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BURY TOMORROW have always been a band flooded with emotion, but could also survive the toughest oncoming storms. For their latest release, Will You Haunt Me, With That Same Patience, their eleven-track odyssey into darker waters, is navigated with the intense forces of relentless self-destruction, overwhelming anxiety and a deep absence of emotional clarity.
Regardless, the relentless nature of the band, through the uncertainty of the pandemic and then the future of the melodic metalcore outfit, gained some stability with the arrival of keyboardist and vocalist Tom Prendergast and guitarist Ed Hartwell for 2023’s The Seventh Sun, which arguably played it safe for the band’s potential, even in retrospect of Will You Haunt Me… there was security in their iron fortress of Dani Winter-Bates signature demonic growls and persistent fast guitar chugs.
Will You Haunt Me… consolidates a new fully-realised sonic direction for the band, which is just as uplifting as it’s cutthroat. The record’s strength lies in the unity and collective trust in each other. BURY TOMORROW have physically become their namesake, and let their new sound define them, bathed in confidence and an admiration of the scene they have worked incredibly hard to be a part of. The result: a phoenix rising from the ashes. A solemn moment of chaos, that gained in its resurrection, the creativity and the guts to soar.
Tom Prendegast brings so much more necessary texture to the record with his vocals, welcoming in the new era with their first track, To Dream, To Forget. The subtle layering of seasoned heavy vocalist Dani Winter-Bates brings a gorgeous richness to the chorus. The sublime is realised through their subtle sweeping during verses, adding a necessary dimension to their abrasive tone. Whilst the bridge feels almost airless from the tireless bombardment of noise, opting for a stripped-back, almost-instrumentless moment of reflection, there is a massive payoff from the breakdown.
Championing both the heavy and sung vocals is a smart move for the band- it was something they needed to truly be complete since the departure of previous vocalist Jason Cameron. In tracks like Waiting, where clean vocals take priority, it feels like new territory for them, perhaps shown the way by other acts like RESOLVE, ERRA or INVENT ANIMATE. Whilst this evolution of the BURY TOMORROW sound may echo some of the newer players in the heavy scene, it feels like this juxtaposition of light and heavy pays off immensely well.
Amongst it all, there are some gorgeous moments of anguish within this record. Villain Arc, our first single and introduction from this new album cycle, makes its presence known within the archipelago of tracks as fiery and bombastic. A return to form, echoing 2020’s Cannibal. The spoken word verses seem a little gimmicky, amongst the intensity of the rest of the track, but this is no doubt massive setlist artillery for their UK tour in October.
Throughout the record, this structure seems to both dazzle and crush the listener under its enormous weight. Immense riffs, through Villain Arc, Yokai and Wasteland are incredibly monolithic, and provide enormous statement pieces for the album. The formula has truly been perfected in this regard, the overwhelming breakdowns are extremely refreshing. Whilst also being moments to demonstrate the intense technicality of the band, this is BURY TOMORROW at their best.
A missed opportunity in the record seemed to come from the bands use of electronically made segments to piece the album together. Whilst the infusion of electronica has evidently elevated their sound within Will You Haunt Me…, on its own between or in the middle of tracks feels detracts from the overall enthusiasm from the record. If BURY TOMORROW go so hard on their tracks, then these moments of quiet feel meaningless in the context of the album. However, with some fine tuning and fusion, we believe this could be a powerful tool in their arsenal.
Overall, this is exciting. Admiring their strength and valour in creating this album, especially with their new direction has been inspiring. Whilst there have been moments of greatness and moments where the band don’t quite hit their mark. What matters most is that the record is ferocious and will feel monstrous in a their performances. BURY TOMORROW – we will see you in the pit.
Rating: 7/10
Will You Haunt Me, With That Same Patience is set for release on May 16th via Music For Nations.
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