Bury Your Dead have certainly undergone a lot of changes since their last release. Whether it be the controversial (and allegedly unceremonious dumping) of frontman Myke Terry; the return of vocalist Mat Bruso; or the move from Victory Records to Mediaskare – much has transpired since we last heard from the band.
If anything through, it is the reinstatement of Bruso that has steered this outfit back on a proper course. Their 2009 release “It’s Nothing Personal” was a damning stylistic shift towards nu-metal mediocrity. A move seen by many as a misstep that eroded much of the support of their original fanbase. Bouncing back from that with Bruso at the helm, “Mosh N’ Roll” finds the band returning to what they do best. That is, delivering concussive pit anthems full of breakdowns, gang vocals and mosh friendly chug.
As far as moshcore goes, Bury Your Dead remain textbook examples. Their time spent dabbling in different genres has led to a perhaps an extra shade or two of color, but the majority of this album seems like business as usual. A cacophony of knuckle dragging detuned riffs, rhythmic pummel and confrontational in your face lyrics; the group smash through eleven concise tracks with only one ever going the distance past the three minute mark.
This brevity lets the band and their admittedly formulaic approach get in, inflict maximum damage and get out. Production wise it tends to feel a bit glossy, especially through Bruso‘s seemingly overlapping vocals. But the energy and aggression packed behind each flurry of aural pugilism will likely leave the listener too winded to notice. It may seem odd for a band to pick up where they left off two albums ago. But for Bury Your Dead, few would likely have it any other way.
