Twelve years ago, Bring Me the Horizon dropped Sempiternal, and nothing was the same. Released on April 1, 2013, the band’s fourth studio album wasn’t just a new chapter—it was a complete reinvention. Gone were the pure deathcore days, replaced with a refined mix of crushing metal, electronic flourishes, and stadium-sized choruses that would propel BMTH to an entirely new level.
A Game-Changer for Metalcore
By 2013, BMTH had already built a reputation as one of the UK’s most polarizing heavy bands. But Sempiternal flipped the script. The introduction of keyboardist Jordan Fish marked a turning point, shaping the band’s sound with ambient textures and electronic influences. Tracks like “Can You Feel My Heart” and “Sleepwalking” blended melody and aggression in a way that made metalcore accessible to a much broader audience without losing its edge.
The Anthems That Defined an Era
From the haunting opening notes of “Can You Feel My Heart” to the chaotic breakdowns of “Antivist,” Sempiternal delivered anthem after anthem. Songs like “Go to Hell, for Heaven’s Sake” and “Shadow Moses” became instant live staples, with crowds screaming “THIS IS SEMPITERNAL!” back at the band night after night.
Lyrically, the album was a deeply personal release for frontman Oli Sykes, who channeled his struggles with addiction and self-destruction into raw, emotionally charged lyrics. That honesty resonated with a generation of fans who found solace in its words.
The Legacy of Sempiternal
It’s hard to overstate how influential Sempiternal became. It wasn’t just a breakthrough for BMTH—it helped reshape the entire alternative and metalcore landscape. The album’s mix of metal, electronic elements, and massive choruses inspired a wave of bands to experiment with their sound, blurring the lines between heavy music and mainstream appeal.
Commercially, Sempiternal was a massive success. It debuted at No. 3 on the UK Albums Chart and No. 11 on the Billboard 200, marking the band’s best performance at the time. More importantly, it introduced BMTH to a whole new audience, setting them up for the arena-filling, genre-bending act they are today.
Still as Powerful as Ever
Twelve years later, Sempiternal still holds up. Tracks like “Can You Feel My Heart” have gained a second life thanks to viral success, proving that its impact hasn’t faded. Whether you were there in 2013 or discovered it years later, Sempiternal remains a defining moment for alternative music—a record that didn’t just shape BMTH’s future but changed the scene itself.
