Local Love: Bury The Crown
Photo: Reece Carnley
Houston’s music scene never really ceases to amaze me, with all of the diverse acts that inhabit our city. There’s seriously more mashed up genres here than anywhere else I’ve lived. On the guitar driven end of things, it seems like people want to call someone one thing or another. If you’re Bury The Crown, you might have the most interesting mix of genres going on the rock spectrum in all of Houston. Before I caught these guys live, I had assumed that they were punk rock. However, after catching their intense live shows, I’ve come to realize that they’re more of a mix of punk, screamcore, and doom metal. I don’t know what you’d really call all of that, but it’s like The Sword, Red Fang, and The Dwarves had a baby. It’s an ever present feeling you get when you listen to their new album, “The Proletariat.” There are moments where the band channels Thin Lizzy and early AC/DC as well; but in seven songs, it’s a thrill ride from start to finish.
The album, which clocks in at roughly under twenty five minutes, greets the listener with a short instrumental called “The Fanfare.” You can’t really get too much into it, as it quickly rolls into the fast pace of the second song, “The Heist.” The song has screamy vocals while the guitar squeals like it’s in the background of a song by The Sword. The thud of the bass is only to be overshadowed by the sound of two guitar parts. The third track, “The Party,” the second longest on the album has a ferocity that can only be compared to the likes of So Cal punk or in the least, the speed of early Electric Frankenstein. Group vocals come in in the background to give it the punk feel, but it’s essentially a rock song with punk and metal elements. It’s not a bad thing by any means, but definitely explains the idea of crossing genres. The slower opening of the fourth song, “The Gigolo” is quickly decimated by a rhythmic guitar that paces the song out with stop start breaks. The band quickly separates themselves from the herd by constantly changing rhythm within the track. Backing group vocals are utilized as well, but differently than on the previous track. The use of two part harmonized guitars sounds great as a break before heading back into the chorus of the song.
The fifth song on the album, “The Deception” is easily the stand alone song on the album. A healthy mix of Red Fang construction while utilizing the hook filled speed of a band like Fu Manchu, the song has guitars that could’ve been on “High Voltage” while still sounding fresh. The song definitely evokes a head bang throughout it’s well crafted, yet blistering flow. By the time you’ve reached the sixth song, “The Harlot,” you should at least have neck pains. The track speeds along quickly and feverishly, only to be met with a slower chorus and two break points. The album gets polished off by the anthemic sound of “The Campaign,” in which the elements are such a mix of metal, doom, hardcore punk, and old school rock. You realize really fast why these guys have such a rabid fanbase, as they never let off on the breaks throughout the track, while never getting tiresome or boring. Even the lone sound of drum and guitar is executed with precision and accuracy without sounding like some silly prog rock kind of thing.
The album is over quick, but that just means you have to replay it; and you probably should. With every listen I found more elements within each of the songs that shows the depth of Bury The Crown’s overall sound. Decent bands can sound like one band, while great bands sound like a mix of many bands; and after listening to “The Proletariat,” I think you’ll realize that these guys are a great band. You can catch how great they really are and pick up a physical copy of the album, when Bury The Crown performs at Fitzgerald’s on Saturday October 4th. They’ll have openers on the bill like Nine Minutes, Some Nerve, Commie Hilfiger, and Dead To the World; but I’d suggest a neck brace for the show. Cause after listening to “The Proletariat” my neck kind of hurts, and it’ll only be worse when you catch them live.
