The first taste outside of Like Moths To Flames’ first two singles from the album is Over the Garden Wall and already this one is a highlight on the record.
Starting off with a haunting vocal take from vocalist Chris Roetter over top of these chilling keys before guitarists Zach Pishney and Cody Cavanaugh kick off the tune with a simple but groovy riff to compliment. The chorus on this tune sees the band channeling their Dark Divine days, with one of the catchiest melodies on the record.
Later we have Gone Without a Trace, which keeps the trend of bringing back that Dark Divine sound I mentioned before. It’s a more melodic and emotional track. Roetter belting out ‘it’s all empty, I killed the memories. I buried them with the things that you’ve left behind’. It’s a huge sing-along tune that I think a lot of people are going to resonate with
Next, we have To Know is to Die, bringing back the heaviness you expect from the band. Roetter kicking the track off belting ‘I had a dream, we never existed’ with drummer Roman Garcia going absolutely nuts with his blast beats in the verse. Pishney and Cavanaugh really shining on the track as well, providing a riffage that’s reminiscent of their works on Pure Like Porcelain.
A constant throughout the record is just how amazing the guitars sound, the tone and mix is amazing on this project. Structurally, it’s extremely effective only hitting a chorus twice, and ending the song on the second time around.
Closing the record, we have What Do We See When We Leave This Place. Ending the record on an intense and emotional note. Garcia setting the pace with relentless double-bass and velocity. The chorus is heart wrenching, with Roetter emotionally singing ‘the void persists, it’s here to stay, no matter where I go, it always follows me’. This song is an accumulation of everything the band excels at, it’s extremely heavy, but also melodic as well. It’s a perfect closer for the album.
The Cycles of Trying to Cope sees the band honing in on all the sounds they’ve established throughout their career. They don’t stagnate, continuously upping the ante for themselves on every release. The mix is also one of my favorites of the year so far. If you’re a long-time fan of the band, regardless of era, there’s something here for everyone.
8.5/10
The Cycles of Trying to Cope is available everywhere through UNFD. You can pickup a physical copy of the record and merch here: www.usa.24hundred.net/collections/like-moths-to-flames