Who would have ever thought an album with all of its songs named after Tom Cruise movies could feature more breakdowns than a mental institution. With their sophomore opus "Cover Your Tracks", Bury Your Dead have created exactly that and more, as meaty riffs become the tip of the blade to a metalcore slashing that pays ample homage to the tough guy NYHC scene.

Similar in ideals to their peers in Terror and Hatebreed, Bury Your Dead focus their lyrical rage on casting out warnings to those who have wronged them while galvanizing themselves from the hardships they've endured. They do the bulk of this through barked vocals and a surprisingly dynamic guitar assault replete with ample time changes and convoluted song structuring. But that doesn't stop them from keeping the pedal to the metal with the listener impaled on their bumper. An overwhelmingly threatening double kick laden drum performance and beefed up bass lines ensure that and leave little room for escape.

Purists will frown upon the aesthetic Bury Your Dead utilize as their material enlists a rather modern punch that is almost similar at times to Earth Crisis' "Slither". The rock-solid production takes care of the rest and greatly aids the band in spreading their venomous intent. However, while perhaps one of the most satisfying and straightforwardly pummeling metalcore releases in recent memory, there is a substantial lack of evolution present from the band - a factor which does not bode well for them from an overall career standpoint. There's also a very similar formula of mosh-heavy breakdowns and jutted riffing present that will no doubt wear down those who aren't already bent on destruction. From a metalcore standpoint "Cover Your Tracks" is easily one of the best that 2004 has to offer. It's straight up and gets to the point with ample brutality, side-stepping the more sensitive trends that have begun to emerge. But when looking at the already overextended state of that particular scene, that's not exactly saying you'll remember it by this time next year.