Bring me the Horizon - Come of age in Belgium!

June 29th 2014

Dessel, Graspop Festival, Belgium

****

BMTH progress intelligently!

Graspop Metal Meeting

Bring me the Horizon ***1/2 are one of the bands I have been looking forward to all weekend. They are a band that has evolved with time and are not afraid to try something new, even if it doesn't get accepted. And when they open with 'Can you feel my Heart' one of the songs that has got the most acclaim recently you can see they have moved a long way from when they brought 'Pray for Plagues' on the World.

OK you might prefer different albums by Bring me the Horizon because they are all so different, but everyone has to admit how good each album is in it's own way and they all really stand out. I love how the new material off 'Sempiternal' almost has a soundtrack feel to it and builds up as it goes on and singer Oli Sykes has really grown up vocally since his early days and stands proud as a man at the front of the stage, being now accepted by fans of all genres of Metal and Rock.

'Shadow Moses' has a real anthem feel to it and the killer riff really seems to launch the crowd off into motion with pits starting all over the place. I love how the band really launch at you in the fast bits and the groove really stands out on it's own as it brings you into the beat downs. I would say Bring me the Horizon aren't as chaotic as they used to be, but they still know how to put on a good show as they scream out the lyrics "This is Sempiternal!!!".

This is just great stuff by the Sheffield band and your gripped into every minute of it. Ok they don't play anything from their really early releases but 'Diamonds aren't Forever' and 'Chelsea Smile' from 'Suicide Season' are welcomed like old friends, even if they sound a touch different these days. These songs give the fans a chance to have a good scream and get some of their aggression out, while new song 'The House of Wolves' gives you a chance to go even more crazy. With it's stop start rhymes and furious attitude this is a song that you have to pay attention to and you can't ignore it.

In comparison 'Go to Hell, for Heaven's Sake' is a lot softer but has a melody that is really good to sing to. The band do play mostly material off their new record in their set which also includes the dynamic 'Empire (Let them Sing)' and the brilliant 'Antivist' and closing number 'Sleepwalking'. So if your a fan of the new material you really got what you wanted, but their wasn't much here for fans of the original material which I feel has been a little too forgotten. I love the beginning of last song 'Sleepwalking', which is one of the most commercial songs the band have done, but we all have to grow and I feel this is a good direction for them. If you have not seen Bring me the Horizon live or listened to their new album 'Sempiternal' I strongly advise you do because I really enjoyed their set.

Bring me the Horizon - Setlist
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Can you feel my Heart
Shadow Moses
Diamonds aren't Forever
The House of Wolves
Go to Hell, for Heaven's Sake
Empire (Let them Sing)
Chelsea Smile
Antivist
Sleepwalking

Review and Photo's by Dave Deadsy