British Metalcore quintet Bury Tomorrow is ready to barbecue your innards with their latest, Cannibal. Music For Nations and Sony deliver the disc on Friday, July 3, 2020.
Formed in Southampton, England, in 2006, Bury Tomorrow issued their debut full-length, Portraits, in 2009 and the rest is heavy history. Tackling hurdles throughout their rise, and yet still managing to consistently release one new LP every two years between 2012’s The Union of Crowns and 2018’s Black Flame, the band has shown their dedication and perseverance. Determined road dogs with a loyal fan base across the globe, the quintet has also shared stages with an eclectic array of bands, ranging from Asking Alexandria and Sleeping With Sirens to Architects and Hands Like Houses.
Originally slated to be released April 3rd, their sixth disc was unfortunately delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. But that certainly hasn’t stopped Bury Tomorrow—Vocalist Dani Winter-Bates, Guitarist/Vocalist Jason Cameron, Guitarist Kristan Dawson, Bassist Davyd Winter-Bates, and Drummer Adam Jackson—from delivering a quality product. Produced by Dan Weller (Enter Shikari, Dream State), the 11-track LP sees the group digging deep into personal territory, exploring how each of us manages to cannibalize our own mental health with suffocating uncertainty and morbid tendencies.
Cannibal begins with a build of intoxicating guitars and Dani Winter-Bates’ brutal howls to introduce “Choke.” Mired in the strangling forces of life and unable to find hope, the track offers epic melodic choruses that get lofty with the emotional pain of feeling trapped. Next up, album namesake “Cannibal” utilizes mesmerizing arpeggios to lure listeners into the pulverizing body of the track. Another moment of emotional catharsis that offers a glance into the mindset of Vocalist Winter-Bates, as the post-chorus so bluntly inquires: “We are sick, we are tired / We are born from fire / Can we find our way back to the start?”
Slamming rhythms blanket “The Grey (VIXI),” which finds the perfect balance of howls and crisp, clean vocals; creating a haunting push and pull. Then, Jackson gets a chance to absolutely shine on the percussive anarchy of “Imposter,” with a chorus that is ready for arenas and radio. All this before atmospherics open the painful ponderance of “Better Below,” and thrumming rhythms provide an anchor for the melancholic strife of “The Agonist.” To say that the track has a powerful chorus seems redundant, but it does.
Delicate synths open the look at sanity and self-harm that is “Quake,” whose melodic verses and edgy choruses momentarily alter the established formula. Providing a standout moment on a strong collection, the song bleeds savage truth. Afterward, they pick back up for the vicious slam of “Gods & Machines” with some truly catchy choruses, before coming on like a slaughter in “Voice & Truth” and “Cold Sleep.” Ultimately, they opt to continue this ferocious streak and sign off with the incendiary banger “Dark Infinite.”
There’s a harsh honesty to the personal confessions and explorations found throughout Cannibal, one that always feels monstrously sincere and, thus, will be dangerously relatable for many. A reminder that we cannibalize our own lives when we get mired in our infinite darkness, that our mental health battles are, more often than not, a war within ourselves, the LP holds nothing back. Standing as a solid testament to both the candor as well as the integrity of its creators, Cannibal is a radiant entry into the band’s oeuvre.
However, as with all Metalcore bands that strictly adhere to the formula of blistering verses and lofty, melodic choruses, Bury Tomorrow, though phenomenal, can become a bit repetitive over the length of an LP. Again, let us repeat: the band are masters of their craft and they certainly know how to inject heartfelt emotion into an infectious banger. However, we believe there’s even more magic hiding inside the quintet just waiting to take them to the next level. For this, Cryptic Rock gives Bury Tomorrow’s latest 4.5 of 5 stars.
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