Before Bring Me The Horizon released the landmark Sempiternal in 2013, the Sheffield band were already on the pathway to superstardom. While many of their peers at the time eventually fizzled out, it was on 2010’s There Is A Hell… that really showed where the band had been – and where they were heading musically.
Released on October 4th, 2010, the record really showcased BMTH’s music evolution. While a few songs on the record could well have been ripped from their previous record Suicide Season, it’s the band’s willingness to take chances that really sets the tone here. For instance, album opener “Crucify Me” signifies a brand new artistic touch that hadn’t really been quite evident on the band’s previous work. Featuring the calming vocals of Lights (who also takes center stage on “Don’t Go”) and an increased reliance on electronic soundscapes, the 6+ minute song really blazed a new musical trail for BMTH at the time.
Of course, these aren’t the only notable songs here. Mid-album tracks like “Home Sweet Hole” and “Alligator Blood”, while not necessarily album highlights, provide a sense of familiarity with Bring Me The Horizon’s early material, while “It Never Ends” and album highlight “Blessed With A Curse” provide the record more melodic and accessible moments.
All things considered, There Is A Hell… deserves more love than it already gets. As both an evolution of Suicide Season and a prelude to the band’s magnum opus Sempiternal, there’s a lot to unwrap here musically. In fact, it’s aged rather well – and is a fantastic artistic statement as well.
