Single Review: Bring Me The Horizon – ‘Parasite Eve’

There’s a lot going on in the latest single from Bring Me The Horizon. Although continuing the deeply experimental nature of 2019’s amo, ‘Parasite Eve’ (the first single from the band’s upcoming project Post Human) takes the Sheffield group a little closer to their deathcore roots than their more recent LPs, while making use of contributions from video game soundtrack artist Mick Gordon.

It combines these elements with a call-to-arms that feels inspired by the responses of various governments to the resurgence of #BlackLivesMatter protests and the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. If this wasn’t enough, it then throws in a Bulgarian choir to open the track and samples vocals from Alissa Salls that feel deliberately machine-like – no wonder the song’s nearly five minutes long.

            Lyrically, the track can feel heavy handed given the topical virus imagery - ‘When we forget the infection / Will we remember the lesson?’ – yet parts of it are far more obscure. From a musical perspective the track is solid, with the various musical components blending together surprisingly well. Lead guitarist Lee Malia and bassist Matt Kean get some very strong riffs in the chorus, while drummer Matt Nicholls lends the track the punch it needs. Though it may not stick around in your head all day, ‘Parasite Eve’ is a perfectly decent track, and it’ll be interesting to see what the band do next.

Words: Matt Taylor