Brighton metalcore band Architects have won a closely fought chart battle this week to grab their first number one record with ‘For Those That Wish To Exist’. Their new number one is the band’s ninth studio album, battling a close contest with Maximo Park’s ‘Nature Always Wins’ all week but ultimately finishing just 550 chart sales ahead. Elated with the news, lead singer Sam Carter told OfficialCharts.com: “I cannot begin to tell you how much this means to us. Thank you to every single person who bought this record. We love you so much and we could not have done this without you.

“To have an album that connects this much, with what we’re talking about – trying and pushing for a better world – it’s unbelievable. Thank you for your support, from day one this means so much not just to us but to everyone. As ever, everything we do is for Tom Searle, our brother.” Searle, the twin brother of drummer Dan Searle and former Architects lead guitarist, passed away from melanoma skin cancer in 2016. As well as reaching the official UK chart top spot, the album also topped the Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart, becoming their sixth album to do so.  ‘For Those That Wish To Exist’ is the week’s best-selling album on vinyl and top seller in independent record shop, according to the OCC.

Maximo Park’s ‘Nature Always Wins’ becomes the band’s first top 10 album in seven years, matching their highest ever chart position since ‘Our Earthly Pleasures’ reached the number two spot in 2007. It becomes their first top ten since 2014’s ‘Too Much Information’.

At number three, West London rapper Digga D made his personal best album chart peak with ‘Made In The Pyrex’ – his new mixtape. While missing the top spot of the official UK album chart, ‘Made In The Pyrex’ was the most streamed release of the week, and marked the highest charting project to date for a millennium-born UK rapper, as well as the highest-charting independent UK Drill project on the Official Chart to date. At number four Alice Cooper matched his highest charting album since 1991 with ‘Detroit Stories’; 30 years ago ‘Hey Stoopid’ also peaked in fourth position. Rounding off the all-new top five is Lucy Spraggan’s sixth album ‘Choices’. In response to the news she tweeted: “This might not seem much to a lot of artists out there, but this is the biggest thing that’s ever happened to me. THANK YOU!!!”