Avalanche (Bring Me the Horizon song)

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".{{cite magazine |url=http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/bring_methe_horizon_preview_two_new_songs_avalanche_what_you_need |title=Bring Me The Horizon preview two new songs, "Avalanche," "What You Need" |last=Sharp |first=Tyler |magazine=Alternative Press |date=31 August 2015 |accessdate=17 July 2016 }} 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.{{cite news |url=http://www.rocksound.tv/news/read/listen-to-a-new-bring-me-the-horizon-song-live-session |title=Listen to a New Bring Me The Horizon Song And Live Session |last=Sayce |first=Rob |work=Rock Sound |publisher=Freeway Press Inc. |date=31 August 2015 |accessdate=17 July 2016 }} "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.{{cite news |url=http://loudwire.com/bring-me-the-horizon-orchestra-london-royal-albert-hall-show/ |title=Bring Me the Horizon Welcome Orchestra for London's Royal Albert Hall Show |last=Childers |first=Chad |work=Loudwire |publisher=Townsquare Media |date=24 April 2016 |accessdate=17 July 2016 }} Since this show, the song has made several appearances in the band's live set lists.{{cite web |url=http://www.setlist.fm/stats/bring-me-the-horizon-73d6f639.html |title=Bring Me the Horizon Tour Statistics |publisher=setlist.fm |accessdate=17 July 2016 }}

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.{{cite news |url=http://loudwire.com/bring-me-the-horizon-musical-evolution-avalanche-single-more/ |title=Bring Me the Horizon Talk Musical Evolution, 'Avalanche' Single + More |work=Loudwire |publisher=Townsquare Media |date=9 June 2016 |accessdate=17 July 2016 }} 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". Rock Sound writer Andy Biddulph described the song as featuring "rumbling, widescreen rock" and "powerful lyrics",{{cite web |url=http://www.rocksound.tv/features/read/this-is-what-the-new-bring-me-the-horizon-album-sounds-like |title=This Is What The New Bring Me The Horizon Album Sounds Like |last=Biddulph |first=Andy |work=Rock Sound |publisher=Freeway Press Inc. |date=21 August 2015 |accessdate=12 September 2016 }} compared its style to that of Linkin Park, particularly in terms of its "huge, open chords and Oli's raking vocal performance".{{cite web |url=http://www.rocksound.tv/reviews/read/bmths-thats-the-spirit-the-most-important-rock-album-of-the-decade |title=Bring Me The Horizon - That's The Spirit |last=Biddulph |first=Andy |work=Rock Sound |publisher=Freeway Press Inc. |date=17 September 2015 |accessdate=17 July 2016 }} David Renshaw of the NME noted the song's "singalong choruses and driving, expansive production", comparing it in these respects to "Throne".{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/bring-me-the-horizon/16251 |title=Bring Me The Horizon - 'That's The Spirit' |last=Renshaw |first=David |work=NME |publisher=Time Inc. UK |date=11 September 2015 |accessdate=17 July 2016 }}

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.{{cite AV media|title=That's the Spirit (Track by Track Commentary) by Bring Me the Horizon|date=4 September 2015|people=Sykes, Oliver (Narrator)|publisher=Spotify}} 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. 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.""{{cite magazine |url=http://www.altpress.com/reviews/entry/bring_me_the_horizon_thats_the_spirit |title=Bring Me The Horizon are back with an epic reinvention |last=Bryant |first=Tom |magazine=Alternative Press |date=11 September 2015 |accessdate=17 July 2016 }} Fuse's Maria Sherman noted its "self-deprecating chorus".{{cite news |url=http://www.fuse.tv/2015/09/bring-me-the-horizon-avalanche |title=Bring Me the Horizon Share Pounding New Song, "Avalanche" |publisher=Fuse |date=9 September 2015 |accessdate=17 July 2016 }}

In a Reddit AMA ("Ask Me Anything"), bassist Matt Kean revealed that "Avalanche" was his favourite song on That's the Spirit.{{cite news |url=http://www.kerrang.com/35624/11-things-we-learnt-from-bring-me-the-horizons-reddit-ama/ |title=11 Things We Learnt From Bring Me The Horizon's Reddit AMA |last=Carter |first=Emily |work=Kerrang! |publisher=Bauer Media |date=17 September 2015 |accessdate=11 July 2016 }} Fish claimed that it was "probably [his] favourite" too in a 2016 interview, despite previously favouring the album's opener "Doomed".

The music video for "Avalanche" was released on 23 June 2016.{{cite news |url=http://loudwire.com/bring-me-the-horizon-avalanche-video/ |title=Bring Me the Horizon Showcase Live Show in 'Avalanche' Video |last=Childers |first=Chad |work=Loudwire |publisher=Townsquare Media |date=23 June 2016 |accessdate=15 July 2016 }} Directed by Tom Sykes, brother of the band's vocalist Oliver,{{cite news |url=http://teamrock.com/news/2016-06-23/bring-me-the-horizon-in-avalanche-video |title=Bring Me The Horizon in Avalanche video |last=Lach |first=Stef |publisher=TeamRock |date=24 June 2016 |accessdate=15 July 2016 }} 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.{{cite news |url=https://diymag.com/2016/06/23/bring-me-the-horizon-reveal-avalanche-video |title=Bring Me The Horizon reveal 'Avalanche' video |work=DIY |publisher=Sonic Media Group |date=23 June 2016 |accessdate=15 July 2016 }} 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". 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. "Avalanche" is the only song by the band to have its music video age restricted on YouTube.

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". 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?" Loudwire's Chad Childers described the track as "one of the more anthemic songs in the band's catalog". 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".{{Cite web|url=https://www.gigwise.com/reviews/102374/bring-me-the-horizon-thats-the-spirit-track-by-track-guide-review|title=First listen: Bring Me The Horizon - That's The Spirit|website=www.gigwise.com|access-date=2018-06-25}}

• In 2016, "Avalanche" was used during ITV's UEFA Euros group stage coverage of Italy vs Sweden.{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5812404/soundtrack/?ref_=tt_trv_snd|title=ITV Sport: Euro 2016 (TV Series): Italy vs. Sweden (2016) Soundtracks|publisher=IMDb|access-date=15 November 2022}}

"Avalanche" entered the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart at number 7 on 18 September 2015 following the release of That's the Spirit,{{cite web |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/rock-and-metal-singles-chart/20150918/111/ |title=18 September 2015 – 24 September 2015 |work=Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40 |publisher=Official Charts Company |accessdate=15 July 2016 }} when it also registered on the main UK Singles Chart for a solitary week at number 97.{{cite web |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20150918/7501/ |title=18 September 2015 – 24 September 2015 |work=Official Singles Chart Top 100 |publisher=Official Charts Company |accessdate=15 July 2016 }} The song remained in the top 40 of the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart until December.{{cite web |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/rock-and-metal-singles-chart/20151204/111/ |title=04 December 2015 – 10 December 2015 |work=Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40 |publisher=Official Charts Company |accessdate=15 July 2016 }} In the United States, the track reached number 32 on the Billboard Twitter Top Tracks chart.{{cite web |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/297508/bring-me-horizon/chart?f=2047 |title=Billboard Twitter Top Tracks: Bring Me the Horizon Chart History |work=Billboard |publisher=Prometheus Global Media |accessdate=10 September 2016 }}

Credits adapted from Tidal.{{cite web|url=https://tidal.com/track/50793902|title=Bring Me the Horizon – Avalanche|website=Tidal|accessdate=12 April 2021}}

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Bring Me the Horizon

• Oliver Sykes – lead vocals, production, composition, programming
• Lee Malia – guitars, composition
• Matt Kean – bass, composition
• Matt Nicholls – drums, composition
• Jordan Fish – keyboards, synthesizers, programming, percussion, backing vocals, production, composition, engineering

Additional musicians

• Maddie Cutter – cello
• Will Harvey – violin

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Additional personnel

• Al Groves – engineering
• Sam Winfield – engineering
• Nikos Goudinakis – assistant engineering
• Ted Jensen – mastering
• Dan Lancaster – mixing

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{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Avalanche"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|artist=Bring Me the Horizon|title=Avalanche|award=Gold|relyear=2015|certyear=2023|accessdate=6 March 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Bring Me the Horizon|title=Avalanche|award=Silver|relyear=2015|certyear=2023|id=18949-3858-1|accessdate=5 May 2023}}

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{{reflist|30em}}

{{Bring Me the Horizon songs}}

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Category:2016 songs

Category:2016 singles

Category:Bring Me the Horizon songs

Category:Songs written by Oliver Sykes

Category:Sony Music singles