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I remember the night of Sempiternal's release. I was 15, hunching over my first dell laptop- eagerly awaiting the first released stream. The day of its release, I remember begging my mum to allow me to go to a signing happening at Banquet Record in Kingston. I asked them to sign my school bag, which I proudly carried. It's one of the only albums I listen to and still get that twinge of teenage excitement and awe. I'm far from alone in this- the album fundamentally changed metalcore- and, further, the music industry's direction. Ten years later, I reflect on its immense impact on fans, musicians, music, and the band.

The group was formally founded in 2004 when the members were just 15-17. It comprised Sheffield-based Oli Sykes (vocals), Matt Nicholls (drums), Lee Malia (guitar), Matt Kean (bass) and Curtis Ward (2004- 2009). Bring Me The Horizon's roots were solidly founded in screamo, a delectable mixture of swept scene fringes, classic death screams and heavy breakdowns. 

Their journey from beginning to present has not been straightforward. Around the time the writing and recording process for Sempiternal began, Sykes struggled with a drug addiction that he says almost killed him. At a 2014 Alternative Press acceptance speech, Sykes opened up: 

"I was addicted to a drug called ketamine… Everyone wanted to fucking take me to hell – but they didn't. They stood by me. They supported me through all that shit, and we wrote Sempiternal because of it."

'Sleepwalking' and 'Hospital For Souls' are both recorded tracks heavily touching on his experience of drug addiction, suffering and recovery. For Em Lodge, bassist and singer in band Delaire The Liar, Sykes’ vulnerable lyrical honesty was huge: ”I remember hearing 'Hospital For Souls' and connecting with those lyrics so deeply that it felt like they had come out of my head, it was the first time I'd felt like that listening to music before and it has truly made a lifelong impact on me and the music I make now.” 

"the band are trendsetters and it all started with that album."

Sempiternal also saw the arrival of a new band member, Jordan Fish, praised as a fundamental turning point for their musical direction. Oisin Flynn, a London-based fan and producer, reflects: "When they brought Jordan Fish into the band, they added this whole new level of production, with synths, arrangements and songwriting... the band are trendsetters and it all started with that album." Some say the band wouldn't be where it is today without Fish’s entrance. The first track, 'Can You Feel My Heart'’s iconic opening synth drops never fails to excite, and every next track is a unique listening experience. 'Shadow Moses', in particular, embodies musical perfection in little over four minutes. 

Its high production value and unique genre-bending fluidity led to the band’s tipping point, quickly soaring from emo band to mainstream pop-rock success. The album immediately skyrocketed to number three in the UK album charts- eventually going gold in the UK and the USA. In the past, the metalcore genre felt cordoned off and gatekept. It felt like the band granted hypothetical permission for genre peers to follow suit and musically expand. As a result, bands such as Parkway Drive, Architects, While She Sleeps, and countless more took influence. 

Sam, co-host of the metal podcast That's Not Metal, seconds this: "Everything from the approach to songwriting to how electronic elements now sounded in metalcore was influenced. It showed what was possible for metalcore bands, especially in the UK, if you were willing to step out and put your undeniable stamp on the genre." 

However, their move into mainstream success was not an expected part of the plan. An interview from 2013 in The Guardian hears Malia say, "We'll never sell out arenas; if you get that in your hopes, you're only gonna be a let-down."

He could not have been more wrong. In recent years they exploded with monumental live performances, and it didn't have to be for the emo kids anymore. We had fans of all genres of music flock to see the band. Highlights include headlining Reading Festival, a Royal Albert Hall show with a live orchestra, and multiple arenas sell-out dates. In addition, they have recently been announced as headliners for the 20th anniversary of Download Festival in June this year.

Despite this, Sempiternal's release was not without its critics. The change was too drastic for some, and fans who had followed them from their deathcore beginning expressed disappointment. I remember some fans feeling like they'd lost their roots, which had initially attracted some of their followers. In addition, their move to a more commercial sound led to some accusations of being sell-outs. Sykes reprimanded this in 2016 in a Louder Sounds interview, saying: "We like pop music. We like catchy songs. But we also like heavy songs. None of it feels forced – none of it feels like we're selling out. It's real, and it's good." 

"With Sempiternal, BMTH showed that musical limits are only as significant as we allow them."

Their move felt authentic, and subsequent releases display their malleability. In 2019, they released an ambient electronic EP with a name too long to type here. It was released with no warning and was their longest release, containinig a 24-minute experimental track. POST HUMAN: SURVIVAL HORROR came a year later, revisiting some of their earlier heavy influences. Perhaps their most surprising move was their collaboration with Ed Sheeran in 2020- a move no one saw coming. 

Since Sempiternal, they've transcended pretty much everyone’s expectations. So, what's next for them musically? It's impossible to know; perhaps that's part of their charm. With Sempiternal, BMTH showed that musical limits are only as significant as we allow them. 

For now, it's time to go and give the album another listen. 

Grab your copy of the Gigwise print magazine here.

More about: Bring Me The HorizonBMTH