Earthbound: CD

At a time when modern metal is so slavishly led by the following of whatever fashion carousel is popular this week, rare are the bands who find success on their own, gimmick-free terms. A decade into their career, Southampton quintet Bury Tomorrow are, by whatever yardstick you want to measure it, one such band. Bury Tomorrow have hauled themselves into a position as one of the UK’s premiere purveyors of mosh by the sheer force of their own will. 2014’s Runes saw a veritable dam-break for the band, a UK rock chart number one and top 40 success in the mainstream, it was a record that enabled them to take their devastating live show to festival main stages across Europe and the UK, before finally culminating in a headline tour which saw the band playing to 1400 braying fans at a sold out London KOKO. Now though, with Earthbound, they have stepped things up yet another gear.

“To me, Earthbound feels like the distillation of everything we’ve ever wanted this band to be about,” says frontman Dani Winter-Bates. “Our first three records are kind of part of their own trilogy but this is Bury Tomorrow’s record, we all see this as our chance to show people what we are capable of.”Certainly Earthbound finds BT on more concise form that ever before: ten tracks that get it, batter you across the face, and get out again with precious little time for respite or caught breath. Hardcore mentality for a metalcore generation.

With notable influences ranging from axe-slinging New Wave Of American Heavy Metallers Unearth and Darkest Hour to the apoplectic fury of Terror and Madball, this is one that will get the pit spinning with consummate ease. But while fans of the heavy stuff will find plenty to grasp onto here, it’s the now trademark interplay between Dani and guitarist and clean vocalist Jason Cameron which sets Earthbound apart.One listen to the sky-scraping euphoria of Last Light or the call-to-arms swagger of the title track will tell you that Dani isn’t lying: monstrous anthems from a band who are coming of age as a truly astonishing force of musical nature. Elsewhere, 301s chastising punch sees Hatebreed’s Jamey Jasta lending his iron lungs to proceedings to devastating effect. “Where we are now is where we’ve always wanted to be,” smiles Dani. “And now we’re in the position to truly deliver on what we’ve promised so far. We aren’t going to let anyone down.”

Tracklisting

1. The Eternal
2. Last Light
3 .Earthbound
4. The Burden
5. Cemetery
6. Restless & Cold
7. 3018
8. Memories
9. For Us
10. Bloodline