Oli Sykes to metal fans: "You are well within your right to hate this"

Bring Me The Horizon vocalist Oli Sykes has a pretty even-handed approach to haters of his band’s new album, amo. If you’re a listener still yearning for the band’s sprightly metal and deathcore days, he opines that you’re “well within your right to hate” the progressive English act’s sixth full-length effort. The one that’s taken a decidedly more pop approach.

In fact, on Instagram this past Saturday, Sykes seems to relish how the record is splitting Bring Me The Horizon fans into two camps: one onboard for the band’s genre journey, another who perhaps prefer their pre-That’s The Spirit fare.

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i love how much this record is polarising peeps. Hasn’t been like this since we released suicide season. A lot of kids were quick to shit all over it.. because it was something very different from the scene we was in.. I 100% support and encourage people’s true opinions and if you are someone who’s only a fan of metal & hardcore with no exceptions, you are well within your right to hate this 🙂 but if you are open to more.. all I’m saying is if you judged this record after 1 listen, maybe go give it another 2. I’m pretty confident you’ll surprise yourself… But it’s so exciting to of made a record that makes people feel so much.. it feels so Bring Me The Horizon again. Thankyou for that. And if your loving the record please, stream it on repeat, like, 24/7 🙂 See you tonight Atlanta!! @aaronberkshireofficial

A post shared by Oliver Sykes (@olobersykes) on

“I love how much this record is polarising peeps,” Sykes writes online. “Hasn’t been like this since we released Suicide Season. A lot of kids were quick to shit all over it. Because it was something very different from the scene we was in.”

However, he acquiesces to fans of the band’s heavy stuff, “I 100% support and encourage people’s true opinions and if you are someone who’s only a fan of metal & hardcore with no exceptions, you are well within your right to hate this.”

And that last part’s appended with a smiley face emoticon, possibly hinting that Sykes’ tongue is planted firmly in his cheek when considering the various guffaws being bandied about regarding the band’s contemporary musical drive.

Still, the Bring Me The Horizon bandleader urges naysayers to give it a second chance. In summary, he says listeners who’ve spun the album only once might miss out on something they could appreciate just as much as the BMTH back catalog.

“If you are open to more. All I’m saying is if you judged this record after 1 listen, maybe go give it another 2. I’m pretty confident you’ll surprise yourself… But it’s so exciting to of made a record that makes people feel so much.”

Last week, BMTH dropped the Grimes-featuring “nihilist blues.” It was preceded by amo jams “mother tongue,” “medicine,” “wonderful life” (featuring Cradle Of Filth‘s Dani Filth) and the album’s cult-inspired first single, “MANTRA.”

Find more about Bring Me The Horizon in the pages of AP:

What do you think about the sound of the new Bring Me The Horizon songs? Do you welcome the band’s musical progress, or do you pine for the British rockers’ musical past? Sound off in the comments section with your thoughts.

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