Stereo Six: UK Quartet Collected Pick Out Albums that Inspired Their Contemporary Sound

Emerging UK metal quartet, Collected have just dropped their explosive new single, “Love With Fury.” A stunning mix of contemporary metal, the Essex group are slowly creating their own sound as they explore a raft of emotions and themes. With show dates booked and more new releases planned for the second half of 2021, we had the band join us for our latest Stereo Six feature to pick out six of the albums that have helped shape their explosive sound. Before we delve into their choices though, check out their video for the brilliant “Love With Fury.”

1. Coheed And Cambria – Good Apollo, I’m Burning Star IV (2005, Equal Vision)

Liam Brazitis: “I’d have to say, Good Apollo, I’m Burning Star IV: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness – Volume 1 by Coheed and Cambria. It’s just one of those albums that has helped me grow as a musician in the way you write and build vocals to set the mood. The beautiful pop vocals and strong harmonies on a metal/hard rock playing field, it just brings back so many good and bad moments of being young which isn’t a bad thing, as I feel music sets the scene for memories in life and I feel I’m not the only person that feels that way. It is amazing how a band can build an album and leave so much legacy.

A few years back I was very lucky to have seen them play this whole album from start to finish for its anniversary. I’m not going to lie, it was one of the best gigs in my life. To look around and see everyone’s faces as they dropped the first song of the album, it made me realize that community is what you make it. Even if it was the other side of the world for them. The words that hold strength to you might mean the world to others.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ez81HemeTyQ

2. Born of Osiris – The Discovery (2011, Sumerian Records)

Haitch Barratt: “One of my favourite albums has to forever be The Discovery. I remember the first time I heard ‘XIV,’ leading into ‘Behold,’ I was absolutely blown away. It has such a mystical, spacey vibe with all those synths layered up and when the gorgeous sweeps Jason Richardson plays come in I was in total awe. The whole album is a masterpiece in my eyes. I love the atmosphere they build throughout, the vocals/lyrics are straight up sick. The drums, guitar and bass are insanely catchy as well as technical and the way the synth and guitar compliments each other, it’s just flawless. The perfect mix of electronic music and metal so it really does ticks all my boxes.”

3. Devin Townsend – Ocean Machine (1997, HevyDevy Records)

Charlie Day: “I love this album because it was the first time I heard the ‘wall of sound’ style used in a dynamic melodic way and it made me realize how encompassing that type of music could be. It enabled me to detach from reality for brief moments which at the time I only thought possible through alcohol and gaming. The emotive transitions that you go through listening to this album is a journey I will never get tired of taking. It has got me through the toughest periods of my life so far and no doubt it will continue to do so in the years to come. It’s been the biggest influence on how I approach music and the type of music I want to create, and that’s why it stands at the top for me. A true masterpiece of music that will stand the test of time.”

4. Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp a Butterfly (2015, Top Dawg Entertainment)

Artis Upitis: “This album merges jazz, funk, and soul into hip hop and it works so well. I remember hearing ‘For Free?’ for the first time and it was the freshest thing I’ve ever heard in rap. The way jazz and hip hop is blended into one without sounding forced or unnatural really blew my mind at the time. Hearing hip hop with real instruments and musicians behind the tracks made me fall in love with the album so much more. This album involves a plethora of artists such as Thundercat, Flying Lotus, Robert Glasper, Pharrell Williams, and Dr. Dre. Overall, 71 people contributed to creating this album. Literally an army of producers and musicians creating one album. No matter how many times I listen to this release from Kendrick I’m still blown away. It’s a masterpiece truly ahead of its time.”

5. Sleep Token – Sundowning (2019, Spinefarm)

All: “As a band, I think one of our joint-favourites might have to be Sundowning by Sleep Token. We all got into this band as soon as they started surfacing and we actually all went together to see them live just before the pandemic hit and we were utterly blown away. This album is literally everything we all love about music. It has beautiful pop moments with all the electronic elements they incorporate alongside them buttery vocals, as well as all them juicy djenty riffs *chefs kiss*. All the while, tying it all together so seamlessly. It’s truly a modern-day masterpiece and we couldn’t recommend giving it a listen enough. The emotion and passion they captured in this album is unbelievable: 10/10.”

6. Monuments – Gnosis (2012, Century Media)

All: “Another band fave, this album is everything we wanted to be when Collected first started out. We loved the high energy that really gets your body moving. The mix of heavy and clean vocals was epic and just the general songwriting is so catchy and polished. This was an album that influenced us down this genre path, to begin with, and although we have branched off a little since progressing as a band, it definitely without a doubt influenced our sound. Without this album, we wouldn’t write the music we write now 100 percent.”

Artwork for the albums Collected list in this Stereo Six