Few bands in modern metalcore hit as hard while keeping their lyrics personal as Of Mice & Men. Their ninth studio album, Another Miracle, out November 14 via Century Media Records, is proof. It’s a record built on crushing riffs, tight breakdowns, and vocals that feel lived-in. After years of evolving their sound, the Southern California quartet double down on both heaviness and melody, crafting songs that punch and linger in equal measure.
From the first notes of opener “A Waltz”, it’s clear this album isn’t just another release. The song moves between driving riffs and melodic hooks, showing a band that can deliver aggression without losing feeling. By producing, engineering, mixing, and mastering the record themselves, the band keeps it personal—every note, every vocal line, every breakdown feels deliberate. It’s like you’re standing in the studio with them, hearing the sweat and effort in real time.
Singles like “Troubled Water” and “Wake Up” show just how far the band can stretch emotionally while keeping the intensity high. “Troubled Water” is tense, raw, and urgent. Lines like “Further & further away, / With every word you don’t say” hit like a punch, while the chorus—“Over troubled water, / I won’t lay me down”—turns struggle into defiance. Musically, the track bounces between tight, aggressive riffs and soaring, melodic moments, giving Pauley space to switch between grit and clean emotion.
“Wake Up” is bigger, more anthemic. The verses shimmer with melodic detail while the choruses explode with full-on energy. Lyrics like “Wake up, / You’ve been dreaming, / For so long” are simple but effective, grounding the track in a sense of urgency and awakening. It’s a song designed to hit live, with moments that feel like they were written for fans to scream back at the stage.
The title track, “Another Miracle”, is the emotional and sonic centerpiece. Its lyrics wrestle with despair and hope: “What’s another miracle, / For the hopeless & cynical?” The riffs pound like thunder, the vocals surge with anger and pain, and the storm imagery in the music makes the desperation tangible. It’s a song that shows the band at their heaviest and most honest, and it sets the tone for the rest of the album.
Throughout Another Miracle, the band balances heaviness with melody. Tracks like “Hourglass” and “Flowers” shift between tight breakdowns, chugging riffs, and introspective moments, giving the album a sense of ebb and flow. Even quieter moments still carry tension, waiting for the next surge of power to hit. The pacing keeps you engaged from start to finish.
What sets this album apart is how personal it feels without softening the edge. Pauley’s vocals cut through the instrumentation, moving effortlessly from aggressive screams to clean passages that carry real weight. Lyrically, the band tackles struggle, perseverance, and emotional honesty, often painting vivid imagery—from drowning metaphors in “Troubled Water” to celestial visions in “Wake Up” and storm-laden pleas in “Another Miracle”.
By the time “Infinite” closes the album, it’s clear this isn’t just a collection of songs. It’s a record built on experience, sweat, and intent. Every riff and lyric lands because it’s earned, not manufactured. Fans will find plenty to dig into, and newcomers will see a band that knows how to combine aggression with melody without losing authenticity.
Conclusion with Rating:
Another Miracle doesn’t hold back. The riffs hit like a punch, the breakdowns land hard, and Aaron Pauley’s vocals cut through with real emotion. It’s heavy, it’s loud, and it sticks with you. This is Of Mice & Men at their most intense and honest. Rating: 4.5/5 stars
I’m Drew, the founder and editor of Front of the Stage. I have a strong love for music and photography, which started at a very young age. There’s just something I love about experiencing live music and capturing memories that will last a lifetime, and that’s how Front of the Stage came to be.
