Bring Me the Horizon, amo | Album Review 💿

After a four-year hiatus, English rock band Bring Me the Horizon returns with an alluring, bold & incredibly eclectic 6th studio LP, amo.

One thing’s clear – we are not experiencing Sempiternal Bring Me the Horizon anymore.  The English rock band, formerly associated with metalcore and such, delivers a bold, experimental and “emotional” new album, amo.  Amo arrives nearly four years (three-and-a-half if you want to be technical) after That’s the Spirit (2015).  Fans who hoped there was another “Shadow Moses” may be disappointed with the pop leanings of amo.  That said, many should honestly appreciate the risks that Oli Sykes and company take, and just maybe, embrace some of them.  Here’s food for thought – would Amo bet more respected as a bold artistic statement if it weren’t released by Bring Me the Horizon?

“I apologise if you feel something”

If you went into amo without listening to any of the advance singles, then “I apologise if you feel something” confirms that Bring Me the Horizon are going for quite the ‘about face.’ The synths are abundant, as is Sykes’ falsetto and sleek, electronic-infused production work.  Clearly, this is not metalcore, more pop-/electronic-infused rock or even under the umbrella of being alternative.

Promo single ✓ “MANTRA” features ‘in-your-face’ sounds from the onset. It’s boisterous, rhythmic, and set in a minor-key.  In the spirit of metal, metalcore, post-hardcore, and etc., that’s awesome.  Perhaps even more awesome is the playful, tortured lyricism throughout. Sykes makes lots of references to religion, faith, spirituality, beginning at the top of the first verse.    The second verse continues the tortured sentiment, as he delivers a depressing, hypothetical scenario. Vocally, he sounds beastly. He exhibits coolness on the verses, contrasting with potent, powerful, whiny, upper register vocals on the chorus. The chorus summarizes the sentiment of “MANTRA” – people never change, it’s the same old ideas and way of living.

“Before the truth will set you free, it’ll piss you off
Before you find a place to bee, you’re gonna lose the plot
Too late to tell you now, one ear and right out the other one
‘Cause all you ever do is chant the same old mantra.”

The bridge confirms religious contempt, atheism, and skepticism from the band. The change of pace on the bridge is a major selling point for this superb record.

“Nihilist blues”

Amo remains intriguing with ✓ “Nihilist blues,” which brings the ever-unique Grimes aboard. The second longest record of the LP, it’s also among the most elite and most distinct.  Sykes oscillates between grittier chest-fueled vocals and his lighter, more pop-oriented falsetto. Grimes serves up light vocals, which contrast the driving, dynamic, and rhythmic backdrop accompanying her.  Ultimately, the five-and-a-half-minute cut drips in its eclecticism – elements of minimalist electronica fused with rock and pop, not to mention a smidgen of eccentricity. “In the dark” is more accessible, yet still much kinder and gentler than the music Bring Me the Horizon has delivered in the past.  The ‘pop’ is amped-up, the rock turned down, yet the results are successful.  The chorus is simply irresistible:

“So, don’t swear to God, He never asked you
It’s not his heart you drove a knife through
It’s not his world you turned inside out
Not his tears still rolling down
Jesus Christ, you’re so damn cold…”

“Wonderful Life”

✓ “Wonderful Life”, is a great blend of rock and pop, with clear-cut crossover appeal. Following the intro, the intensity ratchets up.  “Wonderful Life” ends up being aggressive, set in a minor key, with an electrifying groove, bass line, and sick guitars.  Sykes performs the first and second verses as well. On the first, he references infamous serial killer Ed Gein: “Looked on the bright side, got keratitis / And you can’t sit there unless you’re righteous / I wear a happy face like I’m Ed Gein / I feel all numb now, is that a feeling?” He follows up with a rather ‘tortured’, incredibly energetic chorus:

“‘Lone, getting high on Saturday night
I’m on the edge of a knife
Nobody cares if I’m dead or alive
Oh, what a wonderful life.”

Sykes’ ‘wonderful life’ continues in all its glory on the second verse, before being joined by Dani Filth (Cradle of Filth) on the third verse.  Notably, verse three is captivating lyrically, featuring a mix of chanted and sung vocals (“I got a Type 2 kinda thirstiness / A far-out otherworldliness / And one day this might hurt me less / But everybody knows I’m still down”). “Wonderful Life” runs a bit long, but features great production, and an aggressive, kickass performance.

“Ouch” 

“Ouch” is more of an interlude than anything else.  That said, it’s in line with much of the more experimental, modern records that grace amo.  In other words, it’s an about face from the grittier “Wonderful Life.” It’s brief, but the listener is blessed (or damned) with some memorable lyrics, most notably “And I know I said you could drag me through hell / But I hoped you wouldn’t fuck the devil.” 

“I can’t save you from yourself / When all you give a shit about is everybody else.” The healing power of “Medicine”, the third single from the LP, is a different sort of ‘healing’ for Sykes who wants her to experience “A taste of [her] own medicine.” He isn’t happy throughout the course of the record.  On the first verse, he makes it clear, “You rained on my heart for far too long / Couldn’t see the thunder for the storm.” On the briefer second verse, familiar lines recur from the first with slight variation:

“Some people are a lot like clouds, you know
(Clouds, you know, clouds, you know)
‘Cause life’s so much bright when they go
And I spent too long in a place I don’t belong
I couldn’t see the thunder for the storm.”

Sykes remains irritable on the pre-chorus, bringing the aforementioned “A taste of your own medicine” into the memorable chorus.  He wants retribution.  Later, the bridge is derived from the second half of the first verse (“‘Cause I cut my teeth and bit my tongue / Till my mouth was dripping blood…”), While the beginning of each verse returns as the outro. This was an early indication of more pop sensibility surrounding amo, though the chorus section goes hard.

“Sugar honey ice & tea”

“You could tell the Messiah / His pants are on fire / I politely decline…” Damn! Despite continual references to atheism, Give Bring Me the Horizon credit for making the ‘shit’ taste delicious via ✓ “Sugar honey ice & tea” (“We’re so full of / Sugar, honey, ice, and tea”). The production bangs hard – both synths/programming and the souped-up, dirty and distorted guitars.  That shit’s awesome, but ✓ “Why you gotta kick me when I’m down?” is even more dynamic, blending rock, hip-hop, and classical seamlessly.  What makes “Why you gotta kick me when I’m down?” so good? A primary school children’s choir, badass brass, haunting strings, and even some pop-rap style vocals from Sykes.  Furthermore, he’s loose, dropping a couple of f-bombs (“Oh, God, what the fuck have you done? / I loved your like daughters, I loved you like sons”).  Among the crème de la crème of Amo.

 Going even more experimental, “Fresh bruises” is limited lyrically, mostly propelled by the lyrics, “Don’t you try to fuck with me / Don’t you hid your love.”  Furthermore, those looking for the rock sensibilities of the likes of “MANTRA,” “Wonderful Life,” or even “Why you gotta kick me when I’m down?” may be disappointed.  As an electronic soundscape, it’s quite captivating. ✓ “Mother tongue” is more traditional – well – in the context of amo. Sykes sings beautifully here, backed by rhythmic, yet a relatively mellow backdrop.  He achieves a bit more power on the memorable chorus, but also opts for falsetto for the highest notes within the melody. Give him credit for his dedication and tenderness.

“Heavy metal”

After going soft, penultimate record “Heavy metal” (featuring Rahzel) goes harder, set in a minor key and bringing back some grittier guitars.  Even with guitars involved, it’s quite modern, with beatboxing and sleek synths. “I don’t know what to say” closes out the adventurous album with a rhythmic string loop, acoustic guitars, pummeling drums, and later, roaring electric guitars. It’s not the tour de force of amo, but another ear-catching showcase.

Final Thoughts 

Ultimately, different folks will have very different opinions of amo.  Hardcore fans of Bring Me the Horizon very well may cry foul – this is a very different album for the English rock band.  Others, more open-minded, will embrace the experimental spirit and willingness of BMTH to go against the grain.  Personally, this is an intriguing affair – a great album to kickstart 2019.

✓ Gems: “MANTRA,” “Nihilist blues,” “Wonderful Life,” “Sugar honey ice & tea,” “Why you gotta kick me when I’m down?” & “Mother tongue”

Bring Me the Horizon • amo • RCA • Release: 1.25.19

Photo Credit: RCA