I think we can all agree that music purists/snobs are the worst, no matter what genre they claim to be a fan of. Thankfully Bring Me The Horizon’s newest album, POST HUMAN: NeX GEn, spits in the face of those people and their expectations of what constitutes “metal” music. Acting as sequel of sorts to 2020’s POST HUMAN: SURVIVAL HORROR, this album demonstrates a widespread mastery over multiple subgenres, both new and old, incorporating them together in ways that make my ears happy.
Tracks like R.i.p. (duskCOre Remix) and LosT are a hyper-pop metal fusion that I think anyone can find a massive amount of enjoyment with. Both with huge choruses and fun breakdowns that incorporate the signature glitchy electronics sounds that define this album.
At the other end of the spectrum, you have a track like AmEN! Which harnesses some of that amazing post-hardcore/modern metalcore energy, with heavy riffs and guttural screams. And to throw another style into the mix, it features a trap-metal-esque verse from Lil Uzi Vert. Again, this is all held together by an amazing chorus that feels like a rallying cry for all who listen.
This album still has more to offer, with tracks like sTraNgeRs and DiE4u showing off a more emotional side that this band does so well. These both invoke the feelings that the old days of Metalcore and Pop-punk harnessed so well, but for a new and fresh audience.
While NeX GEn has so much more to offer, I want to wrap up by discussing the final track on this album, DIg It. This feels like the most experimental and modern interpretation of progressive metal that Bring Me the Horizon has ever produced. Feeling akin to Sleep Token in some parts, especially with the 5-minute runtime. Incorporating trap type beats as well as heavier electronic type instrumentals and a metal breakdown halfway through the track. With lead singer Oli Sykes showing off some amazing vocals on this track and throughout the rest of the album, this feels like a clear homage to the ever-shifting landscape that is the metal scene.
I feel with this breakdown of genre expectations Bring Me The Horizon remains at the forefront of modern metal and for a good reason. There is so much to love here even if you are not as invested in the metal scene as your typical metalhead. Pure emotion and Innovative production make this one of my favorite albums to come out in the past few years.