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BRING ME THE HORIZON’s OLI SYKES: ‘The Only Rule With Our Music Is We Never Write The Same Album Twice’
Bring Me The Horizon frontman Oli Sykes says the band’s guiding principle is never to make the same album twice, describing its shift from deathcore towards alternative rock, pop and electronic-influenced music as a natural creative progression. He argues that following the band’s own excitement rather than attempting to predict fans’ preferences has been central to its longevity and success.
Sykes said the group’s 2006 debut, ‘Count Your Blessings’, drew heavily on the bands they admired, while 2008’s ‘Suicide Season’ was an early attempt to define a more distinctive sound. Although some listeners initially reacted negatively to its reduced screaming and nu-metal influences, he said its eventual success encouraged the band to keep taking risks; he no longer worries about alienating fans because he believes music written to please others usually fails.
In short
- Sykes says Bring Me The Horizon never repeats an album.
- ‘Suicide Season’ proved creative risks could pay off.
- He prioritises making music the band genuinely loves.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Artists should prioritise authentic creative evolution over audience expectations or commercial precedent. Genuine artistic excitement produces superior music, and the band's continued commercial success despite significant genre shifts validates this philosophy. Fans respect authentic artistic growth and innovation far more than repetition. Stagnation is what truly undermines an artist's cultural relevance and longevity.
The case against
Whilst creative evolution is valuable, artists have legitimate responsibilities to their established audience who invested in their early work. Radical reinvention can feel like abandonment to devoted fans. There is artistic merit in developing and deepening an established sound rather than constantly pursuing novelty. The artist-listener relationship is built on continuity; losing connection to one's roots alienates the community that enabled the artist's success.
Explained simply
Bring Me The Horizon are a British rock band formed in Sheffield in 2004, with Oli Sykes as their lead singer. Their early music was rooted in deathcore, a heavy style combining metal and hardcore punk, but later albums brought in alternative rock, pop and electronic sounds.
The band’s first album, Count Your Blessings, reflected the groups they admired at the time. On their second, Suicide Season, they began shaping a more individual sound, including less screaming and influences from nu-metal. Some listeners objected to the change, but the album’s later success helped the band continue exploring new styles.
Their changing sound matters because it has helped define the band’s identity and career. Sykes has said that following the group’s creative interests, rather than trying to guess what fans want, is central to how they make music.