Davey Jordan gives us a double shot with a look at two releases from Bring Me the Horizon. Including the four song debut release by the British metalcore heavyweights and their debut full length. Bring Me The Horizon - This Is What The Edge of Your Seat Was Made For
This four song debut release by British metalcore heavyweights Bring Me The Horizon is a solid album, although it is typical of what one would expect in such a release. Like the first albums of many a metalcore band, it bears the trademarks that betray the bands lack of maturity in songwriting and composition. Bring Me The Horizon, like most bands, appear to have a wide variety of influences that are all brought to bear on this recording. For example, the heavy chugs are reminiscent of the early work by bands like On Broken Wings and Blood Has Been Shed, while the more standard metal riffs and progressions call to mind Unearth, Himsa, As I Lay Dying and the like. Finally, the shrieking chaotic breakdowns instantly brought to mind Norma Jeans early material. The result of bringing to bear this eclectic mix of sounds and styles shows listeners that although the band possesses a good deal of technical skill and musicianship, it lacks the songwriting ability most bands that make it in this industry have. However, all things considered, this is a pretty cool record that represents a respectable effort by a promising young band.
Final Rating: 7/10
For Fans of: As I Lay Dying, Norma Jean, On Broken Wings.
Bring Me The Horizon - Count Your Blessings
Bring Me The Horizon comes out of the gates with a bang with its debut full length album Count Your Blessings. This album is an intense onslaught of unrelenting metalcore fury that promises to punish listeners and moshers alike. This album showcases more refined songwriting ability and musicianship than on their first EP, This Is What The Edge of Your Seat Was Made For. On this album, the band combines fast metal riffs with slower but devastating breakdowns. The fast riffs keep this album interesting, as do the interesting transitions the band employs, and the breakdowns help to give this record attitude and a razor-sharp edge. The vocals on the record are pretty angry and intense, and they mesh well with the music behind them. A lot of bands in this genre wrongly assume that if they play a breakdown, then immediately slow down the tempo and play it again, that this makes the breakdown that much heavier (i.e. The Devil Wears Prada). This is true in a limited number of circumstances, and Bring Me The Horizon knows this and wrote their music accordingly, which I appreciated. Bottom line, this is an intense, emotional and devastating record worth picking up.
Final Rating: 8 out of 10.
For Fans of: Bleeding Through, On Broken Wings, The Breathing Process