Amo is Bring Me The Horizon's most polarizing, boundary shattering album to date. Metal head purists may be distraught by the lack of breakdowns that the band is dishing out while others praise their ability to unapologetically delve into pop and electronic territory.
Since the beginning of their career they have shown a steady progression towards a more accessible sound that inevitably lead to the creation of Amo. Compare the stylistic choices between Suicide Season and That's The Spirit and suddenly their poppy direction on this release seems less startling.
They are proving that music can be heavy in unexpected ways. Medicine and fresh bruises demonstrate a unique juxtaposition between the bubblegum pop sensibilities with spiteful lyrical themes. Even their electronically driven songs contain the looming sense of darkness and dread that Bring Me The Horizon is notorious for.
The album's misstep that showed a tinge of weakness is the song mother tongue. The falsetto is a nice touch but the vibe is too sugar sweet for me. This song doesn't hit as hard as the other tracks and doesn't bring a chill down my spine the way the other singles did.
When I heard nihilist blues (feat. Grimes) for the first time, I envisioned myself moving in slow motion on a dark, crowded dance floor with laser lights and the heavy bass beating in my chest. This is one of the biggest risks of the album that paid off. I never would have expected a track like this from Bring Me The Horizon and they pulled it off with stunning success.
I have to say that the standout track is sugar honey ice & tea. It gives us the edgy, hard rock instrumentation and breakdowns that old school BMTH followers are craving. The fast pace and contagiously catchy melody will make this an instant fan favorite.
The album ends on a melodic, emotional note with I don't know what to say. This ballad showcases their softer side in a heartbreaking, poetic, and grandiose fashion. The violins add a special touch that will leave listeners pulling their jaw up from the ground.
Personally, I think BMTH reached their peak when Sempiternal was released. It was bold, aggressive, and hit our senses in all the right ways. Amo is a logical progression but didn't provide a jarring first impression in the same way. I will always be chasing the high that I felt when I heard the intro to Can You Feel Me Heart? for the first time. That level of intensity was not achieved on this album either, unfortunately.
However, if I refrain from comparing past and present BMTH then my dissapointment quickly dissolves. I admire their bold, daring approach on Amo and is still going to become a mainstay in my music collection. There is no doubt that their leading single Mantra will remain on the radio waves for years to come.
The beauty of this album is that they are bridging the gap between the metal and mainstream music worlds. Consider this - average rock radio listeners that latch on to singles like Mantra or Medicine may attend a show and become exposed to their older metalcore hits in the process. This could bring more exposure to younger heavy bands and continue expanding our music scene. They aren't straying from their roots, they are simply spreading them further.
To those expecting Pray For Plagues 2.0 - you are going to be hugely disappointed by this album. If that's the case then enjoy Oliver Sykes' merciless self awareness and clever tone on the track Heavy Metal. They have no remorse for their new-found musical identity and there is no turning back.
On the other hand, if you can let go of any preconceived notions and appreciate quality music of all genres then you will applaud the colossal ambition it took for Bring Me The Horizon to craft this confine-crushing masterpiece.
I hope Bring Me The Horizon's new-found mainstream success sparks boundless creativity for more rock bands to bridge the genre gap in 2019.
Comments