Bring Me the Horizon
Sempiternal

Release Date: 2013 | Tracklist

Sempiternal is a fantastic album. It is the perfect example of an okay band showing signs of transforming into a great one. Bring Me the Horizon have perfected their particular brand of metalcore with their fourth LP by blending it seamlessly with an electronic sound and small hints of pop influence. On this album Bring Me the Horizon have something to say, and they wanna make sure you hear it.

Sempiternal's opening gives you a good idea of the direction the band is headed. The first song on the album, Can You Feel My Heart, opens with a blaringly loud keyboard riff that continues throughout most of the song. Electronics have become a more prominent part of Bring Me the Horizon's sound on Sempiternal, being featured on almost every song on the record. Most of the songs use the electronics to accentuate themselves and give them a grander scale, as well as make them seem a bit more symphonic. The electronics never feel like a crutch.

The lyrics and vocal delivery on this record also deserve some praise with frontman Oli Sykes writing some of the band's most emotionally charged lyrics and providing what is easily the angriest, loudest, most intense vocal performance out of any of the band's previous efforts. His hardcore-esque screaming is abrasive yet accessible. His singing is light yet impassioned. The lyrics cover topics like religion, angst, hatred, and empowerment. Oliver's verses and vocals on Sempiternal are easily the most memorable part of the record and genuinely make you feel something.

The instrumentals on Sempiternal are also very impressive, with the majority of tracks being fast paced and in your face. The band's hardcore punk influence can be felt on songs like The House of Wolves, Antivist, and Go to Hell, for Heaven's Sake. The guitars are very punchy and the bass is hard hitting and deep. The breakdowns on this album are powerful, effective, and never overdone to the point where they become boring. As previously mentioned, the keyboards are used tastefully and add to the overall experience of the album giving the songs that extra oomph that helps give them a lasting impression.

All-in-all, Bring Me the Horizon's fourth full length album is an extremely fun ride that, at its core, is hard hitting, memorable and features some of the most enjoyable tracks the band has ever put out. Sempiternal is a sign of a band in metamorphosis. Bring Me the Horizon obviously want to stop being referred to as "that one band the scene kiddies like" and start being recognized as a colossal force in the realm of metalcore; and I say this album is damn fine start.

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3.6 great

Rank: #0 for 2013