Bring Me The Horizon are going to get a tonne of shit for this album; but they donÔÇÖt care, and nor should you. The opening track ÔÇÿDoomedÔÇÖ sets the tone nicely and frames the albumÔÇÖs pop sensibility, whilst retaining Bring MeÔÇÖs bite. Yes, this is very much a pop-orientated album, which will shock people. Where the four absolutely monolithic singles, ÔÇÿDrownÔÇÖ, ÔÇÿHappy SongÔÇÖ, ÔÇÿThroneÔÇÖ and ÔÇÿTrue FriendsÔÇÖ represent a slight shift in the classic Bring Me tone, the album tracks on ÔÇÿThatÔÇÖs The SpiritÔÇÖ are a significant departure from the metal band of old.

After the relatively front-loaded section of singles fades out and ÔÇÿFollow YouÔÇÖ tunes in, youÔÇÖd be forgiven for thinking Ellie Goulding had hi-jacked the stereo. But that shouldnÔÇÖt take away from its execution, which, after an initial shock, is brilliant. The remaining album tracks follow a similar pattern, albeit not quite as drastic as ÔÇÿFollow YouÔÇÖ. ÔÇÿWhat You NeedÔÇÖ and ÔÇÿRunÔÇÖ continue at a steady mid-tempo pace with clean vocals that were once an alien concept to frontman, Oli Sykes. These choruses maintain anthemic qualities, albeit not to the extent that the tried and tested festival monsters, ÔÇÿHappy SongÔÇÖ and ÔÇÿThroneÔÇÖ do.

Although their radical change in sound will be what gains Bring Me The Horizon an army of fans on this album cycle, it will also be a tipping point for some pre-existing ones. However, it would be wrong to condemn Bring Me for the new direction and the band quite rightly make no apology for it. After all, you only need to listen to the arc of their last two albums, ÔÇÿThere Is A HellÔǪÔÇÖ and ÔÇÿSempiternalÔÇÖ, to understand that itÔÇÖs been in the works for while. You can hear this is still a Bring Me The Horizon album and itÔÇÖs a hugely brave one, as youÔÇÖd expect. ItÔÇÖs a Bring Me The Horizon album for the masses. ÔÇÿThatÔÇÖs The SpiritÔÇÖ will be the launchpad to send Bring Me The Horizon stratospheric.

JACK GLASSCOCK