Count Your Blessings (Bring Me the Horizon album)

Count Your Blessings is the debut studio album by British metalcore band Bring Me the Horizon. It was released on 30 October 2006 through Visible Noise Records. The album showcases a more deathcore-influenced sound compared to the band's later work, characterized by heavy breakdowns, guttural vocals, and aggressive instrumentation.

Prior to the release of Count Your Blessings, Bring Me the Horizon had already gained a significant following in the UK metal scene through their early EPs and live performances. The album was highly anticipated and, upon release, received mixed reviews. Some critics praised its energy and intensity, while others criticized its perceived lack of originality and reliance on genre clichés.

Despite the mixed critical reception, Count Your Blessings was a commercial success for Bring Me the Horizon. It charted in the UK Albums Chart and helped to solidify their position as a leading force in the burgeoning metalcore scene. The album is considered a landmark release for the band and for the deathcore genre as a whole, influencing many subsequent bands. Tracks such as "Pray for Plagues" and "For Stevie Wonder's Eyes Only (Braille)" became staples of the band's live setlist and fan favorites.

The album's themes primarily revolve around nihilism, violence, and anti-religious sentiment, consistent with the aggressive and provocative nature of deathcore music at the time. The lyrical content, coupled with the harsh musical style, contributed to the band's controversial image early in their career.

Count Your Blessings remains an important part of Bring Me the Horizon's discography, offering a glimpse into their early musical direction and providing a foundation for their later, more experimental and diverse sound.