BURIED IN VERONA
Notorious
[We Are Unified]
Verdict: 8.5/10
It’s aggravating when you’ve heard of a band and haven’t paid attention to them, only to discover that they actually kick ass. This was my case with Buried In Verona. The band’s new album, Notorious, is one hell of a ride with a lot of passion, intensity, and variety. Kicking off with “Maybe Next Time”, new listeners will instantly realize just how vicious and foul mouthed BIV can be. Like Australia’s answer to Attila, this band has a party/metalcore forefront that is instantly entertaining as fuck. While this kind of band normally falls into a pattern with their music, BIV do an excellent job in keeping Notorious feeling fresh. From the heaviest moments – “Maybe Next Time”, “Can’t Let It Go (Feat. Ahren of The Amity Affliction)”, “Couldn’t Give 34 Fucks” – to the more balanced tracks – “Four Years”, “Lion Heart”, “Ivory” – BIV put their best foot forward, and it shows. Instrumentally, Notorious is very much hardcore in style, with a few exceptions of melodic rock moments. Vocally, the primary voice is that of a yelling man. However, there are times where they become death metal screeches. There is also some amazing singing present that should really be explored more often on the band’s next record. No doubt, “Lion Heart” is the best goddamn track here. The song is an instant hit from all angles; it’s the kind of effort that defines a band and becomes their staple “listen to these guys!” song. From start to finish, Notorious is an amazing surprise. The last few tracks may not stand out much, but the record returns to a strong close with “Ivory” at least. With the exception of those couple songs that didn’t bring the heat as much as the others, Notorious is an excellent record from a band that should definitely spread like wild fire. – By Nathaniel Lay
>> Classification: Vicious Metalcore
>> Focus Tracks: “Maybe Next Time”, “Can’t Let It Go”, “Lion Heart”, “Four Years”, “Couldn’t Give 34 Fucks”
>> In Conclusion: Buried In Verona have a lot of range, so make sure to play this record from start to finish before passing judgment.