After going through the kind of drama that would kill most bands, Bury Your Dead have not only returned refreshed but also focused. The Massachusetts band lost their original singer, Mat Bruso, in early 2007 when he returned to civilian life. The front-man was a huge asset for the quintet as his lyrical vision helped set them apart from the rest of the metalcore pack. On 2004’s Cover Your Tracks, each song title referenced a Tom Cruise movie in the title. Beauty and the Breakdown, from 2006, featured eleven songs that each was inspired by classic fairy tales. These unconventional ideas were refreshing and critics and fans alike were smitten. After Bruso jumped ship, former I Killed the Prom Queen screamer, Michael Crafter took over the position but quit during a tour shortly after. Instead of drowning in their sorrows, the guys recruited Cassius singer, Myke Terry and channeled their pent up energies into new material.

That brings us to their new self-titled release. From the dissonant chugs of opening track, “Sympathy Orchestra,” its clear the band are out to prove something. Each down-stroked riff and double-bass hit is played with the kind of precision that would even make Meshuggah proud! Years of roughing it out on the road have worked wonders for their chops. They also know when to hold back and ride the groove out which a lot of other bands in their scene have trouble doing. Chances are taken with melodic and textural touches being thrown in throughout the arrangements. The opening of “Fever Dreams” even has a Sunset Strip hard rock-like swagger to it. Terry’s clean vocals during the chorus in this song are unique, infectious and make you wish he would have utilized them more on the album. He definitely rises to the occasion here, proving he deserved his spot in the popular band.

 

Rating: 7/10
Label: Victory Records
Website: www.myspace.com/buryyourdead

Review by Carlos Ramirez

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This entry was posted on Friday, March 7th, 2008 at 12:53 am. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Defleshuary wrote:

Even make Meshuggah proud? LULZ!

March 7th, 2008 at 1:07 am

god damnit jason wrote:

holy shit…meshuggah in a article about bury your dead??
im saving this.

March 7th, 2008 at 1:11 am

ColdExile13 wrote:

this website is losing credibility.

March 7th, 2008 at 2:56 am

CarlosRamirez wrote:

Just to clear things up, I never they said they were as good as Meshuggah, I was just trying to convey the band’s presicion was very impressive. Meshuggah are obviously on another level all-together.

I try to review things as objectively as possible. I am fully aware of how Bury Your Dead is percieved here but the album impressed me. Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t FORBIDDEN EVIL or EFFIGY OF THE FORGOTTEN, but it is solid.

March 7th, 2008 at 1:23 pm

wtfbbqlol wrote:

Mat wasn’t the original singer. get your facts straight

March 8th, 2008 at 9:59 pm

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