Brainwashed

2015 release, the second album by the British metalcore band. Brainwashed, after a short intro track, opens with three of the heaviest songs Sleeps have ever written. "New World Torture" in particular demolishes as an opener and features an incredibly heavy breakdown in the back half. It isn't until "We Are Alive At Night" that things really start to change up. The short interlude features gorgeous clean guitar passages that build up nicely into "Our Legacy", a clear album highlight. Passionate lyrics and melodic guitar work make it very memorable, especially after the aggressive leanings of the early tracks. "Four Walls" continues the melodic trend, at least through it's opening minute, before returning to heavier passages. Much of Brainwashed's back half is business as usual. Tracks like "Life In Tension" tend towards melody, while "Trophies of Violence" and it's ilk are more violent in nature, but they all have the bands signature blend stamped on them in some manner. Perhaps it's a groovier break in one of the softer songs, or a pretty guitar lead in an otherwise crushing song, but the band usually reconciles the two halves to their sound. Best of all, it never sounds pasted together in any way.