UK metal favorites Bury Tomorrow take another step toward the upper echelon of heavy music with their fourth studio album.
Anyone who claims that rock and metal are dead is not paying attention. Guitar-driven music may not be the primary focus of radio or pop culture. Still, it’s hard to find anywhere on Earth without people grinding away in a practice space on songs they believe are unique. When the world is more chaotic than ever, rock and metal may be the only areas of music that can save the day. There is a release these genres make possible that no other type of sound can provide. They’re cathartic, but also revolutionary. They can start wars and soothe deep emotional wounds, often simultaneously, and few groups are doing a better job of delivering consistently enthralling material than Bury Tomorrow.
Already recognized as one of the most entertaining and prolific metal acts in the UK, Bury Tomorrow is a band that finds joy in the struggle for perfection. Their records take listeners on a journey from wide-eyed optimism of youth to the colder, more experienced perspective of adulthood without losing sight of hope. The group chooses to embrace the struggles of life as a necessity for improvement, both as a species and as a person. Their songs recognize the need to make the most of each moment that passes, and they urge listeners to make the most of whatever time they have left.
Cannibal, the band’s explosive fourth studio album, continues this trend while focusing heavily on the importance of mental health. As vocalist Dani Winter Bates explains:
“This album is for me as well as for the fans,” Bates says. “It was a cathartic process to address some of the darkest moments I’ve had in my life. For some people, it’ll be a hard listen. But I thought I have to do this. If I’m going to go in, I’m going to go in. I’m not doing something half-arsed. There is nothing lyrically I would change on this entire album.”
Though it may feel apocalyptic at times, Cannibal is about survival. Bury Tomorrow wants fans to know they are more resilient than they realize. They need listeners to understand that enduring hard times ultimately leads us to better ones, and if we can believe in our ability to overcome whatever scares us, nothing is out of reach.
While the world burns outside our doors and diseases spread like wildfire, Cannibal arrives when we need it most. It’s a relentlessly heavy and therapeutic record that listeners will celebrate for years to come.
