1x1 (song)

''Post Human: Survival Horror'' is a commercial release by British rock band Bring Me the Horizon. It was released on 30 October 2020 and is intended to be the first in a series of four projects to be released by the band under the ''Post Human'' name. The release was produced by frontman Oli Sykes and keyboardist Jordan Fish, with additional production from composer Mick Gordon. Stylistically, the release marks return to the heavier and more aggressive metalcore sound of the band's earlier material.

The release was preceded by four singles: " Ludens", which was also previously released as a single on the ''Timefall'' soundtrack for ''Death Stranding'', "Parasite Eve", " Obey", and " Teardrops". The release received generally positive reviews from critics and became the band's second UK number one release. The second ''Post Human'' installment, '' Post Human: Nex Gen'', originally set to be released on 15 September 2023 was delayed until it was released on 24 May 2024. The lengthy delay came as a result of "unforeseeable circumstances" that left the band being unable to complete the record in time.

Background and recording

On 20 March 2020, the band announced that they were in a home studio, writing and recording material for their eighth record, which was expected to be an extended play (EP), with part of it being co-produced by video game composer Mick Gordon. After playing the video game ''Doom Eternal'' during the COVID-19 lockdowns and being inspired by Gordon's soundtrack for the game, lead vocalist Oliver Sykes contacted Gordon to help produce the song "Parasite Eve" and the release as a whole. In August 2020, the band's keyboardist Jordan Fish teased that the band was planning on releasing a series of releases. Speaking about the releases, Fish stated:

The band's lead vocalist Sykes also stated that they would be releasing four EPs under the "Post Human" name, stating:

On 2 November 2020, Fish explained in an interview he got the terminology of the record wrong, because it was not supposed to end up with nine tracks on it, revealing:

While Sykes was quarantined during the COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020, he frequently listened to rock duo Nova Twins. Members Amy Love and Georgia South had also quarantined separately following the cancellation of their shows in March 2020. Some time after, the duo were contacted by Jason Aalon Butler—owner of Nova Twins' label 333 Wreckords—who told them that Sykes and Fish wanted to talk to them. The following day, Sykes messaged them on Instagram and sent an unfinished version of "1x1". As Sykes needed the track finished within the week, Nova Twins recorded and returned their parts in two days, with South adding "a few weird bass noises on there".

Composition

Lyrics and themes

Sykes stated that the songs were written to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.

In an interview with ''NME'', Sykes revealed a lot of background information about ''Post Human: Survival Horror''. "Dear Diary", the introductory song, was originally called "Survival Horror", and he wanted the song to be "fast and punky", as well as lyrically being about going into isolation and lockdown. Sykes expressed how he felt it made him feel like it was a zombie apocalypse, with all of those feelings being written down into a diary to represent about how everyone feels being forced into isolation from society in an arising pandemic.

"Parasite Eve" was originally written about a Japanese virus that Sykes had read about, and how he thought a huge virus could impact the future. He would end up being shocked when COVID-19 arose, since he never thought something like that would happen so soon. The band went back and forth on thinking whether or not it was a good idea to release the song, as they felt it might have been "too offensive", before ultimately deciding to release the song with altered lyrics; for example: "When we forget the infection, will we remember the lesson?" was originally: "If we survive the infection." They eventually released "Parasite Eve", with the reasoning that people need a song like it, even if it is dark. The overall sound and themes of "Parasite Eve" would end up dictating the direction for the rest of the record.

Sykes also explained how " Teardrops" is about the "bad news" people have been fed over the course of the past year, and how he put into perspective how bad everything is, citing the murder of George Floyd. He elaborated that it is easy to get numb to bad news, since there is so much of it overwhelming everyone, having a massive detrimental effect on mental health, because we do not react the way we should towards things as a direct consequence of this. Sykes's perspective on everything plays a vital role in what "Teardrops" means to him and his reflection towards society.

" Obey" was written about how people are told to co-operate with the status quo, particularly politically and socially, instead of demanding better. He would express how fear forces us to accept the way things are and how we just obey the system. The song was written from the perspective of the oppressor towards the people being oppressed, citing the example of a warning given by then US president Donald Trump to anti-racist protestors in the wake of the murder of George Floyd. The collaboration with Yungblud started when the band's keyboardist, songwriter, and producer Jordan Fish had the suggestion to get Yungblud on the track as that's what he felt the song needed.

Sykes did not have much to say about "Itch for the Cure (When Will We Be Free?)", although he stated how the themes of the song were directly tied and linked to the follow-up on the record " Kingslayer", featuring Babymetal. The song title for "Itch for the Cure (When Will We Be Free?)" would be a confirmed reference and nod to "Cure for the Itch" off of Linkin Park's ''Hybrid Theory''.

Sykes went on to say about how the idea of "Kingslayer" originally came about when he was playing ''Call of Duty'' in Amsterdam, and the "Kingslayer" is what everyone wants to be. He used the idea as an analogy for the idea of then US president Donald Trump condemning ANTIFA as a "terrorist organisation" and the Extinction Rebellion causing chaos, as he felt that people have to go out and do what they feel is right, no matter the cost. Hence the themes and for "Kingslayer" to break the barriers of the reality. Sykes would go on to compare the sound of the song to something off their second studio album ''Suicide Season'', and how the cute vocals of Babymetal on the chorus would make for a perfect contrast on "Kingslayer".

Sykes said that "1x1" was written about "the guilt that we as a society carry for what we've done to other species and ethnicities and other genders", while also taking inspiration from his past history and struggles with drug addiction, citing it as the most personal song on the record to him.

"One Day the Only Butterflies Left Will Be in Your Chest as You March Towards Your Death" features Evanescence vocalist Amy Lee. The song is superficially about a relationship, but the hidden meaning is actually about the relationship between humans and mother nature, which Sykes has described as "abusive".

Influences and style

Musically, ''Post Human: Survival Horror'' has been described by critics as alternative metal, metalcore, electronic rock, nu metal, industrial metal, hard rock, electronica, EDM, and trancecore. The album is culturally cited as playing a significant role in solidifying the emerging nu metal revival movement of the late 2010s within the alternative music scene. ''Wall of Sound'' noted "thrash metal inspired riffs" on the song "Dear Diary,". They also compared the song " Teardrops" to Linkin Park and called it a nu metal track. According to ''The Independent'', the song "Kingslayer" "employs thrash and screamo for a nightmare rave..." The song features Japanese metal band Babymetal. During an interview, Fish and Lee Malia revealed that Babymetal originally recorded their parts in English before Sykes asked them to re-record in Japanese.

Promotion and release

On 6 November 2019, the band released a new song titled " Ludens". It was released as the first single off the record and was also part of '' Death Stranding: Timefall'', along with the news that the band are not planning to release an album again and instead wanted to release EPs in the future. On 25 June 2020, the band released the second single "Parasite Eve" along with a music video. It was expected to be released on 10 June 2020, but due to the George Floyd protests and the Black Lives Matter movement, the song was postponed to 25 June. That same day, the band also announced a new project that they have been working on titled ''Post Human'' which they said to be four EPs released throughout the next year which when combined would make an album.

On 2 September, the band released the third single, " Obey" in collaboration with English singer Yungblud with its corresponding music video. On 14 October, the band officially announced through social media that ''Post Human: Survival Horror'' was set for release on 30 October 2020. The band announced a 2021 UK arena tour in support of the release. On 22 October, a week before the release date, the fourth single " Teardrops" was released alongside an accompanying music video.

Reception

Critical reception

''Post Human: Survival Horror'' received generally positive reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has an average score of 82 out of 100, which indicates "universal acclaim" based on 8 reviews. Josh Gray of '' Clash'' was positive towards the release stating, "as indicated by its title, track names...this record boasts some serious Big Video Game Energy, elevated by the presence of ''Doom''...composer Mick Gordon. Gordon helps the band inject some high-octane ferocity back into their music, and tracks like 'Obey' and 'Ludens' sound huge when paired with the rattle of your bullets mowing down wave after wave of aliens/zombies/Animal Crossing villagers." ''Wall of Sound'' praised the release saying it: "After years of going softer with their sound, trying new things to prove their worth, Bring Me The Horizon will surprise even the biggest of critic with ''Post Human: Survival Horror''. It has a touch of everything they've been producing over the past decade and really cements them as one of the world's best rock bands getting about today."

Laviea Thomas of ''Gigwise'' was positive towards the release and felt that the release " arnessedtheir roots, whilst still keeping it fresh." Andrew Trendell of ''NME'' was positive towards the release and stated that some of the songs " ave thepure aggression hatharks back to the heavier vibes of 2008's ''Suicide Season'' and 2010's '' There Is a Hell...''" Nick Ruskell of ''Kerrang!'' considered the release to be "cathartic" and "heavy" and that the release has lementsof the familiar in amongst the creativity. Neil Z. Yeung of AllMusic praised the release stating "''Survival Horror'' is one of the band's best distillations of their extremes, providing just enough brutality without sacrificing their evolving vision of how melodic and experimental a metal band can be."

''The Independent'' was also positive towards the release, calling it "...a soundtrack fit for the end of the world." Callum Foulds of ''The Line of Best Fit'' stated that "... he release capturesthe bewildering phenomenon that is living through a worldwide pandemic." Sputnikmusic was less positive stating "''Post Human: Survival Horror''... sthe sonic equivalent to fast food, by which you'll consume it, enjoy it, and forget about it right after you've finished it, but it's fun while it lasts.

Accolades

Commercial performance

''Post Human: Survival Horror'' debuted and peaked in the top 40 in over 15 countries worldwide, including top 10 peaks in Australia, Austria, Finland, Germany, Portugal and Switzerland.

In their home country, ''Post Human: Survival Horror'' debuted at number five on the UK Albums Chart and number two on the UK Rock & Metal Albums Chart purely on digital formats, selling 3,767 downloads and 5,287 streaming units accumulating a total of 9,024 album equivalent units. Upon being released on physical formats, the record re-entered atop the UK Albums Chart, claiming the band their second UK number one by beating Bicep's '' Isles'' to the top spot by selling 14,904 copies after trailing at number two in the midweek update. In the process, it became the first record in nearly 30 years to re-enter atop the charts since Oleta Adams' ''Circle of One'' became the first to do so. In July 2021, the British Phonographic Industry certified ''Post Human: Survival Horror'' as Silver for 60,000 units and later got certified Gold for 100,000 units in January 2023.

In the United States, the record debuted at number 46 with 14,000 total units (5,225 downloads), becoming the band's first since ''Suicide Season'' (2008) to not debut inside the top 40 on the US ''Billboard'' 200. It however peaked inside the top 10 at number eight, four and three respectively on the Top Rock Albums, Top Alternative Albums and Top Hard Rock Albums charts. Upon its physical release, ''Post Human: Survival Horror'' re-entered the US ''Billboard'' 200 at number 171 with 4,225 copies sold.

Track listing

Notes
* "Parasite Eve" contains a sample of "Erghen Diado", written by Petar Lyondev and performed by the Bulgarian Female Vocal Choir.
* "Parasite Eve" and "Ludens" are remixed and remastered on the physical edition of the album, while on the digital version, the single versions of the songs are used.

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.

Bring Me the Horizon
* Oli Sykes – lead vocals, production , engineering
* Lee Malia – guitar
* Jordan Fish – programming, production , backing vocals , piano , engineering , vocal engineering
* Matt Kean – bass
* Matt Nicholls – drums

Additional musicians

* Mick Gordon – additional synthesizers, additional percussion, additional production
* Toriel – backing vocals
* Yungblud – vocals
* Sam Winfield – gang vocals
* Tom Millar – gang vocals
* Giles Stelfox – gang vocals
* Luke Burywood – gang vocals
* Clayton Deakin – gang vocals
* Jordan Baggs – gang vocals
* Babymetal – vocals
* Amy Love – vocals
* Georgia South – additional bass
* Amy Lee – vocals, background vocals

Additional personnel

* Chris Athens – mastering
* Zakk Cervini – mixing , Yungblud recording and engineering
* Carl Bown – drums recording
* Vyacheslav Rychkov – drums recording
* Dan Lancaster – drums engineering , mixing
* Ted Jensen – mastering
* Watametal – Babymetal recording and engineering
* Ben Beetham – Nova Twins recording and engineering
* Phil Gornell – assistant engineering
* Claudio Adamo – assistant engineering
* Alissic – artwork

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Release history

Notes

References

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2020 EPs
Bring Me the Horizon albums
Hard rock albums by British artists
Nu metal albums by British artists
Metalcore albums by British artists
Electronic rock albums by British artists
Albums produced by Jordan Fish