Oli Sykes, the frontman of Bring Me The Horizon, has created a unique venue in Sheffield, known as Church or Temple of Fun. Located in an old warehouse in Kelham Island, the venue doubles as a bar, restaurant, gaming space, and houses Sykes’ fashion brand, Drop Dead. It also serves as a headquarters for the band, with the rest of the members rehearsing for their upcoming tour. Apart from that, the attic stores memorabilia and props from the band’s old video shoots, while downstairs is adorned with neon and religious imagery that creates a distinct ambiance resonating with Las Vegas, Tokyo, or Mexico City.
Speaking about the venue, Sykes remarks, “It’s out of my control now. Sometimes I log into Instagram, and there are people doing life drawings of dogs here. We have films, we have gigs, we have all sorts. It’s a cool place for people who are, well… not normos. It’s a safe space for people.”
The ambiance of the venue is consistent with the band’s ethos, inviting listeners to their cinematic universe with every record. Their recent Post Human series, however, was ambitious, with Sykes acknowledging that they may never record an album again. Nevertheless, the series comprises four EPs, with Survival Horror becoming one of their best-received records due to its ability to capture the initial shock and fear of the COVID-19 pandemic. While the second EP, Post Human: Nex Gen, took almost four years to come to fruition, it only came out a few weeks ago, creating surprise among fans.
Despite the success, the band had to overcome significant challenges, including the loss of a pivotal member, Jordan Fish’s exit, and Sykes grappling with addiction. “I’ve been quite open about falling back into drugs and bad habits in lockdown,” he admits, adding that he realized he was not entirely healed from rehab. However, he found the motivation to pen down Youtopia, which sets the scene for the whole record and addresses the first and most critical obstacle to being content—complete self-acceptance.
The record is a constant battle between light and dark, with Sykes acknowledging the reality of the struggle. He concludes by saying that the first step in healing is acceptance while emphasizing the importance of seeking support and sharing one’s pain
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