Review Summary: past the horizon
For as divisive and polarizing as Bring Me The Horizon has been – and continues to be – it’s hard to fault the band’s intrepidation. When the Sheffield rockers dropped their ticket to the big times with 2013’s monstrously popular
Sempiternal, virtually every single contemporary metalcore band were struggling to play catch-up and when they eventually did, BMTH had already moved on to greener pastures. 2015’s
That’s The Spirit and 2019’s
Amo only perpetuated the band’s success, throwing caution to the wind by way of incorporating elements of electronica, pop, industrial and trap; proving that they weren’t afraid to shed their skin even if it meant upsetting swatches of the band’s fanbase who were longing for a return to the band’s deathcore roots.
This year sees the band teaming up with co-producer Mick Gordon of video-game soundtrack fame for a 9-track EP in the form of
Post Human: Survival Horror, a release that’s bound to scratch the itch for any type of BMTH-fan, as the band gracefully reintroduces musical elements most thought would have laid dormant indefinitely. D-beats and blast beats make a triumphant return on the crushing opener “Dear Diary,”, a track that unshackles drummer Mat Nicholls for what is arguably a career-highlight for the percussionist. Frontman Oliver Sykes similarly brings back his belching growls and sing/scream vocals heavily reminiscent of the band’s older discography, resulting in a flamethrower of metal-tinged thrills that are smartly juxtaposed against Mick Gordon’s industrial backdrop.
Other highlights include the colossal chorus of “Obey” and the Linkin Park-worship songs “Teardrops” and “1x1” – the closest any band has ever come to pristine, fully inoffensive nu-metal that admirably pays homage to the legacy left behind by Chester Bennington. It’s a fitting change of pace considering Oli Sykes joined Linkin Park on stage during the band’s memorial performance dedicated to the late singer. Hands-down the band’s biggest musical curveball comes in the form of the Babymetal collaboration on “Kingslayer”. This strange mixture of Celldweller-esque electronics, dance-hall, 2010’s era Bring Me The Horizon, coupled with Suzuka Nakamoto’s puzzling blend of both japanese and english lyrics is the type of Frankenstein-like, musical abomination that has to be heard to be believed. It’s a track that falls firmly in-between the realms of sheer tom f*ckery and pure genius. The most notable and irksome habit on
Post Human… are the repetitious song structures, which far too often fall into a trite rhythm of intro-verse-pre-chorus-chorus and then an obligatory heavy section in the bridge, where the band overtly tries to pander to the “where is the breakdown?” crowd, who voice their grievances everytime that band puts out material that’s even remotely radio-friendly. Lastly, “Ludens” is too much of a slow-burn with its choppy, anticlimactic chorus and only passably enjoyable electronic-ambiance, making it the most disposable offering on the EP.
I’ll be the first to admit that I didn’t care for BMTH during their supposed, skinny-ripped jeans and chug-a-lug-riff “heydays”. Only when the band finally expressed a desire to leave their cringe-worthy lyrical content and image behind was I intrigued by what the future held for the band and it’s gratifying to see that potential coalesce into a broad spectrum of sounds; from the inclusion of Amy Lee (Evanescence) on the EP’s closing track to opting for uncanny features like Yungblud, Babymetal & Mick Gordon. Whether or not this level of experimentation will sit right with everyone will likely be yet another subject for debate for the band’s ever splintering fanbase, but rest assure that
Post Human... will at very least turn a lot of heads, if only because Bring The Horizon successfully proves once again that they’ll stubbornly go where few others dare.
Standout tracks:
Dear Diary,
Teardrops
Obey
Kingslayer
1x1
