter Talks Architects' New Collabs With Winston McCall, Simon Neil And Mike Kerr

Earlier this week, the internet's collective mind exploded upon hearing the news that not only do Architects have a brand-new album on the way, but the band have recruited some very special guest spots for it…

Bulking up the 15 tracks that make up For Those That Wish To Exist – which is due out on February 26 via Epitaph next year – are Parkway Drive frontman Winston McCall (on the song Impermanence), Mike Kerr of Royal Blood (Little Wonder), and Biffy Clyro's Simon Neil (Goliath).

“I think the best thing about those three vocalists is that they are all so different, and they have such a unique, cool tone to their voices,” enthuses Architects vocalist Sam Carter, a genuinely huge fan of the trio of groups in question. “They’re three bands that are really, really amazing.”

Here, Sam exclusively chats to Kerrang! about the three must-hear collaborations of 2021…

“Simon being on our album is mindblowing to me; I got giddy hearing the first vocal take of his. It made me feel like a kid. I got goosebumps. I can’t fathom that he likes our band, as I’ve loved Biffy for so long.

“The first time we played Download I remember being in catering with Tom [Searle] getting food, and Simon was getting food next to us. I think it was just before Puzzle had come out, and we were like, ‘We’re super excited for the album, we love your band.’ He asked us what band we were with and we said, ‘Architects,’ and he was like, ‘Oh, you’re from Brighton, right?’ Both me and Tom walked away being like, ‘Oh, my, god, he knows who we are!’ And now he’s on our album! As a songwriter he’s one of the best ever. I don’t know how those songs come out of his head; he’s a genius.”

“Parkway have been there for us through everything; from when we toured with them when we were teenagers, to touring with them while Tom was ill – and the amount of effort they went to to make sure Tom was getting all the food and nutrients that he needed on that tour was just unbelievable.

“It just felt like the perfect bit for Winston to come on and own. They’re one of the best live bands going, and that part of the song was written perfectly for him. ‘I want you to talk here, build this up and make it really creepy, and then let hell break loose…’ (laughs).”

“Royal Blood are one of the saviours of rock’n’roll in the mainstream, and there’s a real friendship there. Ben [Thatcher, drums] and I lived on the same street in a tiny village growing up. With Mike, there was a Christmas two or three years ago where both of us where on our own on Boxing Day, so we went to a restaurant in town together and just got really shitfaced (laughs). We were thinking, ‘It’d be so funny if someone walked past the window that’s a fan of our bands…’ That the album has space for someone a bit different for our band to feature shows how varied the album is.”

Read this next:

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• 11 of the all-time best guest spots in rock
• The 20 greatest Parkway Drive songs – ranked