The Notorious B.I.V.
Shakespeare isn’t the first thing one might think to associate with Sydney metalcore specialists BURIED IN VERONA. According to vocalist Brett Anderson, however, the band’s very name is derived from such thespian origins. “We didn’t want a random name but were drawn by the brutality contained in the classic plot of Romeo and Juliet.”
In fact, their title is about the only thing which has remained stable within the band’s recent history. 2011 was a big year of change for Buried In Verona, with a new line-up that contained only two core members after others left due to career plans, ‘artistic differences’ and as a result of injury. “We intended to head in a new direction and the change in the line-up just accelerated what we’d intended. Songwriting has changed from Mick and me to a more organic group writing method.”
Both Saturday Night Sever and Notorious were recorded in Sweden but their styles are very different. “Notorious is more stripped back, with less crazy riffage than Sever and more of a rock flow and a greater emphasis on the lyrics.” Brett hopes the change in style will broaden the band’s appeal to all ages – though performing to a highly varied age range poses its own difficulties. “Under 18s venues are easy to come by but there aren’t enough venues willing to run combined under 18s and licensed shows. Those venues are really needed to appeal to more patrons.”
The band clearly enjoy performing to an audience, owing largely to the highly physical crowd response characteristic of hardcore and metalcore shows. “Seeing the effect of the music on the crowd feels great and makes the band return that energy.” At its most extreme, such energy is literally tangible. “Our most unusual show was in a barge on a river in Paris. The moshers made the boat move – a surreal experience!”
2011 also saw a label shift from metal specialists Riot Entertainment to UNFD. Brett sees this as a major plus. “UNFD’s broader experience enables them to provide better advice on promotion and the business side of music.”
Such guidance certainly won’t go astray if the process involved with choosing songs to include on Notorious is any indication. “We had to drop two songs from the final disk and argued for two and a half weeks over which ones would go.”
Brett finds it just as difficult to name his personal favourite Notorious track, settling on Miles Away, written for his girlfriend. In complete contrast to the song Couldn't Give 34 Fucks, “[which] was named after I counted up all the expletives in the lyrics. The song was written about a night out in London, when we were all highly stressed and needed to break loose.”
Buried In Verona will shatter eardrums when they join Reigner and local supports When Giants Sleep at an all ages show at Lanyon Youth Centre, Wednesday June 20. Tickets are $20 + bf through Moshtix.
