Heavier and darker than 2010's well-received
Deceiver, the 13-track
Life Cycles is the first release from Phoenix, Arizona-based metalcore outfit the Word Alive to not feature keyboardist Dusty Riach, who left the group in early 2012 along with drummer Justin Salinas. Technical, relentless, and littered with nasty riffs and explosive breakdowns,
Life Cycles avoids the dreaded sophomore slump by being bigger and bolder than its predecessor, and offering a diverse set of songs with highlights coming from "For Your Health," "Evolution," "Wishmaster," the anthemic title cut, and the dense and atmospheric "Dragon Spell." ~ James Christopher Monger