u/Decent-Basil4012

I WILL NO LONGER SUPPORT BRING ME THE HORIZON.

If you didn't already know, Bring Me The Horizon released a single called "Kool-Aid". And I am done. Finished. I am not giving it a single stream, a single click, a single penny. I know that sounds insane to some of you, and honestly, a year ago it would have sounded insane to me too. As a fan of the genre, I cannot and will not pretend that BMTH didn't carve out a massive place in metalcore and heavy music. They are one of the bands responsible for bringing that raw, aggressive sound to a wider audience, alongside bands like Parkway Drive and The Devil Wears Prada. I own their earlier albums. I have defended this band in arguments. I have put people onto this band. That makes what I'm about to say hurt even more.

But I am done.

Because "Kool-Aid" is not just a bad song. It is not just a creative misstep. It is something far more sinister, and I am genuinely furious that more people are not talking about this seriously. The entire theme of that single is dripping with cult imagery and cult ideology. Do you understand what "Kool-Aid" means? Do you understand the reference? We are talking about Jonestown. We are talking about mass death, blind obedience, and the surrender of your mind to a manipulative leader. And Bring Me The Horizon didn't just brush up against that theme accidentally. They leaned into it. They glorified it. They wrapped it in catchy production and flashing aesthetics and fed it directly to an audience that is largely made up of teenagers and young adults who are still figuring out who they are. That is not edgy. That is not artistic. That is deeply, genuinely irresponsible, and I will not pretend otherwise.

And here is what makes me the most furious of all: this band used to mean something. "Count Your Blessings." "Suicide Season." "There Is a Hell, Believe Me I've Seen It." Even "Sempiternal," which marked a major sonic shift, still had weight to it. Still had rawness. Still felt like a band that was processing real pain and real darkness and turning it into something that connected with people who were struggling. That was the whole point. That was why people latched onto this band so ferociously. Because Oliver Sykes and this band made music that felt honest.

What is honest about "Kool-Aid?" What is real about dressing up cult manipulation in pop-soaked production and selling it as a banger? Nothing. Nothing at all. This is a band that has completely abandoned its roots, and not in the way that people complained about when they went from deathcore to metalcore, or from metalcore to more accessible rock. This is a moral and artistic abandonment. They sold out their identity so completely that they are now producing content that actively promotes the idea of surrendering your will and drinking whatever poison your leader hands you. And they are marketing this to kids.

That is the part I cannot get past. I am a devout Christian, and yes, that shapes how I see this, but you do not need to be a Christian to be disturbed by a major rock band glamorizing cult mentality to a young, impressionable audience. These are kids who look up to Oli Sykes. These are kids with BMTH posters on their walls and BMTH lyrics tattooed on their arms. And the message being delivered to them now is: surrender yourself, drink the Kool-Aid, follow without question. That is not dark art. That is dangerous messaging dressed up with a production budget.

I have tolerated the pop direction. I have tolerated the electronic detours. I even gave "POST HUMAN" a fair shot because I wanted to believe the fire was still there somewhere underneath all the gloss. But this is the line. This is where I get off.

I will not be purchasing the album. I will not be reviewing it on this account. I will not be streaming it beyond what I have already heard. Bring Me The Horizon in 2024 and beyond is a completely different animal from the band I fell in love with, and not in any direction I can respect or support. The roots are gone. The honesty is gone. What is left is a slick, cult-flavored pop machine aimed squarely at young people who deserve far better than being told that blind devotion is something worth celebrating.

I still love the early catalog. I still believe "Sempiternal" is a landmark record. But this current era? This "Kool-Aid" era? It does not get my money, my streams, or my platform. Full stop.

I finally watched episode 4 and 5 last night. I just find the obvious attempt at looking artsy and Quentin Tarintino style really cringe. Like it’s giving aspiring director in college.

It works for Tarintino because that’s his style…but idk the way the titles written, the country music, the fight scenes and bloor, 70s style houses/apartments, the cinematography, camera angles, the weird boob metaphor with Cassie…Idk maybe it’s because I was too high on edibles but it was just TOO much. Like it’s just a blatant Tarintino rip off to the point where I can’t even take it seriously. Every time it does something Tarintino-esque, I would roll my eyes.

Also I think there’s a difference between being inspired by someone’s work and just kinda copying it and being cheesy.

It also doesn’t make sense to me because Euphoria already had its own unique aesthetic that it was known for and people really liked? I don’t understand why they wouldn’t continue with that aesthetic. It’s also SO different that it feels like a different show.

It feels like Sam watched Pulp Fiction for the firs time. I can’t stomach it as great cinematography and television the desperate attempt to be Tarantino gives me second hand embarassment

I actually can't tell if if its a real bass or synth bass but I'm trying to get this kind of sound. I googled it and said roland 808 but im not sure how that would work? im a bit new to synth stuff but im trying to figure this out bc im trying to make synthwave inspired stuff.

i guess if its real bass i gotta go get my bass back from my buddy in the city LOL :(