That's the Spirit

For the 1924, 1933 and 1945 American films of the same name, see That's the Spirit (disambiguation).

That's the Spirit
Studio album by
Bring Me the Horizon
Released11 September 2015
Studio
Genre
Length45:00
Label
Producer
Bring Me the Horizon chronology
Live at Wembley
(2015) 		That's the Spirit
(2015) 		Live at the Royal Albert Hall
(2016)
Singles from That's the Spirit
  1. "Drown"
    Released: 21 October 2014
  2. "Happy Song"
    Released: 13 July 2015
  3. "Throne"
    Released: 24 July 2015
  4. "True Friends"
    Released: 20 November 2015
  5. "Follow You"
    Released: 26 February 2016
  6. "Avalanche"
    Released: 23 June 2016
  7. "Oh No"
    Released: 18 November 2016
Digital cover
Artwork used on digital streaming and download services

That's the Spirit is the fifth studio album by British rock band Bring Me the Horizon. The album was released on 11 September 2015,[1] and marks a departure from the group's metalcore roots, in favour of a less aggressive alternative rock and metal style.

The album debuted at number one in Australia and Canada, as well as number two on the UK Albums Chart and the US Billboard 200.[2][3] The album received universal acclaim from music critics.

Background

[edit]

The band started teasing the album in late June when the band started promoting images of a symbol of an umbrella, all in the form of tattoos, stickers and posters posted around England, which would later be revealed as a promotional symbol for the album's first single.[4][5] The band later released a short video in early July where the words "That's the spirit" were spoken in reverse.[6] On 13 July, the band announced they had left their previous label Epitaph Records and signed fully with Sony Music subsidiaries RCA and Columbia.[7]

In an interview with NME, vocalist Oliver Sykes confirmed the album title being That's the Spirit while also mentioning several song titles as "True Friends", "Avalanche", "Throne" and "Blasphemy".[8]

Writing and recording

[edit]

Keyboardist Jordan Fish played the role as producer for the album along with Sykes, considering an external producer unnecessary. The band also hired a personal fitness trainer during the album's recording process.[8][9]

Composition

[edit]

Influences, style and themes

[edit]

In an interview with NME, Sykes said that the album is a loose concept album about life's darker moods, such as depression, and a way of making light of it. He cited the alternative rock bands Jane's Addiction, Panic! at the Disco, Interpol and Radiohead as influences for the new album.[8] Jon Wiederhorn of Rolling Stone stated that the album marks a change for Bring Me the Horizon from a sound "undeniably rooted in metal" to a "sound full of ebb-and-flow dynamics inspired by indie rock, alternative music and pop" in an "evolution from artsy metalcore to cinematic pop rock", and that it sounds more like Muse and Linkin Park than Metallica and Lamb of God.[10] Similarly, Daniel Furnari of Blunt Magazine suggested that "That's The Spirit sees Bring Me The Horizon push things further than ever with a collection of stadium-standard alt-rock anthems more suited to Glastonbury than Warped Tour ... For perhaps the first time, Bring Me The Horizon have produced a record with no throwbacks to the Suicide Season days of outrageous mosh calls and downtuned riff insanity."[11]

Featuring characteristics of electronic music,[12] That's the Spirit contains songs of many genres including electronic rock,[13] alternative rock[11][14][15] alternative metal,[16][17][18] arena rock,[19] and hard rock[20] album by several online platforms, such as AllMusic, Toronto Sun, and Blunt Magazine. Its style has also been described as pop rock by some music critics.[10][15][21] Sites such as The Guardian and St. Cloud Times have described it as nu metal.[22][23]

Promotion and release

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The band's first single released from the album before its announcement was "Drown" on 21 October 2014. The second single was "Happy Song", released on 12 July 2015.[24] The third was "Throne", which was accompanied with a music video and the official announcement of the album's track listing and cover art.[5][25][26] Fish explains that "Throne" reflects the group's then current state of mind both musically and emotionally, going to say that it was one of the most straight forward songs they had recorded, but felt that it was an obvious choice for a single due to its immediate catchy-ness and level of energy.[10] "True Friends", was released as a single on 22 August along an official lyric video.[27][28][29] It was also released in form of a limited edition 7" vinyl.[30] A music video for the track "Follow You" was premiered on 16 March 2016 via the band's Vevo channel.[31] It was co-directed by frontman Oliver Sykes and Frank Borin.[32] On 26 February 2016, it was also released as a single in the form of a limited edition 7" vinyl.[33] "Avalanche" was released as a single on 23 June 2016, being played in Radio 1's Big Weekend. A live music video was also premiered for the song.[34][35][36] "Oh No" was released as the final single from That's the Spirit on 18 November 2016 in a radio edit version.[37] Its music video was directed by Isaac Eastgate and premiered via Rolling Stone on 3 November 2016.[38][39]

The band set up an intimate album launch performance on September 6, 2015, at the Rose Theatre, Kingston and embarked on a tour throughout October 2015 in North America, which also featured American festivals such as Aftershock Festival and Knotfest and was supported by metal band Issues and rock band Pvris.[40][41] The band also played a European Tour in November 2015 [42]

Reception

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Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic88/100[43]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[14]
Alternative Press[44]
Blunt Magazine[11]
DIY[45]
The Guardian[22]
Impericon90%[46]
Kerrang![47]
Metal Hammer[48]
Q[49]
Rock Sound10/10[19]

Like the band's last two albums, That's the Spirit was met with critical acclaim from music critics. At Metacritic (a review aggregator site which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 from music critics), based on 10 critics, the album has received a score of 88/100, which indicates "universal acclaim".[43]

Daniel Furnari of Blunt Magazine wrote: "[On That's the Spirit,] Oli Sykes powers through every enormous chorus and infectious verse with a confidence and finesse that would have you believe he’s been singing like this for years."[11] Andy Biddulph of Rock Sound stated that the band sounded "so accomplished" on the album, "bursting with fresh ideas" and says that no other band "incorporates synth and atmospherics into music" the way they did in the song "Run", and comparing Sykes' singing on "Avalanche" to Linkin Park.[19] James Christopher Monger at AllMusic stated "What's most surprising is how natural it all feels, but that's due in large part to the long-form recalibration of the band's sound. By entering the mainstream one limb (album) at a time, Bring Me the Horizon are merely reaping what they've sown, and longtime fans should already feel acclimated to the water." In addition to Linkin Park, Monger compared the choruses from the album to Avenged Sevenfold, Thirty Seconds to Mars and late 1990s Metallica.[14]

Accolades

[edit]

The album was ranked at number two in Alternative Press's "10 Essential Records of 2015" list.[50] Matt Crane of Alternative Press wrote that the album shows a "genuine evolution for the band."[50] He named "Happy Song" as providing the band "rock-radio potential" and "Throne" as "an aggressive, exotic take on the groove-based synth-rock" that was popularised by Linkin Park.[50] The album was included at number one on Rock Sound's top 50 releases of 2015 list.[51] That's the Spirit was nominated for Album of the Year at the 2016 Alternative Press Music Awards.[52]

Publication Accolade Year Rank
NME NME's Albums of the Year 2015 2015
49[53]

Commercial performance

[edit]

On 14 September 2015, The Official Chart Update reported that That's the Spirit was on track to debut atop the UK Albums Chart, being just 1,000 copies ahead of Keep the Village Alive by the Stereophonics.[54] However, four days later, after one of the closest chart battles of 2015, Keep the Village Alive beat That's the Spirit to number one by a margin of less than 1,300 copies, denying Bring Me the Horizon their first ever chart-topper.[55]

The album also debuted at number one in Australia, giving the band their third consecutive number-one album there. That's the Spirit has sold 130,000 copies in the US as of February 2016.[56]

Track listing

[edit]

All lyrics are written by Oliver Sykes; all music is composed by Bring Me the Horizon[57]

No.TitleLength
1."Doomed"4:34
2."Happy Song"3:59
3."Throne"3:11
4."True Friends"3:52
5."Follow You"3:51
6."What You Need"4:12
7."Avalanche"4:22
8."Run"3:42
9."Drown"3:42
10."Blasphemy"4:35
11."Oh No"5:01
Total length:45:00

Personnel

[edit]

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[57]

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications for That's the Spirit
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[94] Platinum 70,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[95] Gold 40,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[96] Gold 10,000‡
Germany (BVMI)[97] Gold 100,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[98] Gold 10,000‡
Sweden (GLF)[99] Gold 20,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[100] Platinum 300,000‡
United States (RIAA)[101] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

See also

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References

[edit]

Citations

  1. ^ "Bring Me The Horizon To Release 'That's The Spirit' Album In September". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  2. ^ "Stereophonics bag sixth Number 1 album: "Thank you all"". officialcharts.com.
  3. ^ "BRING ME THE HORIZON's 'That's The Spirit' Lands At No. 2 On The Billboard 200 Chart". Blabbermouth. 1 April 2017.
  4. ^ Biddulph, Andy. "What are Bring Me the Horizon up to?". Rock Sound. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  5. ^ a b Zadrozny, Anya. "Bring Me the Horizon Unleash 'Happy Song,' Frontman Oli Sykes Gets Married". Loudwire. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  6. ^ Carter, Emily. "Bring Me the Horizon unveil teaser video". Kerrang.com. Kerrang!. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  7. ^ Scott Heisel (13 July 2015). "Bring Me The Horizon leaves Epitaph Records, will release new album on Columbia". Substream Magazine.
  8. ^ a b c "Bring Me The Horizon On New Album 'That's The Spirit' - And Riding Around Greek Islands On Quad Bikes". NME.
  9. ^ Carter, Emily. "Bring Me the Horizon premiere new single, Throne". Kerrang!. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  10. ^ a b c Wiederhorn, Jon. "Bring Me the Horizon on Ditching Metalcore for Poppy, Positive New LP". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  11. ^ a b c d Furnari, Daniel (14 August 2015). "Bring Me The Horizon – That's The Spirit". Blunt Magazine. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  12. ^ "Bring Me the Horizon - That's the Spirit". Exclaim!.
  13. ^ Chillingworth, Alec (17 September 2015). "Bring Me The Horizon - That's The Spirit (Album Review)". Stereoboard. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
  14. ^ a b c James Christopher Monger. "That's the Spirit". AllMusic. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  15. ^ a b "Bring Me The Horizon Oli Sykes Upasana Chatterjee". theMusic.
  16. ^ Stewart Mason. "Bring Me the Horizon". AllMusic. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  17. ^ "Prince's 'HITnRUN Phase One' and new Slayer tops this week's new music". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
  18. ^ "Bring Me The Horizon Album Review". Moshcam. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  19. ^ a b c Biddulph, Andy (September 2015). "Bring Me the Horizon - Thats The Spirit". Rock Sound. No. 204. p. 77. Archived from the original on 19 September 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  20. ^ Hill, John (21 August 2018). "Hear Bring Me the Horizon's Riff-Heavy, Electronic-Tinged New Song "Mantra"". Revolver Magazine. Retrieved 11 July 2019. The song picks up where they left off on 2015's That's the Spirit, grinding together some extremely catchy hard rock with some heavy guitar work.
  21. ^ "Bring Me the Horizon - That's the Spirit". Music Feeds.
  22. ^ a b Lanre Bakare (10 September 2015). "Bring Me the Horizon: That's the Spirit review – nu-metal reanimators". The Guardian.
  23. ^ "Local CD pick". St. Cloud Times. 21 January 2016. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  24. ^ Rick Florino (20 July 2015). "Song of the Week: Bring Me The Horizon "Happy Song"". Artistdirect.
  25. ^ Bowar, Chad. "Bring Me the Horizon unveil 'Throne' video, reveal 'That's the Spirit' track listing". Loudwire. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  26. ^ "Bring Me The Horizon Premiere New Single, Throne". Kerrang!.
  27. ^ Carter, Emily (24 August 2015). "Bring Me The Horizon Drop New Track, True Friends". Kerrang!. Bauer Media. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  28. ^ "Listen to Bring Me The Horizon's new song, "True Friends"". Alternative Press.
  29. ^ "Bring Me The Horizon: True Friends - Music on Google Play". Google Play.
  30. ^ "Bring Me The Horizon - True Friends". Banquet Records. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  31. ^ "Video Premiere: Bring Me The Horizon's 'Follow You'". Blabbermouth.net. 16 March 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  32. ^ Dionne, Zach (16 March 2016). "Why Didn't Bring Me the Horizon Warn Us Their 'Follow You' Video Has a Dog Getting Shot in the Face?". Fuse. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  33. ^ Ralph, Caitlyn (23 February 2016). "Bring Me The Horizon to release "Follow You" seven-inch". Alternative Press. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  34. ^ "Bring Me the Horizon Talk Evolution, 'Avalanche' + More". Loudwire. 9 June 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  35. ^ "New Music Friday - Bring Me The Horizon can't wait to play 'Avalanche' at Radio 1's Big Weekend". BBC Radio 1. 6 May 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  36. ^ "Bring Me The Horizon in Avalanche video". Team Rock. 23 June 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  37. ^ "Oh No (Radio Edit) - Single by Bring Me the Horizon". iTunes. Apple Music. 18 November 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  38. ^ "Bring Me The Horizon - Oh No". Vevo. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  39. ^ Spanos, Brittany (3 November 2016). "Watch Bring Me the Horizon's Surreal, Cinematic 'Oh No' Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
  40. ^ David Renshaw. "Bring Me The Horizon announce tiny album launch gig". NME. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
  41. ^ Carter, Emily. "PVRIS JOIN BRING ME THE HORIZON/ISSUES US TOUR". Kerrang.com. Kerrang!. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  42. ^ Pollard, Alexandra. "BRING ME THE HORIZON ANNOUNCE UK TOUR DATES FOR NOVEMBER". Gigwise. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  43. ^ a b "That's the Spirit by Bring Me the Horizon". Metacritic. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  44. ^ Bryant, Tom. "Bring Me The Horizon - That's The Spirit". Alternative Press. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
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  50. ^ a b c Crane 2015, p. 96
  51. ^ Bird, ed. 2016, p. 30
  52. ^ Whitt, Cassie (18 March 2016). "Here are the nominees for the 2016 AP Music Awards!". Alternative Press. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
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  55. ^ Sexton, Paul (18 September 2015). "Stereophonics Edges Out Bring Me the Horizon to Top UK's Albums Chart". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
  56. ^ Matt Brown (17 February 2016). "Metal By Numbers 2/17: The charts have a cult following". Metal Insider.
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  101. ^ "American album certifications – Bring Me the Horizon – That's the Spirit". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 13 June 2018.

Sources

  • Bird, Ryan, ed. (January 2016). "Top 50 Releases of the Year". Rock Sound (208). London: Freeway Press Inc. ISSN 1465-0185.
  • Crane, Matt (December 2015). "10 Essential Records of 2015". Alternative Press (330). Cleveland: Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. ISSN 1065-1667.
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