THE ALBUM OF THE DAY IS…
BURY YOUR DEAD, BEAUTY AND THE BREAKDOWN
Talk about truth in advertising: this Jason Suecof-produced fairy tale concept album is to metal as porn is to the erotic thriller: to hell with the story, here’s the fucking. Each and every song begins with a breakdown, ends with a breakdown, has a few breakdowns in between, and usually features a breakdown where the breakdown should go. In fact, the very first thing you’ll hear on opening track “House of Straw,” right from the get-go? A totally awesome breakdown.
Really, it’s metalcore overkill, and I mean that in the best possible way. Like their peers in Hatebreed and Throwdown, Bury Your Dead play hardcore with usual elements of Slayer and Pantera mixed in, but with their staccato, slightly industrialized riffs, they also owe a big debt to Fear Factory. Vocalist Matt Bruso may be the band’s weakest point- while he gets props for steering clear of straight edge-esque inspirational lyrics, he doesn’t have much range, even by the standards of dudes who just need to scream bloody murder. He’s since left the band, apparently to become a teacher, of all things; so maybe his replacement will have a little more to offer.
ANYWAY, this is a good album for getting drunk and having a moshpit in your living room.
-AR
Buy Beauty and the Breakdown
