Avalanche (Bring Me the Horizon song)

Last updated

"Avalanche"
AvalancheBMTH2.jpg
Single by Bring Me the Horizon
from the album That's the Spirit
Released27 June 2016 (2016-06-27)
Genre Arena rock [1]
Length
  • 4:22 (album version)
  • 3:29 (radio edit)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Jordan Fish
  • Oliver Sykes
Bring Me the Horizon singles chronology
"Follow You"
(2016)		"Avalanche"
(2016)		"Oh No"
(2016)
Music video
"Avalanche" on YouTube

"Avalanche" is a song by British rock band Bring Me the Horizon. Produced by keyboardist Jordan Fish and vocalist Oliver Sykes, it was featured on the band's 2015 fifth studio album That's the Spirit . The song was also released as the sixth single from the album on 27 June 2016, reaching number 97 on the UK Singles Chart and number seven on the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart.

Contents

Promotion and release

The first preview of "Avalanche" was released on 31 August 2015 in the form of a 30-second teaser trailer, alongside another for the song "What You Need". [2] The full song was premiered on Annie Mac's show on BBC Radio 1 on 9 September, two days before the release of That's the Spirit. [3] [4] "Avalanche" was not performed live until 22 April 2016, when it received its live debut (along with That's the Spirit closing track "Oh No") at the band's landmark performance at the Royal Albert Hall with the Parallax Orchestra, which was recorded for December's Live at the Royal Albert Hall release. [5] Since this show, the song has made several appearances in the band's live set lists. [6]

Composition and lyrics

According to Bring Me the Horizon vocalist Oliver Sykes, "Avalanche" is the band's attempt at creating "a stadium-sounding anthem" in the vein of bands such as U2. [1] Keyboardist Jordan Fish echoed the influence of 1980s "arena rock" on the song, which Sykes claimed was not intended merely for the purposes of "getting big". [1] Rock Sound writer Andy Biddulph described the song as featuring "rumbling, widescreen rock" and "powerful lyrics", [7] compared its style to that of Linkin Park, particularly in terms of its "huge, open chords and Oli's raking vocal performance". [8] David Renshaw of the NME noted the song's "singalong choruses and driving, expansive production", comparing it in these respects to "Throne". [9]

Lyrically, "Avalanche" is a song about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), with which Sykes was diagnosed prior to the release of That's the Spirit. [10] Identifying the diagnosis as a factor in his recovery from drug addiction, the vocalist noted the lyric "Cut me open and tell me what's inside" as indicative of his headspace at the time of writing the song. [10] In a review of the album for the Alternative Press , Tom Bryant proposed that the lyrics and the music juxtapose with one another, describing the song as "melancholy, epic and uplifting all at once: "I feel like suicide," Sykes sings, but the swelling synths behind him seem to say, "Oh, cheer up."" [11] Fuse's Maria Sherman noted its "self-deprecating chorus". [3]

In a Reddit AMA ("Ask Me Anything"), bassist Matt Kean revealed that "Avalanche" was his favourite song on That's the Spirit. [12] Fish claimed that it was "probably [his] favourite" too in a 2016 interview, [1] despite previously favouring the album's opener "Doomed". [12]

Music video

The music video for "Avalanche" was released on 23 June 2016. [13] Directed by Tom Sykes, brother of the band's vocalist Oliver, [14] it features footage of the band performing live at various shows throughout early 2016, including the landmark show at the Royal Albert Hall in April. [15] Loudwire's Chad Childers outlined that the video "features a mix of day and night shots, with the evening performances giving viewers a glimpse of the light wall that typically backs the band onstage. You also see the full-on energy and vibe of a Bring Me the Horizon show, complete with a crowd separating and staging a wall of death". [13] Speaking about the video, director Sykes described the production process as "a lot of work but extremely rewarding", adding that the brothers had subsequently set up a company called Fun Blood in order to work together on more projects in the future. [14] "Avalanche" is the only song by the band to have its music video age restricted on YouTube.

Critical reception

Media response to "Avalanche" was generally positive. Andy Biddulph of Rock Sound praised "Avalanche" as a "string-laden, wistful ballad", claiming that it is "ready-made for pyro blasts and sold-out arenas". [8] Tom Bryant of Alternative Press claimed that it reflected the overall message of the album in general: "Everything's screwed, but what are you going to do about it?" [11] Loudwire's Chad Childers described the track as "one of the more anthemic songs in the band's catalog". [13] Amy Gravelle from Gigwise compared it to Bullet for My Valentine for its "weary guitar licks" and "choral build ups", but criticised its "mainstream blunder", calling it a "disappointing lull". [16]

Commercial performance

"Avalanche" entered the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart at number 7 on 18 September 2015 following the release of That's the Spirit, [18] when it also registered on the main UK Singles Chart for a solitary week at number 97. [19] The song remained in the top 40 of the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart until December. [20] In the United States, the track reached number 32 on the Billboard Twitter Top Tracks chart. [21]

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal. [22]

Charts

Chart performance for "Avalanche"
Chart (2015)Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC) [19] 97
UK Rock & Metal (OCC) [18] 7
US Twitter Top Tracks ( Billboard ) [21] 32

Certifications

Certifications for "Avalanche"
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [23] Gold35,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI) [24] Silver200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bring Me the Horizon</span> British rock band

Bring Me the Horizon are a British rock band, formed in Sheffield in 2004. The group currently consists of lead vocalist Oli Sykes, drummer Matt Nicholls, guitarist Lee Malia and bassist Matt Kean. They are signed to RCA Records globally and Columbia Records exclusively in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bring Me the Horizon discography</span>

British rock band Bring Me the Horizon have released six studio albums, two live albums, two compilation albums, one remix album, two extended plays (EPs), one demo album, 35 singles, two video albums, 38 music videos, two other releases and three other appearances. Formed in Sheffield in 2004 by vocalist Oliver Sykes, guitarists Lee Malia and Curtis Ward, bassist Matt Kean and drummer Matt Nicholls, the band released their debut EP This Is What the Edge of Your Seat Was Made For on Thirty Days of Nights Records in 2005, which reached number 41 on the UK Budget Albums Chart. After signing with British independent record label Visible Noise, the group released their debut full-length studio album Count Your Blessings in 2006, which reached the top 100 of the UK Albums Chart and the top 10 of the UK Rock & Metal Albums Chart. The 2008 follow-up Suicide Season reached the UK top 50 and charted in the US for the first time when it reached number 107 on the Billboard 200. In November 2009, an expanded version of the album titled Suicide Season Cut Up! was released, featuring remixes and videos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It Never Ends</span> 2010 single by Bring Me the Horizon

"It Never Ends" is a song by British rock band Bring Me the Horizon. Produced by Fredrik Nordström and Henrick Udd, it was featured on the band's 2010 third studio album There Is a Hell Believe Me I've Seen It. There Is a Heaven Let's Keep It a Secret. The song was released as the lead single from the album on 20 August 2010, and was the band's first song to chart when it reached number 103 on the UK Singles Chart, number 3 on the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart and number 11 on the UK Independent Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shadow Moses (song)</span> 2013 single by Bring Me the Horizon

"Shadow Moses" is a song by British rock band Bring Me the Horizon. Written by vocalist Oliver Sykes, guitarist Lee Malia and keyboardist Jordan Fish, it was produced by Terry Date and featured on the band's 2013 fourth studio album Sempiternal. The song was released as the lead single from the album on 11 January 2013, reaching number 82 on the UK Singles Chart and number 2 on the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sleepwalking (Bring Me the Horizon song)</span> 2013 single by Bring Me the Horizon

"Sleepwalking" is a song by British rock band Bring Me the Horizon. Written by the band's vocalist Oliver Sykes, the guitarist Lee Malia and the keyboardist Jordan Fish, it was produced by Terry Date and appeared on the band's fourth studio album Sempiternal, released in 2013. The song was released as the second single from the album on 1 March 2013, reaching number three on the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drown (Bring Me the Horizon song)</span> 2014 single by Bring Me the Horizon

"Drown" is a song by British rock band Bring Me the Horizon released on 21 October 2014. Originally released as a stand-alone single, a remixed version features on the band's fifth studio album That's the Spirit and was released as the lead single. The track, musically, marks a shift away from the band's previously established metalcore sound. Rather, it was described by critics as a pop punk-leaning emo and rock song, being the later showcased as arena rock. It is available to play in the music video game Guitar Hero Live, added on 12 January 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Happy Song (Bring Me the Horizon song)</span> 2015 single by Bring Me the Horizon

"Happy Song" is a song by British rock band Bring Me the Horizon. Produced by keyboardist Jordan Fish and vocalist Oliver Sykes, it was featured on the band's 2015 fifth studio album That's the Spirit and released as the second single from the album on 13 July 2015. The single topped the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart and reached number 55 on the UK Singles Chart, number 2 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock chart and number 19 on the Billboard Hot Rock Songs chart.

<i>Thats the Spirit</i> 2015 studio album by Bring Me the Horizon

That's the Spirit is the fifth studio album by British rock band Bring Me the Horizon. The album was released on 11 September 2015, and marks a departure from the group's metalcore roots, in favour of a less aggressive alternative rock and metal style.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Can You Feel My Heart</span> 2013 single by Bring Me the Horizon

"Can You Feel My Heart" is a song by British rock band Bring Me the Horizon. Written by vocalist Oliver Sykes, guitarist Lee Malia and keyboardist Jordan Fish, it was produced by Terry Date and featured on the band's 2013 fourth studio album Sempiternal. The song was also released as the fourth and final single from the album on 8 October 2013, reaching number five on the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Throne (song)</span> 2015 single by Bring Me the Horizon

"Throne" is a song by British rock band Bring Me the Horizon. Produced by keyboardist Jordan Fish and vocalist Oliver Sykes, it was featured on the band's 2015 fifth studio album That's the Spirit and released as the third single from the album on 24 July 2015. The single topped the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart and the US Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, and reached number 51 on the UK Singles Chart and number 12 on the Billboard Hot Rock Songs chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">True Friends (song)</span> 2015 single by Bring Me the Horizon

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<i>Live at the Royal Albert Hall</i> (Bring Me the Horizon album) 2016 live album by Bring Me the Horizon

Live at the Royal Albert Hall is the second live album and video by British rock band Bring Me the Horizon. It was recorded on 22 April 2016 at the Royal Albert Hall, with accompaniment from the Parallax Orchestra conducted by Simon Dobson. The album was released on 2 December 2016 through the crowdfunding platform PledgeMusic, with all proceeds being donated to Teenage Cancer Trust.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Follow You (Bring Me the Horizon song)</span> 2016 single by Bring Me the Horizon

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oh No (Bring Me the Horizon song)</span> 2016 single by Bring Me the Horizon

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mantra (Bring Me the Horizon song)</span> 2018 single by Bring Me the Horizon

"Mantra" is a song by British rock band Bring Me the Horizon. Produced by the band's vocalist Oliver Sykes and keyboardist Jordan Fish, it is featured on the group's 2019 sixth studio album Amo. The track was released as the lead single from the album on 21 August 2018, topping the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart and spending three weeks at that spot.

<i>Amo</i> (Bring Me the Horizon album) 2019 studio album by Bring Me the Horizon

Amo is the sixth studio album by British rock band Bring Me the Horizon. Originally scheduled for release on 11 January 2019, it was released on 25 January 2019. The album was announced on 22 August 2018, a day after the release of the lead single "Mantra". It was produced by vocalist Oliver Sykes and keyboardist Jordan Fish, and was written and recorded primarily in Los Angeles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ludens (song)</span> 2019 single by Bring Me the Horizon

"Ludens" is a song by British rock band Bring Me the Horizon. Produced by the band's vocalist Oliver Sykes and keyboardist Jordan Fish, it was released as the fifth single of the soundtrack Death Stranding: Timefall on 6 November 2019, and was featured as the first single from the group's 2020 commercial release Post Human: Survival Horror.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Bring Me the Horizon Talk Musical Evolution, 'Avalanche' Single + More". Loudwire . Townsquare Media. 9 June 2016. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  2. ↑ Sharp, Tyler (31 August 2015). "Bring Me The Horizon preview two new songs, "Avalanche," "What You Need"". Alternative Press . Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  3. 1 2 "Bring Me the Horizon Share Pounding New Song, "Avalanche"". Fuse. 9 September 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  4. ↑ Sayce, Rob (31 August 2015). "Listen to a New Bring Me The Horizon Song And Live Session". Rock Sound . Freeway Press Inc. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  5. ↑ Childers, Chad (24 April 2016). "Bring Me the Horizon Welcome Orchestra for London's Royal Albert Hall Show". Loudwire . Townsquare Media . Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  6. ↑ "Bring Me the Horizon Tour Statistics". setlist.fm. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  7. ↑ Biddulph, Andy (21 August 2015). "This Is What The New Bring Me The Horizon Album Sounds Like". Rock Sound . Freeway Press Inc. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  8. 1 2 Biddulph, Andy (17 September 2015). "Bring Me The Horizon - That's The Spirit". Rock Sound . Freeway Press Inc. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  9. ↑ Renshaw, David (11 September 2015). "Bring Me The Horizon - 'That's The Spirit'". NME . Time Inc. UK . Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  10. 1 2 Sykes, Oliver (Narrator) (4 September 2015). That's the Spirit (Track by Track Commentary) by Bring Me the Horizon. Spotify.
  11. 1 2 Bryant, Tom (11 September 2015). "Bring Me The Horizon are back with an epic reinvention". Alternative Press . Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  12. 1 2 Carter, Emily (17 September 2015). "11 Things We Learnt From Bring Me The Horizon's Reddit AMA". Kerrang! . Bauer Media . Retrieved 11 July 2016.
  13. 1 2 3 Childers, Chad (23 June 2016). "Bring Me the Horizon Showcase Live Show in 'Avalanche' Video". Loudwire . Townsquare Media . Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  14. 1 2 Lach, Stef (24 June 2016). "Bring Me The Horizon in Avalanche video". TeamRock. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  15. ↑ "Bring Me The Horizon reveal 'Avalanche' video". DIY . Sonic Media Group. 23 June 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  16. ↑ "First listen: Bring Me The Horizon - That's The Spirit". www.gigwise.com. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  17. ↑ "ITV Sport: Euro 2016 (TV Series): Italy vs. Sweden (2016) Soundtracks". IMDb . Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  18. 1 2 "18 September 2015 – 24 September 2015". Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40. Official Charts Company . Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  19. 1 2 "18 September 2015 – 24 September 2015". Official Singles Chart Top 100. Official Charts Company . Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  20. ↑ "04 December 2015 – 10 December 2015". Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40. Official Charts Company . Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  21. 1 2 "Billboard Twitter Top Tracks: Bring Me the Horizon Chart History". Billboard . Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  22. ↑ "Bring Me the Horizon – Avalanche". Tidal . Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  23. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  24. ↑ "British single certifications – Bring Me the Horizon – Avalanche". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 5 May 2023.
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