That's the Spirit [LP]

by Bring Me the Horizon

Overview

The 2013 release Sempiternal saw the English decibel pushers more or less obliterating their deathcore past with a soaring set of aggro-alt-rock anthems that were as darkly lush as they were emotionally punishing. That's the Spirit, Bring Me the Horizon's fifth studio long-player, completes that sea change by incorporating more electronic elements into the mix and moving even closer to the mainstream via a bevy of meaty, melodic hooks and fist-pumping, stadium-ready choruses that invoke names like Linkin Park, Avenged Sevenfold, 30 Seconds to Mars, and even late-'90s Metallica. What they haven't left behind is the generalist angst, as evidenced by second-hand embarrassment-inducing gems like "True friends stab you in the front" and "My heart's a hieroglyph, it talks in tongues," but Bring Me the Horizon's penchant for wallowing in social dystopia is tempered by their newfound proclivity for dabbling in big, unabashed pop pageantry. That they manage to keep the edges of those populist tendencies razor-sharp is what keeps That's the Spirit from dissolving into a puddle of alt-rock/nu metal bandwagon treacle. Standout cuts like "Throne," "Drown," "Doomed," and, most auspiciously, the fevered, pom-pom-led "Happy Song" are as snarky as they are apoplectic, with frontman Oliver Sykes, who relies almost solely on his clean voice this time around, delivering the bad news with measured conviction. What's most surprising is how natural it all feels, but that's due in large part to the long-form recalibration of the band's sound. By entering the mainstream one limb (album) at a time, Bring Me the Horizon are merely reaping what they've sown, and longtime fans should already feel acclimated to the water. ~ James Christopher Monger

Product Details

Release Date:	09/11/2015
Label:	Rca / Sony Music Entertainment
UPC:	0888751309012
Rank:	19028

Tracks

Disc 1

1. Doomed
2. Happy Song
3. Throne
4. True Friends
5. Follow You
6. What You Need
7. Avalanche
8. Run
9. Drown (New)
10. Blasphemy
11. Oh No

Disc 2

12. Doomed
13. Happy Song
14. Throne
15. True Friends
16. Follow You
17. What You Need
18. Avalanche
19. Run
20. Drown (New)
21. Blasphemy
22. Oh No

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Bring Me the Horizon   Primary Artist
Lee Malia   Guitar
Matt Kean   Bass
Matt Nicholls   Drums
Will Harvey   Violin
Oliver Sykes   Vocals
Jordan Fish   Electronics,Vocals (Background)
Maddie Gutter   Cello
Emma Fish   Vocals

Technical Credits

Ted Jensen   Mastering
Bring Me the Horizon   Composer
Oliver Sykes   Composer,Producer
Jordan Fish   Engineer,Producer
Dan Lancaster   Mixing
Al Groves   Engineer
Sam Winfield   Engineer
Nikos Goudinakis   Assistant Engineer
Maxim Scott   Artwork