Sheffield's original kings of metalcore, Bring Me The Horizon, are finally back and boy are they vying for Album of the Year. That's The Spirit comes two years after the critically acclaimed Sempiternal and it is HUGE. For their fifth studio album, Bring Me The Horizon wanted do things their way, so the album is self-produced from start to end and the result: bold, brave and big sounds.The album opens with Doomed and it sounds completely different to anything this band have ever released. But that's no bad thing. "I think we're doomed" cries Oli over vast club-worthy beats but he needn't worry, this band are far from doomed. The album continues into the previously released trio of Happy Song, Throne and True Friends. The cheers of the first are still as exciting as the first time you heard it, Throne is still as monumental as ever and the latter still punches you in the gut until you're throwing up the lyrics in perfect harmony with Oli himself. Follow You is a massive nod to sounds of pop; it's a song that is effortless and romantic and probably the furthest away these boys could get from the days of Count Your Blessings (their 2006 debut). What You Need has a melody which feels uncharacteristically buoyant for Bring Me The Horizon but the lyrics of "you make me wanna slit my wrists and play in my own blood" and a few gnarly riffs bring that mood straight back down and the grizzly nature that make this band what they are is restored. Avalanche is massive and the new version of Drown is to die for but it's the likes of Run, Blasphemy and Oh No that really push the new sound to extreme lengths. There's so much synth (and even some saxophone) but it works because it's entwined with pounding rock undertones. Above all, That's The Spirit embodies a sound this band are passionate about and that is why every single one of these songs is a triumph.
Many people will be terrified by such a big change in style, but that fear is unnecessary. This is still the same band and their roots are still undercurrents for their new sound. The lyrics are still incredibly powerful and the energy is still abundant. That's The Spirit aimed to catapult Bring Me The Horizon into new territories and not only has it done this but it has proven why they are one of the most important bands of their generation.
9/10
Listen to: Throne, What You Need
