Between The Buried And Me - Colors

14.10.2007 | Cam | 7 Comments

Genre: Metal/Progressive/Hardcore
For Fans Of: Dream Theatre - Muse - The Red Chord
Favourite Songs: 1 song won't do the band justice, listen to the whole thing...
Running Time: 1:04:12
Year: 2007
Website Link: http://www.victoryrecords.com
Myspace Link: http://www.myspace.com/betweentheburiedandmeband

Score: 97

Say what you want, this is the album of the year...

REVIEW.

Remember those quiet and reclusive kids from high school? You know the ones who smoked a lot of weed and loved metal? Do you know what they did? They grew up and formed “Between The Buried And Me”, a band who is so gifted at their respective instruments that they make the rest of us look like amateurs. Jealousy never got anyone anywhere though, so you may as well kick back, put on a set of headphones and immerse yourself in the best album of 2007. 

“Colors” is album number four for BTBAM (not including the mish mash that was their covers record) and as always the band has delivered a collection of songs which is more progressive and more musically accomplished than their last offering. While you may look at the cover and think that 8 tracks doesn’t constitute a full length I urge you to reserve your judgment until you’ve listened to the record from start to finish. There is no stand out song and there sure as hell isn’t a hit single as “Colors” has been written for music fans to listen to in its entirety. 

When “Foam Born (A) The Backtrack” came out of my speakers I was positive I’d accidentally pressed play on a Muse record. The piano and the softly sung vocals had Matt Belamy written all over them, but lo and behold I was wrong. I think the biggest surprise is the keyboards playing the same sweeping patterns that the BTBAM guitarists usually tear through… very cool! Two minutes later the track has somehow found its way to a blast beat and this seamlessly introduces “(B) The Decade Of Statues”. On numerous occasions I’ve made a point of I think breakdowns are a tired excuse for song writing but the crushing riff at the 15 second mark of this song is simply brutal. 

As I mentioned, “Colors” isn’t a record where you can choose a favourite song and press play… you need to spend a lot of time with this record to full appreciate (and understand) what’s going on. After 10 listens I’m still getting my head around half the shit that’s on there so patience is a must if plan on giving this disc a spin. 

All the standard BTBAM fare is on display. Blast beats a plenty, schizophrenic guitar work and the Mike Patton influenced vocals of main man Tommy but it’s the newest additions to the band’s musical repertoire that make “Colors” such an intriguing listen.  

CONCLUSION.

I couldn’t possibly hope to dissect a record of this magnitude but I will suggest that you keep an ear out for a blues inspired section in “Ants Of The Sky” as well as a genuine hill billie ho down which somehow turns into some of the most epic and arena worthy metal I’ve heard in this lifetime. If Queen grew up listening to Pantera this would be the end result! 

2007 has already been amazing year for new music but “Between The Buried And Me” has taken out top honours. Album of the year!

TRACKLISTING.

1. Foam Born (A) The Backtrack
2. (B) The Decade Of Statues
3. Informal Gluttony
4. Sun Of Nothing
5. Ants Of The Sky
6. Prequel To The Sequel
7. Viridian
8. White Walls