Post Human: Survival Horror - Bring Me The Horizon
POST HUMAN: SURVIVAL HORROR is a breath of fresh air after hitting a bit of a slump in the middle of the Bring Me the Horizon discography. I remember a buddy told me about this EP not long after it was released, trying to convince me that the band was back to making Metal music. I brushed it off at first, but my curiosity set in, and I had to check it out for myself. While the EP isn’t quite a return to Deathcore, it’s certainly a return to Metalcore, with some Nu Metal and Electronicore sprinkled in. This is honestly one of the most impressive returns to a band’s former sound I’ve seen, reminiscent of Linkin Park’s 2024 return with From Zero (though their return was a bit different).
This EP is heavy on creating an atmosphere and exploring tough themes. Lyrically, it’s politically charged, with a few songs inspired by President Trump’s various misguided/ill-informed speeches and ramblings. The album also touches on themes of oppression, rising and rebelling, desensitization toward the bad news in the world, the COVID-19 pandemic, drug abuse, and our abusive relationship with nature. As for the “vibe”, I can’t help thinking of Resident Evil, the T-Virus, and Raccoon City when I hear “Dear Diary” and “Parasite Eve”. The EP feels like the soundtrack to a Resident Evil game! Speaking of video games, Mick Gordon (who scored 2016’s Doom reboot and Doom: Eternal) contributed to the production on 6 of the 9 tracks here, further shaping the sound and feel, which I consider an incredible addition!
I can honestly say that I love every song on this EP. I’ve listened to it front to back more times than I can count! Several of these songs have made it to my running playlists over the years, especially “Kingslayer”. It’s a hype song featuring BABYMETAL and damn-near Deathcore screams from Oli. I implore you to listen to the entire EP, as each song is a fun ride and heavier than you’d think. Despite all the chaos and fun, there is still a moment of sincerity, found on the final track. “One Day the Only Butterflies Left Will Be In Your Chest As You March Towards Your Death” is a beautiful ballad featuring Amy Lee of Evanescence, with her and Oli delivering a chilling song that isn’t just about relationships, but our relationship to Mother Nature. Oli’s clean vocals on this track easily propel him toward the top of the list of great Metal vocalists for me. The song also serves as a beautiful end to an album of chaos, allowing you to reflect before the song delivers one final heavy blow at the end.
In a lot of ways, POST HUMAN: SURVIVAL HORROR sounds like a more grown-up There Is a Hell, which is probably the reason I gravitate to it so much. The EP continues to blend heavy Metalcore with electronics effortlessly, like on their previous releases, but it’s more polished than those. Being an EP, everything is more focused than a full record, cutting out any “fluff” or filler, allowing it to run full force out the gate. If you’re a fan of the Suicide Season to Sempiternal era, you definitely need to check out POST HUMAN: SURVIVAL HORROR.