On “Beauty Is A Destructive Angel”, Renounced gives metalcore a shot in the arm (Review)

If you’ve not heard of UK metalcore band Renounced, rest assured that you will quite soon. The band, who have released two previously well-received albums, are really onto something on Beauty Is A Destructive Angel. The band’s new record, which is out today, is both a throwback to the era in which bands like Killswitch Engage and Misery Signals dominated – but also one that blazes a bold new trail for the genre to grow in. We’ll just get this out of the way quickly – Beauty Is A Destructive Angel is a serious AOTY contender. Why, though? Follow along below.

At their core, Renounced is a band that blends older styles of metalcore (think KSE, Unearth, and a lot of Misery Signals influence) with a new coat of paint to create something that’s highly appealing. This is evident from the get-go with the album’s intro track, “Ghosts”. Sporting an immediately intriguing acoustic intro, it’s also effective in that it prepares listeners for the journey ahead.

And what a journey it is, indeed. Each song on the record has a defining characteristic – whether it’s the breakneck metalcore of “Torchbearer” and “Calloused” or the more intricate and galloping melodies of the title track, there is plenty of variety on the album. Of particular note is the aforementioned album closer “In A Statue Of Frozen Glass” which manages to pack in an obvious almost post-rock influence as its 5+ minute runtime rolls through.

If you’re here for the breakdowns and skilled guitar-wielding, of course, there’s plenty here for you as well. The KSE-inspired “The Rico Conspiracy” contains dueling guitars and moves along at a breakneck speed, while “In A Years Turning” (which features Counterparts // END vocalist Brendan Murphy) ramps up near the song’s end, with a vicious breakdown as well as a melodic refrain that is one of the record’s best moments.

With nary a weak track to be found, Renounced’s Beauty Is A Destructive Angel is one of the best records the metalcore genre has seen in recent years. Living up to the early promise the album showed before its release, you might well be able to call this one of the best records of any genre this year. While not necessarily a gamebreaking album, Beauty Is A Destructive Angel comes awfully close – and it would be a surprise if listeners didn’t feel the same.

Watch The Throne.