Customer Reviews

It's Nothing Personal

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

2.5 stars

The short review: I am a bit disappointed with the new direction the band is taking.

The long review: I try to be objective in my reviews, and not compare an album to previous albums, but when the music starts to change a lot around the same time a vocalist change is made, I have to bring up the past. I know this is not the first album with the new singer. I kind of let the last album slide by with a decent review, because it was somewhat strong even with the new direction the band was taking... with the new vocalist. But this album provides such a departure from the band I knew and loved, that I have to write an honest review and not let anyone slide by on the strength of previous albums. There are still elements that remind me of the old BYD - the stop/start chugga chugga from the guitars, and the angry vocals, which is one of the reasons why I didn't give this 1 star. Another reason, is that it is not a total POS. Musically, it really is not the worst slab of metal out there. I hope I am wrong, but I have the feeling that BYD is gonna go Deftones on me and start putting out albums that are 20% heavy and 80% pretty vocals over strummed chords. The vocalist seems happy to take the band in that direction. It's a damn shame because Cover and Beauty are 2 of the heaviest discs in my collection.

Well it's pretty fair to say that the reviews that others have given this album are quite mixed. I see alot of people have made mention to thier deteriorating style, and thier slow transition into a more melodic metal band. For me, personally, I dont mind this album at all, I think it has it's moments, and although I am a huge fan of their earlier releases, I still think this album does ok.

To begin with, i'm sure alot of people have judged this album quite harshly. We mustn't forget that this album followed their self-titled release, which is in my opinion (and many, many others) as their best release to date, followed closely by "Beauty and the Breakdown". These are two mammoth releases which followed each other consecutively. For a band of the same calibre to top the quality dished out on these two albums would not be unheard of, but quite rare. I believe the biggest turning point is the new vocalist. Myke Terry proved that he was a good replacement after the departure of Matty Bruso. Terry proved in the self-titled release that he could mix it with the big boys in the metalcore scene with his remarkable intensity, although it would appear he has weakened a grade for this release.

Im not making a reference to his use of clean vocals, in fact, im all for the vocalist using cleean vocals in cooperation with screams and growls, as it shows the spectrum of talent that the vocalist posesses. His clean vocals create catchy choruses for many of the tracks, and in an ever-growing metalcore scene, this is essential as it makes the tracks more memorable puts them a cut above the rest. Clean vocals aside, i believe Terry's screaming and growling in this release were, to say the least, pathetic. In the track "Broken Body" he uses distortion to make his growls seem more surreal. Most vocalists dont need this as thier voice is enough, though, BYD have tried to add intensity to an ordinary scream, and it has backfired tremendously. Then we have the tracks "Legacy Of Ashes" and "The Great Demonizer" where Terry displays two completely different styles of screaming, far from similar to anything displayed on this album. I'm all for diversity, but not when it comes to scream styles. The screams and growls can be the signiature sound of the band, the way we can recognise them from the others, and here he has destroyed their originality by doing something completely unorthodox, and not benefitting at all.

So i have to give this release 3 stars, despite my disappointment with the vocals. Instrumentally, BYD have become more intense and explosive, but in return have traded in thier ruthlessness for a more melodic sound. I dont mind melodic bands in the metalcore scene, although it has to be executed well, BYD havn't done that in this release. 3 stars because it is catchy, intense and explosive at times, yet at the same time, I give it 3 stars because they have slipped into mediocrity with this release, and in my opinion, are more towards the lower end of the scale of this mediocrity. A slight disappointment from a band who once showed they were greats of the metalcore genre, now, they are the ...grapes of the genre.

Dear Bury Your Dead,

Well I think we both knew we were gonna have this talk for a while, and we've both been delaying the inevitable. Things have changed so much lately and so many differences between us have now reared their ugly heads. I think it's time we both said our pieces and set the record straight.

You've just changed so much recently that I almost don't even recognize you anymore. You're not the Bury Your Dead I fell in love with. I don't even know if you know who you are anymore.

At first I tried to compromise on our differences. I even began to think something was wrong with me. After all when you enjoy someone's company you want to work out your differences and make things work. But you just kept drifting further and further away from me. It seems like the harder I tried to make the effort for you, the harder you would make it for me to do so.

I know you've been through you're own trials in the last few years. You've gone through some hard times and had a lot of changes happen. At some points I felt like it was almost expected that these things would affect you. But some of the ways they've affected you didn't have to be an issue.

I can't live a lie anymore. I've supported you through a lot, and you've been there for me when I needed you. But things just are not the same, and for once I am not getting what I need out of this relationship anymore. I don't hold any bitter feelings. After all, we both need to do what is best for us and continue on. This is what's best for me. I hope you understand.

We had a good run, and there were points where I was sure that this relationship was going to stand the test of time. But things have taken a turn for the worst and I feel like a clean break is what we both need to get ourselves together. Maybe this could work again in the future, but we're just not in the same place right now. I hope you will find someone who makes you happy and will help you continue on with your life. Right now though, that person is not me.

Sincerely,
LeftManOut

P.S - It's a shame too, because I actually dig some of the changes you made musically this time around. However this just isn't you anymore. Sorry.

As time goes on throughout the music industry, bands grow old and change. For if a band isn't changing, they are dying. Few bands possess the means to remain fresh, but keep a constant style. Bury Your Dead have progressively grown from the hardcore based "You Had Me At Hello" and grew through multiple releases, arguably peaking and "Beauty and the Breakdown".

When their second singer, Matt Bruso, decided to leave it was a puzzling decision, to remove yourself from the growing monstrosity that is Bury Your Dead...to become a teacher?

Well, Myke has the pipes, as shown on the self titled album from Bury Your Dead, but on "It's Nothing Personal" you can hear a certain familiarity much like Max Cavalera (Sepultura/Soulfly/Nailbomb) and Lajon Witherspoon (Sevendust). While this sounds decent in theory, the results are hardly up to snuff.

Vocals aside, Bury Your Dead seems to have dropped the hardcore moniker in an effort to progress their sound to a more refined level, featuring a new sound that includes a couple of solos and clearer lead guitar riffs. Mark Castillo still keeps his trademark sound, at least I feel it is quite distinct.

If you like Sevendust, buy this.

If you like hardcore, don't.

So if you are a hardcore Bury Your Dead fan, this is the worst album they have released by far... all of the harmonizing that they try and attempt in this album is awful. I loved Bury Your Dead until this... this is just utter disappointment... What happened to the Beauty and Beatdown hardcore style? These guys went from one of my top favorite bands to nearing the bottom of my list after this album... Don't get me wrong the music is still great, but the vocals are no longer hardcore, they are not very harmonizing either, actually when he trys to sing it reminds me of a sick Corey Taylor, because we all know Corey Taylor can sing his ass off, but Mike Terry really blew it for the entire band on this one... plus honestly all of the songs sound the same... what a horrible album, and a huge disappointment...

I just recently saw BYD last month. Did NOT go to see them but they jumped on the show last minute. I went to see real hardcore such as suffokate and sworn enemy. But seeing BYD got me thinking, WTF happened to the BYD i knew five years ago. Used to be a brutal band and a great live show. Then lookin at the band I wondered, is there even a single original member left in this band?? They played a new song and it sucked. it sucked horrible. I recommend buying this album if you like this crap new bands are putting out with their horrible singing and wanna be tough breakdowns. If you are into REAL hardcore and metal this is a pass. They are a complete joke now.

Back in 2004 when cover your tracks was released this band had as much potential as anybody then beauty and the breakdown was released not the same as tracks but still very heavy, it was Bury your dead! you can tell they had a distinct sound and bruso's vocals made you aware of this band after his departure the band went south and now they have just fallen into the same world as the killswitch's and all those other bands that were once worthy of going out and seeing and moshing too now they just write songs for 15 year old girls!, sappy love songs with some chugging and no breakdowns it's severely depressing to watch these once great bands go down that road we dont want them going like maybe one day hearing them on a twilight soundtrack because that's exactly where they are headed!

I usually refrain from giving negative reviews because it's too easy to say when something is no good, and I've already given my opinion of this record especially to the whiners who hold it in high regard (though I simply fail to see why), but I'm gonna have to say f*** it! The Beauty And The Breakdown and self-titled albums were the best albums in the band's discography. So why did they put out this weaker album in such a short amount of time (just a little over a year after the last one)? To get it out so they could tour? To clear out their memory banks and try to focus on stronger material? It isn't known, but something I have noticed from other people are the comparisons to other bands, ones that are far better and have put out better music than anything on this album. Killswitch Engage? Helmet? Bury Your Dead's earlier stuff may have had small elements, but nothing on this album sounds like anything these bands have put out. It sounds like a weaker copy of Sevendust, and I like Sevendust. However, if I wanted to hear something from Sevendust, I'd put in a cd with the name Sevendust on it. Anybody that'll want to claim that I haven't listened to this album, I'll tell you right now that I've heard over half of it which is enough to give a fair judgment. Let me also get one thing straight for some that have said to get over Mat Bruso's departure: yes, Mat Bruso is out of the band. I'm pretty aware of it, and I've been over it since the day I first listened to the self-titled record. Myke Terry is a great singer, and his use of clean vocals on a few of the songs on the self-titled album brought a Fear Factory vibe to the sound. His contribution to It's Nothing Personal doesn't have a big impact on why I don't care for the album, it's the music overall. Bury Your Dead is a hardcore metal band, this album is not. It's safe to say according to the reviews posted on here that opinions for this album are pretty mixed. For those that liked the album: listen to it, enjoy it. But just because you like it doesn't mean everybody else has to. In the meantime, I'll wait for the next album.

I know its a change with there music, but its a good change! I mean I liked there old stuff as well. They are awesome! but the 2 last albums i think are even better, maybe cuz i like the screaming and the singing. The singers voice when he sings is awesome! Theres something very good about there lryics and there music. I think this album is a must have, and i dont see why nobody would want this album. Its amazing!

I was a little concerned when I heard the changes that the guy`s in BYD brought with the new cd, but from a fan that has seen every lead vocalist live they have had. I have to admit this was a natural progression for them to make. It isn`t old school BYD, but it is a very good album.