Parasite Eve (song)

The track was teased by Oliver Sykes on Instagram. 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.{{cite news|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CBLdXU6HlQ2/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/CBLdXU6HlQ2 |archive-date=24 December 2021 |url-access=registration|title=hello everyone- so as some of you know we were planning on releasing a new track this week...|work=Instagram|date=8 June 2020|accessdate=13 July 2020}}{{cbignore}}

"Parasite Eve" has been described as a nu metal{{Cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/bring-me-the-horizon-parasite-eve-first-reaction|title=Bring Me The Horizon's new single Parasite Eve is bizarre, baffling and brilliant|work=Metal Hammer|last=Wilkins|first=Slan|date=25 June 2020 |accessdate=18 July 2020}} and electronic rock song{{Cite web|url=https://intothepit.co.uk/review-parasite-eve-bring-me-the-horizon/|title=REVIEW: 'Parasite Eve' – Bring Me The Horizon|work=Into The Pit UK|last=Wilkins|first=Slan|accessdate=18 July 2020}}{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} with some elements of electropop.{{Cite web|url=https://consequenceofsound.net/2020/06/bring-me-the-horizon-new-song-parasite-eve/|title=Bring Me the Horizon Unveil New Pandemic-Themed Song 'Parasite Eve'|work=Consequence of Sound|last=Goodman|first=Eleanor|date=29 October 2020|accessdate=25 June 2020}} The song was inspired by the Japanese video game of the same name. It was written and composed by the band while in quarantining during the COVID-19 pandemic. The song samples "Erghen Diado" from the album Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares. The lyrics talk about what is happening during the pandemic, saying that "This is a war" between countries for discovering a vaccine. At the same time, Sykes talks about when the pandemic is overcome, while asking "When we forget the Infection, will we remember the lesson?" to the people and the world leaders like U.S. President Donald Trump and Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro that rejected and ignored the gravity of the virus.{{cite news|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/bring-me-the-horizon-parasite-eve-first-reaction|title=Bring Me the Horizon 'Parasite Eve' First Reaction|work=Louder Sound|date=25 June 2020|accessdate=13 July 2020}}{{cite web | url=https://genius.com/Bring-me-the-horizon-parasite-eve-lyrics|title=Bring Me The Horizon – Parasite Eve Lyrics|work=Genius.com|accessdate=13 July 2020}} Musically, it was influenced a lot by Sykes playing the game Doom Eternal, as well as the contributions of the game soundtrack artist Mick Gordon, giving it a futuristic and cyber overlay. Sykes said about the lyrics of the song amid the similarity of the current world situation:

{{Quote|"It was really weird, we'd heard about the pandemic in China, but then the similarities between what we were writing about started to become closer to reality. Every time there was a news story about it, we'd turn to each other and say 'Parasite Eve', not realising the magnitude of it all. We shelved the song for a bit because it felt bit too close to the bone. After sitting on it for a while, we realised that this was a reason to release it now more than ever. In our music we've always wanted to escape, but there's been too much escapism and ignoring the problems in the world. It's not what the world needs. The world needs more and needs to think about it and remember. You can't just brush over it and expect life to go back to normal, because it fucking ain't. In so many ways, we need to change. That's what rock music is about – addressing the dark side and processing it..."}}

The music video for "Parasite Eve" was released on the same day as the single was streamed. Directed by Sykes himself, he took inspiration from some of his favorite video games, films and the genre of nu metal.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kerrang.com/amp/heres-how-bring-me-the-horizon-made-their-video-for-parasite-eve|title=HERE'S HOW BRING ME THE HORIZON MADE THEIR VIDEO FOR PARASITE EVE|work=Kerrang!|last=Carter|first=Emily|accessdate=21 July 2020}} Using masks a friend of his created, each member filmed their video parts separately. This was an effort to stay within the social distancing restrictions set in place. Due to the lockdown restrictions, the band filmed the video with minimal crew and minimal resources.{{cite news|url=https://www.altpress.com/altpress_quizzes/bring-me-the-horizon-parasite-eve-lyrics/|title=Bring Me the Horizon 'Parasite Eve' Music Video|work=Alternative Press|date=2 July 2020|accessdate=13 July 2020}}

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{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Parasite Eve"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|artist=Bring Me the Horizon|title=Parasite Eve|award=Gold|relyear=2020|certyear=2023|access-date=6 March 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|type=single|artist=Bring Me the Horizon|title=Parasite Eve|award=Gold|relyear=2020|certyear=2023|access-date=7 March 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Bring Me the Horizon|title=Parasite Eve|award=Silver|relyear=2020|certyear=2022|id=18462-3858-1|access-date=21 October 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Bring Me the Horizon|title=Parasite Eve|award=Gold|relyear=2020|certyear=2024|access-date=25 June 2024}}

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{{reflist}}

{{Bring Me the Horizon songs}}

Category:2020 songs

Category:2020 singles

Category:Bring Me the Horizon songs

Category:Songs written by Oliver Sykes

Category:RCA Records singles

Category:Sony Music UK singles

Category:Nu metal songs

Category:Electronic rock songs

Category:Songs about the COVID-19 pandemic