Disco de Between the Buried and Me: “Between the Buried and Me”

This band is an excellent addition to the (too-) slowly growing sub-genre of progressive hardcore, alongside such bands as Candiria, Bleeding Through, and some of the more "straight-forward" thrashcore bands like Shadows Fall, Killswitch Engage, Beyond the Embrace, and Erasethegrey. I'm not a fan of hardcore music, but bands such as these clearly distinct themselves from more monotonous ones as Hatebreed and Sworn Enemy, in that the "prog-core" bands have a singular trait that their peers lack: originality.

Often a problem that prog-core bands get is that they lack direction. This is especially so for Candiria and BtBaM, for both utilize seemingly random changes and transitions in timing, transition, and tones. Well, this is both a false accusation and a precise realization; for these two bands have precise explications behind their off-the-wall songwriting. The songwriting is simply organized chaos, but without any bombastic "wanking" or "cheese," making for a whole new kind of the proverbial cream of the crop in progressive music.

The instrumental section of the band is the usual lineup of two guitarists, a drummer, and a bassist; however, there is such tight musicianship between them, and they have enough talent to blow many an inspiring musician away. Guitarists Paul Waggoner and Nick Fletcher are full of riffs aplenty, making deep, chugging noises reminiscent of sludge metal - but wait, then it's different suddenly, and they are playing harmonized riffs and/or leads with perfect melodies, a la Swedish Melodic Death Metal...and then they're thrashing out like, well, thrash metal. Bassist Jason King backs these insane spasms and spurts of alternating, genre-fusing (and -bending) structures with ease, and while individual sections of his performances may be somewhat simple, to keep up with the constant changes is the real challenge. And then there's Mark Castillo on drums...dear God. This man is simply unbelievable, pounding away at the skins like he's using hammers to break the set apart, with great control over his double-bass-heavy assault, and endless crashing of cymbals, yet all with perfectly fluid direction.

Tommy Rogers, lead vocalist and lyricist, has a wide array of vocal assaults and delivers them with spastic and hilarious ease, perfectly harmonizing with (but often contrasting) the instrumentation. One moment he'll be screaming with throaty, guttural wails; next thing you know, he'll be growling with the fury of any death metal band's vocalist...and then suddenly he'll be singing with a clean, simply uplifting sound that is reminiscent of Thom York of Radiohead or Mikael Åkerfeldt of Opeth (who is also a master of contrasting growls/singing, I might add).

Now...how can I possibly describe the songs? "More of Myself to Kill" starts off as heavy grind/thrashcore, then shifts more into death metal, then into...I'm not sure how to describe it. "Arsonist," a direct attack on a specific church in Kansas (which openly protests against homosexuals), is as brutal as the harsh lyrics. There are so many moments of beautiful, distortion-free guitar harmonies and leads, haunting singing, and wave upon wave of screams and growls and fiery riffs of doom...oh, it's all such a flurry of furious/beautiful power.

I'm not being too clear in describing this album, am I? Well, just listen to it (or the fantastic sophomore effort, THE SILENT CIRCUS), and you will know what I mean. Between the Buried and Me create and dwell in a void of progressive musical psychosis...and it's easy to fall victim to it.

Brutal metalcore from North Carolina I think... These guys have some of the best songs ever as well as some of the best breakdowns. The vocals are by FAR the best in the business. Good leads and great Drum work. Great album for any metal/hardcore fan.

The only way to aptly sum up Between The Buried & Me's music is with a phrase another reviewer has used: "Un f-ing real." To try and explain each song individually would no doubt be an exercise in futility: the tracks typically encompass many styles of music, running the gamot from the harshest black metal to the most beautiful dreamy pop.

From the very beginning of the opening track, "More Of Myself To Kill," you know you are in for a spectacular listening experience. "You have all wept once more!" singer Tommy Rogers screams in his amazing death vocals, while the rest of the band plays what is probably the coolest, most complicated, mind-blowing intro to any song ever. The song eventually progresses into one of the most gorgeous things I have ever heard, complete with a heart-melting 3-part vocal harmony (did I fail to mention that Rogers also has one of the most beautiful singing voices I know of?). The song then picks it up a bit, and features some of the most tremendous double bass work ever, courtesy of Will Goodyear.

I realized while writing this that it would be impossible to make this review as complete as it should be. This is truly a masterpiece of music. Between The Buried & Me has undoubtebly made something that is truly progressive - they have thrown out all preconceived notions about what music should be. They play whatever they want, how they want to. Tommy Rogers sings however he wants (beautiful clean vox, deadly powerful death vocals, screeching black metal vocals, and one awe-inspiring 80s metal scream in "Aspirations"); guitarists Nick Fletcher and Paul Waggoner weave around each other to create some of the most splendid melodies ever, groove like no one else since Pantera, and combine powers to create the most bone-crunching riffs this side of Meshuggah. Bassist Jason King plays some of the greatest basswork I've ever heard, complementing the guitarists, accentuating the drumming, and playing a few incredible solos of his own (his basswork in "Aspirations" during the melodic middle part puts me in a trance everytime I hear it). And then there is the drummer Will Goodyear. His drumming is absolutely off-the-wall, outrageously good. I dare say that his drumming here is the best I've ever heard. The band as a whole plays the most daring, complete music I've ever heard. Do whatever you must to obtain this record - a milestone of truly progressive music.

Thought I'd heard it all with Dillinger Escape Plan. Then I got the Red Chord album and thought I'd heard it all, all over again. (Not that I ever get sick of these chaotic examples of fine metalcore). But BTBAM is f*****g crazy. Not in the sense that they are musically unconventional; in fact they are more conventional then the above stated bands, but they meld so many complex changes into one song, they make Candiria sound like Brittany Spears. (almost, thumbs up to Candiria btw).

The vocalist style is not something I particularly have ever liked, but with time you realise it just fits. There's not much else to say that for those who get a tickle out of this type of music would be spending wisely when they buy this album. Two words sum it up: "fresh" and "chaos". That's all I will say.

Look out for their new album also, being recorded at the moment.Also, anyone who has already checked out Red Chord, BTBAM, or Dillinger, should maybe give Burnt By The Sun and The Minor Times a listen. While not being as chaotic, they have the maths-metal thing down pat.

Regards.

I just bought the victory records enhanced version of this CD. Do Not Buy it. Whoever remastered made it sound terrible. To me the lifeforce version sounds kinda muddy and the singing parts were amazing, on the victory rerelease the singing sounds like a computer, esp. on song #1. So when you buy this cd try like hell to get the lifeforce release. Oh yeah dont forget to buy the Silent circus as well, that one is on victory (but they made that one sound amazing)

just hear both versions before you buy.