Back in around 2013/2014, nu metal experienced a mini revival, with bands such as Beartooth, Dangerkids, and most successfully Bring Me the Horizon taking inspiration from bands such as Linkin Park, Slipknot, and Limp Bizkit. Another band channeling these influences was Of Mice & Men, on their third album Restoring Force, released back in January of 2014.
Of Mice & Men established themselves as one of the more unique metalcore bands with the release of their eponymous debut and crushing second album The Flood. Restoring Force was recorded with producer David Bendeth (Bring Me the Horizon, All Time Low, A Day to Remember) following the use of metalcore producer Joey Sturgis on their previous albums. It also featured a key line up change, with Aaron Pauley replacing Shayley Bourget on bass and clean vocals.
Restoring Force showcased a band in transition, however lyrically they wore their hearts on their sleeves. Take opener ‘Public Service Announcement’. A brutal assault with crushing guitars, it could be about vocalist Austin Carlile becoming increasingly frustrated with the negative portrayal of him after he was convicted of felonious assault in April 2013: “Your attempts to bring me down, fuel my fire and build my sound / I can’t believe all the things that I hear.” This is followed by the nu-metal-influenced ‘Feels Like Forever’, where we get the first taste of Aaron Pauley’s melodic vocals. They work exceptionally well in an infectious, Papa Roach-inspired chorus. Carlile’s fry vocals are also heavily inspired by Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington. ‘Bones Exposed’ is a fast paced song with an energetic metalcore riff. The guitars are aggressive and pummelling, Carlile channeling this aggression into a raspy scream leading up to the breakdown: ‘A cut cannot heal, if you leave it alone / I’ll open mine daily, leaving bones exposed”. The breakdown itself, as with most of Of Mice & Men’s breakdowns, are maximized to crushing effect, Carlile showcasing his versatility by bringing out a long scream. The addition of Pauley brought a new lease of life into the band, as him and Carlile share vocal duties. It works perfectly, with the final chorus bringing an atmospheric feel.
Restoring Force showcased the bands’ diversity as they aimed to appeal to a broader audience. An example of this is ‘Would You Still Be There’ with its infectious, melodic Papa Roach-esque chorus, while ‘Glass Hearts’ is a personal favourite, combining an atmospheric distorted synthesizer with a Slipknot-like heaviness. Lyrically, it conveys strong poetry and accurately describes how negative criticism can feel: “Picking and stabbing, their words feel like knives, tearing and ripping the seams of my life”.
The softer tracks on the album also flow nicely, such as ‘Identity Disorder’. Featuring another distorted synthesizer heavily reminiscent of Linkin Park, Carlile sings about the struggles of having an identity crisis: “I question every part of who I am / It’s hard to tell which side of me is in the right when there’s two different people inside of me fighting for my life.” The moshpit-friendly breakdown only emphasizes these feelings with a charging intensity.
The album ends with ‘Space Enough to Grow.’ It’s beautifully sung, and it could be about making the most of life ‘Even when we give up all hope, there’s space enough to grow.” The calming, intertwining guitars and minimal electronic production bring a relaxing end to a solid album.
Restoring Force eventually did push Of Mice & Men to bigger things, such as supporting Linkin Park on a worldwide tour. They embraced their nu-metal influenced further on the excellent Cold World, however Restoring Force contained both heavy and soft elements, and combined them to perfection.
Words by Ermis Madikopoulos