British rock band Bring Me The Horizon (BMTH) has become somewhat a polarizer in the metal/rock community. With their earlier works being in true deathcore style, the band slowly started to change their sound to the more traditional and mainstream, and experimenting with new material to the point where it makes them sound more pop oriented. Subsequently their fanbase has now split in two camps, ones that like their earlier aggressiveness and one that enjoy their new more mellow style. Myself, I can be placed in the middle, being that I value the most their transitional album Sempiternal, which started to move to a more melodic side, but still delivered a punch. Their latest album Amo, which was release on January 25th of this year, was critically acclaimed. Yes, it is a 180 degree turn from Count Your Blessings and Suicide Season, but musical quality and songwriting are impeccable.
So how are the fans reacting to these changes? The first US tour First Love was a success, though it was cut short because of Oli Sykes ruptured vocal chord. The venues were filled with screaming girls wishing to sing along to Follow You, Medicine and Wonderful Life, and metal music fans wishing to circle pit to Shadow Moses, Antivist and The House Of Wolves. The band delivered to both adding also their deathcore medley consisting of Medusa, The Comedown and The Diamonds Aren’t Forever.
The current Second Base Tour delivers more of Amo, combined with spectacular fire, smoke and dancers performance. Opening up was their hit song from Amo called Mantra, while following up with the more aggressive The House Of Wolves from Sempiternal, and then a quick return to Amo was made with Medicine and Wonderful Life.
After a five minute break to change from white jumpsuits to their regular clothes, the British group came back out roaring with a performance of Shadow Moses. Though, unlike during the First Love Tour there was no deathcore medley, instead the band performed The Diamonds Aren’t Forever in its entirety and to the delight of all the moshers they got to jump around under the sound of Antivist too, with the help of British rapper Scarlxrd who is known to combine trap music with heavy metal.
The band rounded up their set performing for the encore Can You Feel My Heart and Throne, two wildly popular songs and favorably received by both sides of the BMTH fan community.
All together their performance was very professional, nicely choreographed and with eye catching big screens in the background. Whatever we say about their music style changes, the band always seems to connect with a large group of music fans, no matter the spectrum of genre, and perform great shows.
PHOTO GALLERY
Photos by Andris Jansons
