Album Review

Bring Me The Horizon – Sempiternal

• 27th Mar 2013

Bring Me The Horizon are a band which many either Love, Hate or Love to Hate. Their earlier records were shunned by many, but their fans stuck by them. Now look – BMTH are on the verge of releasing one of this years most exciting albums, and a lot of metal music enthusiasts are going to have to learn to bite their tongue.

Sempiternal is a perfect progression from the last album, There Is A Hell…, and album opener ’Can You Feel My Heart’ is an amazing opener. A lot of synth and electronics on top of echoed instruments, it captures the feeling Sempiternal brings to the listener. Vocalist Oli Sykes softly whispers into the microphone the despair he feels, how he “can’t drown my demons / they know how to swim” before the song closes and gives way to the heavier ’House Of Wolves’.

The main criticism BMTH were given in their earlier years was Sykes’ voice, many claiming the frontman screamed “like a girl”. Now he has stepped away from that, albeit gradually from album to album, and now has one of metals most recognizable voices, one which easily swifts from screaming to singing – see ’And The Snake Starts To Sing’, one of the best songs on Sempiternal.

But Sempiternal is not about Sykes, it’s about the band, and how much BMTH have grown since their formation. Songs like current single ’Sleepwalking’ showcase each of the members talents – particularly that of drummer Matt Nicholls and new member Jordan Fish, whose keyboard skills play a major part in the sound of this album.

Another strong track off the album is ’Go To Hell, For Heaven’s Sake’, which has possibly the catchiest chorus you will hear on the record. This track see’s Lee Malia step up his guitar presence, as does the song ’Seen It All Before’. Matt Kean on bass also has time to shine, on tracks ’Antivist’ and namely the first released song, ’Shadow Moses’, which sees his chugging bass bring extra life to an already energetic track.

Each member has stepped up a gear on Sempiternal, and it is that which makes it such an exciting record to listen to. The only real issue with the album has nothing to do with the band – this leaked 2 months before it’s release. Albums leak, it’s part of the industry now and there’s very little anyone can do to combat it. But the problem with this leaking so early is that the initial surprise and thrill of listening to an album for the first time has been thwarted. Granted, the response to the album was positive and BMTH pushed the release date up a month. But, I can’t help but think most fans have had this since late February and now the idea of buying it may have diminished.

I, however, look forward to purchasing this album when it is officially released. This is, as I said, one of the most exciting albums to be released this year. And this is one to have in your collection, not in your Downloads folder.

Top Tracks: Sleepwalking, And The Snakes Start To Sing, Go To Hell, For Heaven’s Sake, Can You Feel My Heart

Venue: Sempiternal
Support Band: RCA Records