Emotional depth, polished production and moments of genuine experimentation.

Another Miracle, the ninth studio album from Of Mice & Men, marks a confident return: self-produced, self-recorded and entirely in the band’s own hands. With twelve tracks (“A Waltz,” “Troubled Water,” “Safe & Sound,” “Hourglass, Wake Up,” “Flowers,” “Another Miracle,” “Contact,” “Parable,” “Somewhere in Between,” “Swallow” and “Infinite”), the record balances soaring melodic hooks with bone-crushing breakdowns, channeling the band’s signature metalcore energy while pushing them into fresh emotional terrain.

The album opens with “A Waltz,” a deceptively gentle beginning that undercuts its graceful title with a heavy, mid-tempo weight. It’s one of the record’s most powerful bookends: intimate yet expansive. “Troubled Water” follows, leaning into darker waves of atmosphere before dropping into a raw, aggressive chorus. This track in particular highlights their ability to juxtapose vulnerability and strength.

On “Safe & Sound,” the band leans into soaring clean vocals layered over steady rhythmic guitars and powerful drumming. It’s a more accessible moment on the record, offering a melodic refuge among heavier terrain. Then comes “Hourglass,” where pounding riffs feel like the ticking of time, encapsulating existential dread in both its lyrical and musical urgency.

“Wake Up” stands out for its experimental leanings. The song weaves delicate, almost shoegaze-like clean tones with bursts of distortion and aggressive energy. It shows that the band, while capable of relentless heaviness, is also unafraid to embrace a softer and more reflective side both musically and lyrically. “Flowers” continues that exploration as brooding verses give way to a chorus that blooms emotionally while the instrumentation shifts between gentle ambience and gritty aggression.

The title track, “Another Miracle,” showcases some of the album’s greatest strengths. It is melodic and anthemic but also deeply personal. The chorus is uplifting, while the verses carry a desperation that grounds the song in fundamental human longing. On this track, and throughout the album, Aaron Pauley’s clean and harsh vocals both shine, providing the songwriting with emotional contrast and weight.

“Contact” and “Parable” feel like a thematic pair because each explores connection and meaning in a fractured world. “Contact” pulses with a modern rhythmic drive, while “Parable” feels more narrative and introspective. “Somewhere in Between” bridges the two with a bittersweet melody that reflects on uncertainty and sits between hope and regret.

“Swallow” then brings in a heavier stomp anchored by deep breakdowns and an aggressive delivery. It may be one of the album’s most viscerally intense moments. Finally, “Infinite” closes the album with a sense of resolution. It reads as both a lament and a declaration.

What’s compelling about Another Miracle is how it does not settle for safe metalcore. The band, now fully self-producing, appears to have used their creative freedom to push themselves to the limit.

Overall, Another Miracle does not reinvent the metalcore wheel, but it might refine it. With emotional depth, polished production and moments of genuine experimentation, Of Mice & Men offers a mature, layered record that feels like a true milestone in their discography. Whether you lean into its anthemic choruses or its crushing breakdowns, there is something here that reminds you that sometimes we really do need another miracle.