Album Review: Bury Your Dead - 'Its Nothing Personal'

Swine Flu, black presidents and now Nu metal crossed with Mosh, what is happening in the world?  It’s Nothing Personal contains songs that are mostly confusing, often frustrating but occasionally well crafted to form a hybrid bordering half way between mosh and the more prominent Nu-Metal features that began to appear in their prior release and self titled cd “Bury Your Dead”.  Considering the reception its predecessor received (often being dubbed as Bury Your Fear Factory) I don’t think anyone would blame BYD for returning back to something in the vein of Cover Your Tracks. 

However, this was not to be as the band has evolved (or de-evolved as the case may be) capitalizing on clean singing combined with melodic guitar work.  While most songs still have the breakdown/mosh element included the tracks are now more comparable to slipknot/older disturbed than On Broken Wings who they were often described as having a similar style to.  It seems that the “bury your fucking dead” minute something’s are literally “buried” 

Credit where credit is due however, as the album is littered with groovy sections that have helped the band define and recently revolutionize their sound.  Best found in first track “Hurting Not Helping” (which sounds remarkably like Psychosocial by Slipknot) and “Broken Body”.  These sections are often marred by a clean chorus which makes the songs predictable and less dynamic.  Not to say old mate has a shithouse voice, it’s actually somewhat soulful and pleasant on the ears but has less of an impact then it could have had if used sparingly. 

The second half of the album consists of barely passable songs sounding more like b sides of their previous record with each chorus becoming blander than its predecessor.  This formula occasionally received certain equilibrium in “The Forgotten” while “Closed Eyes” experiments with effects and features a core solely of clean singing.  Its Nothing Personnel is a creative release, but is too over the shop to mark any improvement on its back catalogue.  If you like Sevendust you might dig it.  

Interesting but flawed, this will appeal to new fans but more than likely cause an increasing divide with the old.

01. Hurting Not Helping 

02. Without You 

03. Broken Body 

04. The Great Demonizer 

05. Dead End Lovesong 

06. Swan Song 

07. Lakota 

08. The Forgotten 

09. Lion's Den 

10. Legacy of Ashes 

11. Closed Eyes 

12. Enough