Growing tired of their metalcore band, Hamartia, guitarist Slim (aka Brendan MacDonald) and drummer Mark Castillo began Bury Your Dead as a side project in late 2001. Drawing influence from Sevendust and Crowbar, the band was used as a vehicle for the pair to focus more on mosh-worthy hardcore rather than the technical nature of Hamartia. Recruiting bassist Rich Casey (ex-Groundzero) and vocalist Joe Krewko, the Massachusetts-based outfit -- priding itself on blending ferocity with fun -- soon became a full-time gig as the guys began gigging around New England. The brutal intensity and destructive energy of Bury Your Dead's live show started gaining them attention in various East Coast hardcore scenes, eventually coming to the interest of Alveran/Eulogy Recordings. Their debut, You Had Me at Hello, was issued in March 2003 on Germany-based Alveran, but the band imploded about a month prior to the album's release. It was still issued, though the guys went their separate ways -- Castillo went to play with North Carolina's Between the Buried and Me; Casey turned to screen-printing; Slim played with Blood Has Been Shed.

A few months later, however, Casey randomly got in touch with Slim to see about getting the band back together. Though they were the only two to initially sign back on, some touring members were gathered and the band started playing again. Down in Florida at the Gainesville Fest, the guys ran into Castillo (who was on tour with BTBAM) and asked him to rejoin, which he did. The rest of Bury Your Dead was eventually rounded out by vocalist Mat Bruso and second guitarist Eric Ellis (ex-Reflux). Re-formed and reenergized, the quintet toured briefly, including stints at 2002's Hellfest and Metalfest. Following an especially intense Hellfest set, Chicago hardcore powerhouse Victory Records approached them; the label formally announced the band joining their roster in April 2004.