Review Summary: With the exception of the title track, On Waxed Wings EP is nothing but a re-hash of previous ideas and covered ground which was displayed more effectively on their debut, Portraits.
Bury Tomorrow; merely mention their name to the majority of Metalheads in the Portsmouth and Southampton area and you’ll most likely be greeted by showers of praise, devil-horn gestures and silly grins. To put it clearly, the band is loved here. Bury Tomorrow are Melodic-Metalcore band signed to Basick Records who released their debut album (Portraits) in late 2010 and have been slowly gaining popularity throughout England with their catchy mix of harsh and clean vocals, melodic riffs and their abundance of breakdowns.
However this EP shows a reluctance for experimentation or the exploration of new ideas, instead sticking to a re-hashing of previously covered ground that has already been displayed more on Portraits and were executed in a more enjoyable manner. The Western Front and Breathe on Glass displays this lack of progression perfectly, instead sticking to their tried and true formula of chugging riffs interspersed with breakdowns and repetitive, uninspired drumming. The vocals however have always been one the redeeming aspects of the band, while lead vocalist Danni-Winter Bates shows a competent performance with his harsh vocals, often interchanging between low growls and high-pitched shrieks, he nonetheless adds to the albums’ heaviness, however, it is their clean vocalist Jason Cameron who is the bands most promising aspect. For lack of a better word the man’s voice is incredible, displaying a magnificent register which he utilises to its’ fullest throughout the duration of the EP, and also shows an incredible amount of emotion which will create a connection for the listener.
The EP is not all doom-and-gloom however, while the two previously mentioned tracks show no urge for experimentation, The title track; On Waxed Wings shows that the band are capable of writing an incredibly catchy tune that shows a willingness to alter their sound while still keeping their key characteristics that makes them so popular in the local scene. The song features an interesting tapping introduction, a melodic guitar solo and a constant change of pace throughout the song while boasting the catchiest chorus on the album and is likely to become one Bury Tomorrows’ most well-written songs. Therefore this alone almost redeems the entire EP from being a wasted and overall generic effort or a cash grab.
Therefore with the exception of the title-track, the band shows no willingness to experiment or alter their core sound to try and improve the quality of their music or appeal to a wider audience, and while Jason’s vocals boosts this bands’ longevity and enjoyment, they can’t expect this strategy to always work for them and they will eventually present themselves with a difficult decision, change or be forgotten.
