REVIEW: Bury Tomorrow- 'Cannibal'
Bury Tomorrow has never been a band that relied on past experiences to get the creative juices flowing, nor have they drawn from gimmicks to draw in the genre crowds. From a listening perspective, this was something that has been particularly compelling about this band. Bury Tomorrow approaches writing an album and the world from a different lens, not from a topical or superficial space, but from an internal place of writing organically, caring, and using music to formulate that change.
Cannibal made its debut on July 3rd and tackles a myriad of emotional territory, yet pulls no punches when it comes to delivering an engaging and thrilling album experience. “Choke” is the first fantastic sign of strength as the opener on the album. With gritty unclean vocals, lavishly diverse cleans, and explosive guitar riffs, "Choke" delivers in all the areas that most loved about 2018's Black Flame. This is a noteworthy start to the album and encourages listeners to take part in the rest of the album experience.
We then come to "Cannibal," a paramount of a number coupled with a nonplussed breakdown that is brimming with beautiful, technical finesse. While there will be many lyrical junctures on this album that will deserve praise, the use of this tracks uncanny lyricism puts it a step above some of the rest, not to mention some of Daniel Winter-Bates and Jason Cameron's most evolved vocal work up to this point.
"The Grey VIXI" is another standout track on the album where the vocals shine on. Riveting and awe-inspiring, it’s clear Cameron can masterfully transition through his rough and rich vocal registers, all while making it seem effortless at the same time.
Three tracks in, and Bury Tomorrow has given us a chunk of high octane fuel to digest, and it does not end here. Instrumental leviathan "Imposter" keeps the energy going, with meteoric-like guitar work and high-velocity paced drum work that will melt your face off. Bury Tomorrow is here to put a stamp on the genre that people will remember.
Most of the energy remains a consistent and dynamic experience until we hit an odd little ditty "Quake." For some, this may not be such a pleasant experience on the album, however sparse it is. "Quake" does provide a nice change of pace on the record and breaks up the monotony. While we are trading in high-energy instrumental arrangements for more clean and subtle tones, it is a welcoming experience that shows the band is capable of writing slightly softer tracks.
Other memorable moments on the album are "Voice and Truth", the third to last track on Cannibal. Once again, this band is out to prove they are one of metalcore’s instrumental juggernauts. Intense and just as heavy an experience as "Choke," this track is bleeding with energetic zeal, breakneck breakdowns, and two beautiful guitar solos that will have you bashing that replay button once the song has concluded.
It comes as no surprise that this band sticks to what they know, and they do it well. The guitar work speaks volumes on this record. Though technically painted throughout, it's barely detectable and can be absorbed solely for the music premise alone. Much of the album stays balanced and is powerful where it needs to be.
Bury Tomorrow has always done well with meshing clean and heavy elements together, creating effortlessly catchy and resonate listening adventures. Cannibal seems to have accomplished this and much more. While some may have issues with this album not being a mind blower, it excels in the areas where it needs to. Cannibal has impressive vocal ranges and intricate, thought-provoking instrumentalism that will keep many coming back for a long time.