Has it really been twenty years? I'll never forget stumbling upon these black mop headed haircuts in the Download Festival tent. I found myself subsequently getting wiped out in the hardcore dance pit. What an introduction! I instantly took to This Is What the Edge of Your Seat Was Made For, however this debut was disappointing. Their snarling edge traded in for a cookie cutter beatdown-fest. Its quite the curiosity to hear Bring Me the Horizon wanted to rerecord it, considering how far they've moved on from this sound. Its not like they talk about this era with any fondness either.
Giving it another couple of spins has been reasonably fun, a crisp modern production to sharpen its edges, elevating its impact, especially during their filthy breakdowns. The whole performance sounds tighter, not a surprise considering the time elapsed mastering their instruments. Most remarkable is Olly Sykes, who can still pull off these rotten throat churning howls. The drums pack a punch, guitar tones crooning. It's a fine upgrade to the original aesthetic, with a handful of minor quirks to pick up on.
The re recording really exposes the fragility of these original songs. Pray For Plagues' opening breakdown always lands but as we roll through the punches, the same ideas get recycled. More prominent than I remembered, a plethora of Melodic Death Metal alternate string picking riffs. The Dragon Slaying breakdown still doesn't hit like the Radio One, "witness the fitness" recording. Its isolated pitch perfect pinch harmonics all too clean for comfort. However Fifteen Fathoms Counting, a deliberately juxtaposing acoustic soother, feels genuinely meaningful in this renewed setting.
Ironically, the album's championing moment is the addition of a newly written song, Dehumanized, which the record closes on. Bridging the gap between new and old, it seems the band decided to write a new song in the old Deathcore style. Starting off strictly in that lane, they can't help but expand into a powerhouse. An atmospheric break leads to blazing league guitar solo as crafty use of synths slip in. It's the peak before a fall, as the song rolls into an utterly ridiculous breakdown akin to Slaughter To Prevail. A fine note to end on, a fun revisit not budging my feelings on the original.
Rating: 5/10