When you think of the best of British metalcore, a few band names will probably jump to the forefront of your mind. One of those names is probably Bury Tomorrow, and you would be absolutely right in thinking so. They’ve been grafting hard since 2009, touring relentlessly and continuously striving to be better and better. They’ve achieved that with every single release, maturing and growing with every record whilst building a reputation of being both punishing and flawless when performing live. 2018 sees them unleash a new record, another demonstration of development and evolution. That record is Black Flame. Without giving too much away, it is effortlessly impressive.
This is one of those records that can be listened to in it’s entirety over and over again. There is no filler here; every single track has been carefully crafted and has earned it’s place on the album. There’s a lot of variety too. Knife Of Gold is a pedal to the metal rager, crammed full of sheer brutality and power. Adrenaline is an almost Parkway Drive sounding offering, full of classic metalcore riffage and an unrelenting pace that’s perfectly paired with a catchy chorus. The Age is a radio friendly giant, showcasing balance between the venomous and melodic sides of the band. Title track Black Flame is a perfect showcase of every element of the band, containing everything that they excel at. Catchy anthemic choruses, bouncy technical riffs, punishing vocals and a seriously impressive lead section. If you are a fan of the genre, there is something for you here. If you are a fan of the band, this will make you fall that little bit deeper in love with them. This record is by far their best effort to date. By far.
There is nothing on this record that is unexpected or a surprise. To clarify, that isn’t intended as a negative point. Bury Tomorrow haven’t tried to experiment or draw influence from other places, they’ve simply taken what they already had and moulded it into something bigger and better than before. The sheer precision and musicianship on show here is leagues above their last record Earthbound, and that record was a belter. To say this record is a step up is a huge understatement. This record is almost like a rebirth that they weren’t planning. It’s borderline perfect.
Bury Tomorrow have been a force to be reckoned with for a few years now, but Black Flame propels them to another level entirely. As far as the genre goes, this record is them reaching out for the crown. They have always displayed a relentless energy in their live performances, but that energy hasn’t always carried over to their recorded material in the same way. This record may be the first time they’ve managed to capture that energy. Marry their stellar live performances with this record and they’ll be unstoppable. Black Flame comfortably sits them amongst Britain’s modern metalcore elite, alongside bands like Architects and While She Sleeps. If there was ever a time to get into Bury Tomorrow, it’s right now. This fire is going to spread.
No Comments