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
