A heavy dose of refreshing heavy metal

British metal band Bring Me The Horizon have been creating music since 2004, and earlier in October, the band released their newest record Post Human: Survival Horror. The instrumentation and vocals impact each tune with hard-hitting noise rife with head-banging potential. Oli Sykes’s vocals are dynamic, as he transitions to a higher and lower vocal tune on each track, and his keyboard and programming skills fill the background with sharp sounds that contribute to the craziness on each song. The guitar playing by Lee Malia and Matt Kean is solid due to how each note amplifies the compositions with high quality noises, Mat Nicholls’s drum playing is blazing with rapid fire beats, and Jordan Fish’s keyboarding and percussion playing adds depth and consistency. Post Human:Survival Horror is a strong offering, and Bring Me The Horizon have done a great job with crafting their music on this record.

Booming “Parasite Eve” has incredible keyboarding and digital programming by Sykes and Fish. The experimental noises and notes coming from Sykes and Fish introduce listeners to a quiet place before the rest of the band starts to create havoc. It is enjoyable to hear how well the keyboard and programming blends in with the rest of the instrumentation, as Sykes and Fish are able to smoothly transition to softer notes that can create the metallic sound the rest of the band is playing. The keyboards and programmed sounds are slightly outside of the band’s wheelhouse, but Sykes and Fish do a fantastic job with creating sounds that match the theme in “Parasite Eve.”

Heart-stopper “Obey” (feat. YUNGBLUD) is a catchy composition that displays wonderful guitar playing by Malia and Kean. Right off the bat, Malia blasts the sonic atmosphere with sharp, thundering riffs that will jolt the minds of people who are listening, and Malia’s bass guitar playing shakes the composition with deep and vibrant riffs that contribute to the endless madness. “Obey” may have beautifully sung vocals, but it is the guitar playing from Malia and Kean that steals the show with wild riffs and notes.

Screaming “Dear Diary,” demonstrates how high Sykes can sing to the lyrics while the band continues to play fast-paced music. The vocal style Sykes brings to this composition is righteous, as he emotionally yells out the lyrics in sheer rage. In the middle of the tune, Sykes’s vocal range turns lower because he is slowly speaking out the lyrics, and the sound of his deep voice contributes to the dark theme in this composition. “Dear Diary,” is a loud track which displays how strong Sykes can sing while the band is playing on a basic musical structure.

Pounding “Kingslayer” is the best track on Post Human: Survival Horror and sees Bring Me The Horizon collaborate with Japanese metal band Babymetal. Although both metal bands come from different cultures, their music styles blend well together because both sides maintain the same beat. Also, the vocals performed by Sykes, Suzuka Nakamoto and Moa Kikuchi blend in well together because all three vocalists sing close to unison. Sykes professionally screams out the lyrics while Nakamoto and Kikuchi sing in a harmonic way. “Kingslayer ” does have different vocal styles, but when all three vocalists sing with each other, the collaboration is absolutely beautiful.

The closing track “One Day The Only Butterflies Left Will Be in Your Chest As You March To Your Death” is a mouthful, but it’s a beautiful song that has incredible emotions behind it, the best part being the chemistry between Sykes and Evanescence lead singer Amy Lee. At the beginning, Sykes’s gloomy vocals can be heard singing and shrieking in agony, and when Lee sings, her vocals are low and delicate, complimenting the feeling of losing someone. The chemistry between Sykes’s and Lee is mesmerizing by how both singers pour out their hearts while performing. This track can leave listeners crying because the emotions are high while Sykes and Lee show how talented they are as vocalists.

Post Human: Survival Horror shows how Bring Me The Horizon is determined to create and play dynamic music that is capable of blowing the minds of people who are willing to listen.