| Life Through a Window | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | Structures |
| Cover: | structures - LTAW.jpg |
| Released: | May 13, 2014 |
| Recorded: | September – October 2013 |
| Studio: | The Machine Shop, Belleville, NJ |
| Genre: | Metalcore, djent |
| Length: | 40:27 |
| Label: | Sumerian |
| Producer: | Will Putney, Randy Leboeuf |
| Prev Title: | Divided By |
| Prev Year: | 2011 |
| Next Title: | None of the Above |
| Next Year: | 2021 |
Life Through a Window is the second studio album by Canadian metalcore band Structures released on May 13, 2014 by Sumerian Records. It was produced by Will Putney and Randy Leboeuf, and recorded at the Machine Shop in Belleville from September to October 2013. It was the last album produced before the band's indefinite hiatus.
The first single of the album "The Worst of Both Worlds" featuring guest vocals by Drew York from Stray from the Path was released on April 4, 2014. On April 15, the band released their second single "Extinction". A music video for their track "Earth Gazing" was released on June 19.[1] The album was then released on May 13, the track "Follower" contains guest vocals from then-vocalist of Northlane – Adrian Fitipaldes. The album artwork contains the cover of their debut EP All of the Above in the background.
The band had planned to make an appearance at the 2014 AllStars Tour, however they were barred from entering the US by border security for unknown reasons.[2] In August, the band played at Hevy Fest in the UK.[3] On October 18, Structures issued a statement via their Facebook that they were going on an indefinite hiatus after performing a Farewell Tour in December. They also announced that founding vocalist Nick Xourafas would return to perform one last tour with the band.[4]
The genres of the album has been described as death metal, heavy metal, metalcore, and tech metal.[5] The album was also criticized for sounding too similar to Stray from the Path.
The album received mixed to favorable reviews. Matt Sievers from KillYourStereo rated it 85/100, saying: " If you like your music full-on, heavy, powerful or strongly influenced, this record will most likely find a home on your shelf or iTunes library." AllMusic gave it a favorable review, calling their range: "...more to offer the world than just angsty diary scribblings and atonal, palm-muted harmonics." Dead Press in a positive review, described the album as: "a record which bludgeons as ruthlessly as anyone in the game, thrusting forth both a sonic and emotionally textured statement which displays them as genuine future contenders." Kill the Music rated the album lower, saying: "The album kept us on our toes in the opening acts but in the end let listeners down. Whether it was the Stray From the Path borderline copy-cat/ influence, to the poor song structure." In a favorable review, SputnikMusic said the album was: "not the Structures you know and that's a good thing." Heavy Blog is Heavy gave the album a negative review calling it "...further degeneration in the life of an already weakened genre." In a positive review from The Prelude Press, Sam Lang said: "Structures’ musical approach remains the same; struggles with reality, inner-torment and regret/guilt feed this beast as thundering breakdowns and chaos-inspired guitar riffs leave you gasping for air."
Track listing adapted from Spotify.[6]
Credits retrieved from AllMusic.[7]
| Chart (2014) | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| US Hard Rock (Billboard)[8] | 21 | |
| US Heatseekers (Billboard)[9] | 9 |