Bury Tomorrow – Cannibal (Album Review)
Bury Tomorrow – Cannibal
Released: July 3rd, 2020
Lineup
Daniel Winter Bates // Vocals
Davyd Winter Bates // Bass
Adam Jackson // Drums
Kristan Dawson // Guitars
Jason Cameron // Vocals/Guitars
Online
Okay. Maybe the die-hard Bury Tomorrow fans will come after me for this, but I honestly don’t have a lot to say about Cannibal. If you liked their 2018 album Black Flame, you’ll like this one too. If you’re looking to listen to more melodic metal and metalcore, this is a perfect album for you. But if you want something exciting, perhaps this won’t tickle your fancy.
Let’s kick it off with ‘Choke’. It’s a banger of an opener and it really sets your expectations for the rest of the album, and it’s dead on. The vocals are on point the entire way through; I love me some gravelly screams and rich cleans. But the riffage? Ugh, that hits the spot.
‘Cannibal’, the title track, is powerful, and getting straight to the point there’s an unassuming little lead up to the break down where vocalist Daniel Winter-Bates spits some brutal lyrics. His vocals are right up there with some of the greats, he has an impressive range and I feel like in a live set he has some major durability. While we’re on vocals, let’s talk about Jason Cameron’s cleans because his voice has such a nice tone, not just in ‘The Grey (VIXI)’, but every song. Like those old school rockers, it’s a little bit rough and very rich. It’s a perfect counter to the heavy heavy that Bury Tomorrow create.
Now, we’re three songs in and yeah, in the beginning, this album was exciting but now we’re starting to realise there isn’t a whole lot of variety here. If you want quality vocals, exciting guitar melodies and clever drums, well perfect, here you go. But unfortunately, every song from here on out is much of the same. The annoying thing is that it’s all good. There isn’t a song that has missed the mark because they all sort of have by being too similar. It’s very much along the same vein as the title track from their last album, ‘Black Flame’ and I’m a little bored. Cannibal is the perfect background metal album. And there aren’t many of those around! Maybe it’s a special quality in itself to be so palatable.
I really don’t want it to sound like this album isn’t enjoyable, it is. So, you know when you’re travelling and you always go and check out the cathedrals? They’re all beautiful; the architecture is something to marvel, the high ceilings and stained-glass windows are always incredible. But if you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all. I think it’s the same with Bury Tomorrow. But people are always going to check out cathedrals, and people are always going to enjoy listening to Bury Tomorrow.
I’m not going to pick standouts from this album, but I will pick a stand out element, and that’s the guitars. Oh my gosh, they’re damn good. So good in fact, that I wish they’d do an instrumental version. But in the end, Bury Tomorrow have created an enjoyable album. Is it going-to-blow-your-mind amazing? No. But does it hit the spot? Yes.
Bury Tomorrow – Cannibal tracklisting:
1. Choke
2. Cannibal
3. The Grey (VIXI)
4. Imposter
5. Better Below
6. The Agonist
7. Quake
8. Gods & Machines
9. Voice & Truth
10. Cold Sleep
11. Dark Infinite
Rating: 5/10
Cannibal is out July 3rd through Sony Music. Pre-order here.
Review by Ebony Story
Hey there! Yeah, albums that I’ve given 10/10 for have been incredibly innovative and I’ve loved every second of them because each song has something different and ear catching (Polaris for example). With this one, not so. If you just listened to a track off this album individually, it’s great. But when you put them all together in an album you realise they’re all the same. And exactly the same as their previous album. So when I said that it’s the perfect album for someone who is looking to listen to more metalcore, I mean it in the sense that you’re not super versed in the metalcore world. This is a good ‘intro’ album, if you will. It’s easily palatable, nothing too ‘out there’ and experimental, ‘perfect’ for the person wanting to ease their way into this genre.
That being said, if you’re a metalcore fan and know your stuff, no I wouldn’t recommend it to you. Have you listened to the album? What do you reckon?
I have complete respect for your review and opinions on this album, and music needs people to discuss their ideas about new releases with openness and they should be respected for their opinions on it, especially in metal where elitism and knee-jerking is all too common. My view is that I’ve been listening to metalcore pretty much every day since 2003/4 and I love this album! I think it’s perhaps a little harsh to call it an ‘intro’ album, because to some that could sound like it’s not ‘brutal’ or ‘heavy’ enough, as is what that term is sometimes used for. From the perspective of it being and ‘intro’ as in an ‘advert’ for metalcore I would agree, as it showcases a lot of excellent elements of the genre. From the first few listens to most metalcore albums, including some that you may have rated 9 or 10/10, I would think that it’s all a bit same-y, but Cannibal does exhibit good varation (Choke, The Grey, Better Below, Quake, Dark Infinite are all pretty different to each other) all whilst staying within the boundaries of ‘metalcore’. I think these days there is a propensity for people to praise “genre-bending” albums or songs above very well written “single-genre” ones, just because the band is trying something new. The danger there for me, is that the genre isn’t “diversifying” or “progressing”, it’s dying out. Cannibal reminds me of iconic releases by the likes of Killswitch, As I Lay Dying, Parkway Drive, August Burns Red etc.. from 15/20 years ago, and that’s precisely why for me it’s an excellent 10/10 album, because it’s pure, undiluted metalcore.
Well said. I agree with what you mean about Cannibal being an ‘advert’ instead of an ‘intro’ album, it’s a slightly different wording but I think it leads people in the same direction; it’s a nice introduction into the metalcore genre. And in terms of Cannibal’s variation, I just don’t quite hear it. I think there needs to be more than just a different riff and different lyrics and whatnot, I’d like variations on song structure, pacing, tuning, keys etc. But then again, that is just what I like. But I don’t believe that playing with those elements would take them out of the metalcore genre, perhaps just enhance what they’re already working with. And is there really a danger of metalcore dying out? I think it, and every other genre, is always evolving. Developing new strains and perhaps solidifying more of a ‘classic’ metalcore sound. Which is cool! We have classic rock, classic/old school metal, and perhaps it’s happening with metalcore? So with that I’d argue that this isn’t pure/undiluted metalcore, it’s classic instead.
I really don’t understand this review. You praise many of the elements of the album, repeatedly use the word “perfect” and refer to every song as being good, even state that it’s “the perfect album” for someone who is looking for some melodic metalcore, and then conclude by giving it a 5/10? Essentially a “D” by most rating scales? uh. I’m very confused. Are you recommending this or not?
Albums that you have written 10/10 reviews for must be insanely innovative and incredible.