Track-by-track album review of ‘Runes’ by Bury Tomorrow

From April 21st to May 2nd 2014, I am interning at Nuclear Blast Records in London. During my work experience, I was able to listen to lots of new and exciting albums before they have been released. As I study Journalism at university, I was asked to write a track-by-track album review of the new Bury Tomorrow album, which has inspired a new 'AAA' feature on Nuclear Blast's tumblr where interns will now be asked to contribute further during their time here.

 Five piece Hampshire metal band Bury Tomorrow are back with their third album ‘Runes’. It will be released on the 26^th May via Nuclear Blast Records.

Opening track and first single release ‘Man on Fire’ grabs your attention immediately with an insanely catchy guitar riff and Dani’s heavy lead vocals. It’s easy to tell why this song opens the album: the contrasting hard-hitting verses and melodic choruses cater for every type of Bury Tomorrow fan, making it extremely successful.

‘Shadow, A Creator’ perfectly demonstrates how Bury Tomorrow have developed as a band: their sophisticated yet furious song-writing is a skill which many other bands leave to be desired. Jason’s vocals especially stand out in this song, allowing the listener to fully take in the powerful lyrics.

One of the songs that stands out the most on ‘Runes’ is ‘The Torch’. The technical guitar riffs sound unique and impressive, giving a fresh new sound to the metal music genre. For a relatively-new British metal band to be creating such refined and elegant music is a huge feat, both for Bury Tomorrow and the future of the music industry.

Keeping up the fast pace is fourth song ‘Watcher’. With insanely fast drumming and a killer guitar solo, Bury Tomorrow prove that they are all incredibly skilled musicians.

‘Our Gift’ begins with Dani’s intense screaming vocals and leads into a melodic vocal and guitar melody from Jason. The breakdown is well put together and the guitar solos are yet again another impressive factor in Bury Tomorrow’s musical style.

Vigorous and brutal guitar riffs are what you will find in ‘Darker Water’, alongside deep and meaningful lyrics. The fast-paced nature of the song makes it almost impossible to stay still whilst listening to it, and it’s sure to be a crowd-favourite at live shows.

Halfway through the album the energy is still overwhelming, with ‘Another Journey’ sounding powerful from the first to the last second. The lyrics are catch and easy to pick up, making it an extremely memorable track from the album.

‘Under The Sun’ has a slightly slower pace, but the metal vibe is still there. The heavy and melodic vocals contrast well and is one of the best features of listening to Bury Tomorrow.

Kicking up the pace again is ‘Year of the Harvest’, which features extremely powerful and attention-grabbing vocals from Dani. His screaming vocals have become even heavier, proving that the band are constantly putting as much effort as possible into their music for the fans.

‘Garden of Thorns’ opens with a more metalcore-sounding guitar riff, which is also apparent in the chorus. The overall rhythm of the song makes it sound like it would be perfect to headbang to, almost teasing fans to get excited for their upcoming tour.

‘Divine Breath’ is not just a token slow song: the melodies presented are beautiful and Jason’s voice works perfectly alongside the stunning lyrics. Despite being the shortest song on ‘Runes’, it makes a huge impact on the album and enhances it greatly.

Penultimate song ‘Of Glory’ is both technical and heavy, allowing the listener to enjoy something that ticks all the metal genre tick boxes without sounding generic or overplayed. If you’re looking for something to become your next favourite metal song, then you’ll probably find it on this album.

Final track ‘Last of the Ice’ proves that it is possible to possess a metal album where every song sounds incredible. On many albums there is often a song which isn’t as good as the rest, but on ‘Runes’ every song is both impressive and like a breath of fresh air for those who are fed up of mediocre and generic metal bands.

All in all, ‘Runes’ is strong proof that British metal music is still alive and kicking. Bury Tomorrow are one of the best UK bands around and if you’re looking to give your ears a treat then pre-order the album now!

'Runes' will be released on the 26th May via Nuclear Blast Records.

Pre-order the album here:
iTunes Standard version: receive 'Watcher' as an instant-grat track: http://georiot.co/BuryRunesiTunes
iTunes Bonus version (Includes 3 extra tracks,+ ‘Watcher’ as an instant-grat track + Man On Fire official video): http://georiot.co/BuryRunesItunes
Amazon Signed Limited Edition Digipak CD: http://smarturl.it/BT-RUNES-AMZ