Between The Buried And Me - The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues
Rating
RIYL
The Human AbstractThe Faceless
Last Chance to Reason
Release Date
04/12/2011
Label
Metal BladeTracklist
1. Specular Reflection2. Augment of Rebirth
3. Lunar Wilderness
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There is no introduction needed for Between the Buried and Me. Formed by vocalist Tommy Rogers and guitarist Paul Waggoner ten years ago, the North Carolina quintet has released multiple albums over the course of their career that transcend the typical metalcore label, and they show no signs of slowing down. Having recently signed to Metal Blade Records, the band announced a two-part series of concept albums starting with The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues. Set to be released on April 12th, the EP features three songs and clocks in at 30 minutes, serving fans with a quick fix of new material before the as-of-yet untitled LP is released.
In typical fashion, the EP features only three songs, the longest being 11 minutes, and the shortest only 3 minutes shy of it. “Specular Reflection” opens the album with an instrumental that has been likened to something by Depeche Mode--a band hugely influential to keyboardist / vocalist Rogers. The song finds the band weaving in and out of typical BTBAM songwriting and a fresh style that the rest of The Parallax possesses. Recalling The Great Misdirect’s “Swim to the Moon” ever so slightly helps bridge the gap between the two albums, as well as implies that the two stories are intertwined. The chorus of the song, one of the band’s more unique moments in recent history, stands out above everything else and cements the track as a great opener.
Following a Pink Floyd-esque outro, complete with clocks and bells, song two begins. “Augment of Rebirth” kicks off at full speed, providing the listener with 6 minutes of familiar riffing before segueing into a Russian farmhouse jig. Even with animal samples and keyboard accordion, it turns out to be one of the band’s better tongue-in-cheek moments and a great mid-way marker. Despite being the longest song on the album, “Augment” flies by and ends up at the beginning of the closer with ease. “Lunar Wilderness,” the shortest song on the EP, is by far the best and turns out to be one of better tracks that that group has ever written. The first half of the song is made up of absolutely sublime guitar work and smooth interplay from Dan Briggs’ fretless bass, creating a particular sound that they have not yet ventured into. Taking cues from “Specular Reflection,” an airy chorus infiltrates the song structure with Rogers’ voice floating atop the rest of the band. With a few more minutes of song and a repeat of the chorus, the album comes quickly to a close.
The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues contains some of the strongest moments of the group’s career, yet in some places, riffs just blend into riffs. Don’t get me wrong, there isn’t a single part of this album that I would consider bad. It’s just that some of them don’t serve a discernible purpose and end up bogging down already great songs. This problem also plagued their last release, but it doesn’t seem to be as noticeable here. Thankfully, it isn’t enough to stop the record from proving to be a fantastic release. Even from the first listen, The Parallax easily surpasses The Great Misdirect and certainly gives the band a good footing for the following full-length. Though there may be a couple of moments where the listener’s ears effectively glaze over, the foundation of the album is solid and more than makes up for what could stand to be trimmed off. Count this as another great release from Between the Buried and Me.
--Cody Rogers
Comments
Fishers, Indiana
There aren't many better songs out there than Specular Reflection.
Your final paragraph hammers the nail on the head though.
Top Albums: 2011 | 2010 | 2009 || Tumblr | Twitter
Edmonton, AB
This album is so sterile. Just riffs, no passion
Illinois
god i love this shit. i know i'm easy to please sometimes when it comes to the metal genre, but this is a solid release. i'm going to agree, the last paragraph of this review sums it up perfectly. hopefully the next release will be even better.
last.fm/user/tragedyl0ve
twitter.com/1000cleverlines
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San Diego, CA
Too old to bother, too young to give a shit.
Fishers, Indiana
Sideways. It's actually kind of fitting-- I mean, obviously you intended it to be fitting, but I like those two adjectives, flabby and overripe, in reference to the music here.
Top Albums: 2011 | 2010 | 2009 || Tumblr | Twitter
San Diego, CA
Why thank you. I guess I've just never been a big fan, and this release didn't win me over, unfortunately.
Too old to bother, too young to give a shit.
It seams like they're trying to pan across and take over other stylistic territories where other bands have managed to entertain me more sufficiently and hold my interest - like The New Caledonia or dare I say Tera Melos. I still dig the band, but this — like the last — release makes me feel like I'll have to listen to it at least several more times for it to grow on me... and that would just be too laborious.
Minnesota
The Parallax is so much better than The Great Misdirect. I actually listen to this EP actively whereas I sometimes cringe when The Great Misdirect comes up on random.
Find me EVERYWHERE:
Illinois
Hearing this and comparing it to The Great Misdirect is a no contest fight. It blows Misdirect out of the water, this coming from someone that actually enjoyed it.
last.fm/user/tragedyl0ve
twitter.com/1000cleverlines
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Dallas, TX
Good review. I think this EP is what TGM should have been and this coming from someone who enjoyed TGM. Also, Lunar Wilderness may be one of the best tracks they have ever written.
Kansas
good to see everyone saying this is better than misdirect...wasn't a huge fan of that album.
http://rateyourmusic.com/~benny06
West Haven, CT
Meh its okay.
The Cityscape Burns Brighter By The Hour.
Baton Rouge
Arg, it's another one where it takes 20 listens to form an opinion. I'm only on listen three, but I am definitely digging Lunar Wilderness the most so far. Good review.
Boobs
http://thenicsperiment.blogspot.com/
Reno, NV
This won't be getting 20 listens ever from me. I am through listen number 3 at work and it is very distracting and well, just not my cup of tea. In reference to it being better than the last album it is like a polishing a turd, so yes its better, but a turd is a turd. Never could get into these guys. The first minute and a half of Lunar Wilderness is listen able for me and in fact is decent. But thats a minute and a half out of 30 minutes. Its all over the place. I appreciate the technicality and talent the band has, but I need substance not just technical ability.
Current Listenings:
Psychollywood - Psychollywood
Royal Thunder - Cvi
The Next Hundred Years - Troppo
Kyng - Trampled Sun
Kill Devil Hill - Kill Devil Hill
West Haven, CT
I mean..your uh icon is a picture of the band Down..
The Cityscape Burns Brighter By The Hour.
Reno, NV
I guess that explains my musical taste... which is my reason for having a music based avatar. By your earlier post on this subject I tend to think your comment is positive, since you didn't have much good to say about this album either, thus leading me to believe you love DOWN like myself. Now, I am not going to ask you to explain your avatar, I have no clue what it is... I try to find something to like about these types of bands but the Down in me says no everytime.
Current Listenings:
Psychollywood - Psychollywood
Royal Thunder - Cvi
The Next Hundred Years - Troppo
Kyng - Trampled Sun
Kill Devil Hill - Kill Devil Hill
Atascadero, CA
i think it's the dude from Kick-Ass.
Decoymusic.com (CEO/Founder)
Blue Reef Design Studios (Web Development)
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Baton Rouge
So are you saying that Down has more substance than BTBAM?
Boobs
http://thenicsperiment.blogspot.com/
Reno, NV
I'm saying I like DOWN better than BTBAM. It has more melody and Rhythm in my opinion. BTBAM has amazing technical ability from what I've listened to, but I don't determine good music by technicality of the instrumentation. I just haven't been able to enjoy these types of bands as much as a lot of people do, purely on listener taste. Not a lot of bands can do what BTBAM can do from a talent/technical standpoint, but the music just doesn't please my ears the way DOWN and many other bands can. NOLA may very well be one of the greatest albums to ever grace the hard rock scene and it came out in 1995.
Current Listenings:
Psychollywood - Psychollywood
Royal Thunder - Cvi
The Next Hundred Years - Troppo
Kyng - Trampled Sun
Kill Devil Hill - Kill Devil Hill
West Haven, CT
Well as all adults know its all a matter of opinion and taste. I think DOWN are awful. Probably some of the most generic, average sounding shit I've ever wasted my time on. I can't believe Pantera fell a part and Phil started that mess. Btbam are a bit every where but I think that's the big draw in. The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues
The Cityscape Burns Brighter By The Hour.
West Haven, CT
*Sounds kind of boring to me. But I've only given it a few spins. I'll have to give it a few months and have my final verdict on it.
The Cityscape Burns Brighter By The Hour.
Reno, NV
Aaron, I haven't seen Kick Ass, but I bet my guy could kick his guys ass anyway.... If you ain't down with DOWN, then you ain't down! Mike I guess our musical tastes can be depicted as characters in this record, existing on opposite ends of the universal spectrum separated by light years, or whatever the hell this thing is about. I just like to listen to harmonious music rather than deciphering deep, thought provoking concepts underlain by hideous over-technical noise, as illustrated in this album. I don't have time for that shit.
Current Listenings:
Psychollywood - Psychollywood
Royal Thunder - Cvi
The Next Hundred Years - Troppo
Kyng - Trampled Sun
Kill Devil Hill - Kill Devil Hill
Fishers, Indiana
hahahaha. "hideous over-technical noise." I like it.
Top Albums: 2011 | 2010 | 2009 || Tumblr | Twitter
Pittsburgh, PA
I'm pretty sure it's Mister Chief from Bungie, the crudely drawn version of Master Chief from Halo, but I could be wrong.
BTBAM is probably one of the only bands I can listen to from this genre of music because of the different styles that they use. That's really what drew me to them in the first place, so I felt right at home with everything since Alaska. Also, I love this.
RAAAAAAAAAAA!!!
Pittsburgh, PA
No wait, I'm definitely wrong. Looks similar, but it's not Mister Chief.
RAAAAAAAAAAA!!!