Bring Me The Horizon, 'Sempiternal': A permanent classic
- Static Surge
- Aug 18, 2024
- 3 min read
Arguably one of the most influential Metalcore albums of the 2010's, Bring me The Horizon's fourth studio album 'Sempiternal' (2013) remains a classic that I keep returning to.
I first discovered Sempiternal -and Bring Me The Horizon as a whole- in 2014 as an edgy wannabe emo teen seated on the rickety benches in secondary school, hunched over a friend's (very cracked) iPod Touch. She exclaimed that she'd discovered a band she thought I might like to hear, and like it I did- so much so that I went on a mission to HMV that Saturday and purchased a Sempiternal poster for my bedroom that remained in place for around 8 years. Over time, it became so crumpled that I had to let it go.
Upon listening to the entire album independently for the first time, the first track that really stuck with me was 'Shadow Moses'. The haunting vocals and opening synths at the beginning and end of the track never fail to give me chills, contrasting beautifully with Sykes' emotive lyrics. Named after a location from Hideo Kojima's 'Metal Gear Solid' and drawing inspiration from 'The Best Is Yet To Come', a song featured within the game, this song deserves all of the praise and acclaim it receives.
That being said, 'And The Snakes Start To Sing' is another hard-hitting track that doesn't receive anywhere near enough praise. It alternates swiftly between desperate howls and melodic verse, paused by beautiful string accompaniment before launching back into emotive screams.
Of course, it's impossible to discuss 'Sempiternal' without addressing the elephant in the room. 'Can You Feel My Heart' may be commonly associated with the 'gigachad' meme nowadays, but it's important to step back and appreciate it as a song rather than as a meme. Can You Feel My Heart explores the uncomfortable feeling of trying to explain to friends, family and yourself that you have a serious problem in need of addressing- Sykes cries direct apologies to his lover, mother, father and brother as though he recognises that this could easily be the end of the line if his struggles with addiction and depression fail to improve. As the opening track of the album, it sets the tone efficiently and gives the listener an idea of the heavy topics that will be discussed throughout its runtime.
This album cannot be called a masterpiece without giving immense credit to 'Hospital For Souls'. Clocking in at a whopping seven minutes, it's by far the longest song on the album- but seven minutes with this song is seven minutes very well spent. Hospital For Souls documents Sykes' journey through rehab; detailing conversations with medical professionals, his struggles with suicidal thoughts and the fear that things will never get better- yet hope and a desire to recover remains. The opening monologue sets the tone for what is to come- "...Funny thing is, all I ever wanted I already had / There's glimpses of heaven in every day / In the friends I have, the music I make, with the love I feel/ I just had to start again"
This short monologue is followed by a lone guitar, almost mimicking the sound of a siren- which fits perfectly with the underlying theme of this track. Soft vocals echo and ebb into emotive screams throughout as the orchestra swells, bursting into a final intense expression of emotion- which ends rather abruptly. This song is one I always return to on my most difficult days as a reminder that no suffering is permanent.
'Sempiternal' as a whole tells a gripping story of addiction and a subsequent desperate desire for recovery. It beautifully illustrates sinking to the darkest, lowest depths of depression, yet also paints a picture of hope and reminds the listener that there is a light at the end of the tunnel for those who choose to seek it.
Overall, 'Sempiternal' is a truly timeless listen worth returning to after neglecting for a few years- or an hour well spent for those who are yet to experience it.
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