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Between the Buried and Me

Colors
2007
Victory

Between the Buried and Me - Colors (Cover Artwork)

Review by: DarthNader
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Published on September 25th 2007

In the year 2005, Between the Buried and Me released their third full-length album Alaska. It hit the market like a tidal wave, gaining praise from media and consumer alike. The appeal of the album was its intricacies and tempo changes. It moved between time signatures and musical styles like a 10-year-old with ADD while simultaneously showcasing a knack for writing the technical metal showcased on their earlier full-lengths. Following up such a successful album is no easy task, but BTBAM stepped up to the task and (discounting 2006's cover album The Anatomy Of... ) delivered Colors.

Keeping in step with their trend of progression, Colors is essentially one 64-minute song broken up into 8 tracks. The album flows as if it was recorded in one take and retains a truly amazing fluidity. The songs are distinguishable from one another but at the same time draw on ideas from earlier times and embellish them. Colors is a relatively light listen, considering its running time. It isn't weighed down with needless instrumental noodling and interludes, yet it contains more speeds, notes, tones and ideas than the majority of music today combined. The music swells and pounds, crescendos and decrescendos multiple times in each song. The album is all about balance. Enough musical experimentation but not too much to get boring is the key to the flow of the album.

The music stays similar to past offerings by BTBAM, just more fleshed out. When they thrash (see beginning to "Ants of the Sky"), they do so better than most bands that define the genre. When they hit the epic melodic high points (towards the end of "Sun of Nothing," f.e.) they let the melody hang out just long enough so that it leads right into the onslaught again. The album breathes very well, due to an effective amount of piano. They aren't interludes, they simply tone down things for a bit, as if the music is relaxing for a moment. It is brilliant to see all the styles of music encompassed by this album. Apart from the obvious styles of metal they touch upon, there are jazzy romps, electronic sessions and, yes, a country hoedown (that somehow manages to sound completely relevant and in place).

Simply put, Colors blows anything else considered to be "metal," or any other genre for that matter, out of the water. The technical ability, artistic vision and spot-on execution are absolutely confounding. Listening to it as a whole provides a truly unique experience that shows a band pushing themselves to their creative and musical limits and coming out with a monstrous work of art.

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Posted by UnsaUnsa on 2009-03-07 02:35:12
My Score:

after listening to this just 1 time if felt like i got kicked in the face while making lover to a monkey, and having my eyes torn out... and i absolutely loved it. it was one of the best albums i have ever heard in my entire life. It was all just a continuous epic that lasted a whole hour. I went home with a headache and a sore ears afterwards but i cant say i hated it. yeah go buy its that awesome

Posted by MasterShakeOwns on 2008-05-16 11:11:55
My Score:

"Firstly, this may me one of the most overblown fanboy comments of all time...this doesn't blow Master Of Puppets or Slaughter Of The Soul or Reign In Blood "out of the water"...in any way shape or form."

bullshit. It's way better than all those, you fucking idiot.

Posted by TommyPickles on 2008-03-26 22:59:23
My Score:

Masterful

Posted by agtrotsbtbam on 2007-12-12 14:23:51
My Score:

This is seriously the best album I have ever heard in my life! I still can't stop talking about it!!! It changed my life when I heard it and I really don't see how it can get any better than this!!!

Posted by crazytoledo on 2007-10-25 11:44:27
My Score:

I saw them live last night and it was insane. They played this entire cd with no breaks in between before playing 'Selkies' as an encore. One of the best shows I've been too.

Posted by ck124106 on 2007-10-15 17:27:04

Half of you are missing the point of music completely.

Listen to what you want and stop caring what other people think about your favorite band. Get your head on straight.

I've never seen two people's boners collide more frequently than I have on Album comments on this website.

That is all.

Posted by punkgato on 2007-09-29 20:29:52

I'm not a "musician", so you've got me there...

Posted by greg0rb on 2007-09-29 18:17:16

Uh, punkgato... "decrescendos" is a perfectly acceptable dynamic description, while 'diminuendo' would also be acceptable. In your hurry to be an ass to the reviewer (your usual) you forgot to do some fact-checking. Good one. You've shown everyone how you're not much of a musician.
-Greg

Posted by eyeslikebombs on 2007-09-28 08:53:37

lack of creative control

Do you even know what creative control means?

Posted by Albert_Belle on 2007-09-28 00:54:39

I'll stick to my early Megadeth colection.

Posted by punkinohio on 2007-09-28 00:01:38
My Score:

There's even a didgeridoo!! Awesome album.

Posted by punkgato on 2007-09-27 16:53:33

"decrescendos"...is that like misrembered?

Posted by punkgato on 2007-09-27 16:52:26

"Simply put, Colors blows anything else considered to be "metal," or any other genre for that matter, out of the water. The technical ability, artistic vision and spot-on execution are absolutely confounding."

Firstly, this may me one of the most overblown fanboy comments of all time...this doesn't blow Master Of Puppets or Slaughter Of The Soul or Reign In Blood "out of the water"...in any way shape or form.

You also forgot some traits of this band and album on your list of ass-kissery...dramatic over-indulgence, lack of creative control, and minimal cohesiveness are just a few of the very large problems they both suffer from!

Posted by eyeslikebombs on 2007-09-27 13:27:30

Clever as fuck album, totally on point.

Posted by cherrycolarain on 2007-09-27 07:55:23

I don't know if it's because of the size... But am I the only one that really does not dig that cover art? it looks they got trigger-happy with the line tool and decided to add some colour lines into it.

Apart from that, the CD is awesome, although... I'd have to say "Deliver Us" is still a slight better.

Posted by eatdogs on 2007-09-26 19:11:37
My Score:

this album is fantastic. the band has really come into their own. first track had me thinking of king crimsom and yes. it just flows with magic!

Posted by HB_Dad on 2007-09-26 14:06:45
My Score:

This is possibly THE best metal/rock album of all time!!! This is like Red Chord meets Queen with some nods to old Bowie, Rush, Steve Miller Band, later Beatles, and Pink Floyd thrown in for good measure.

This is a remarkable musical acheivment, truly stunning!

Buy this CD now! Anything else on your shopping list can wait!

Posted by thus_spoke_sean on 2007-09-26 10:56:02

What a waste of time. Please remember that people actually enjoy music, so I don't think this reviewer is gushing - he just happens to like the cd. Crazy thought, I know. Score is for your comment.

and thank you sir for resposting the entire page long message. we all needed that.

and yes, this reviewer likes music, so does everyone else here. But he IS gushing, this review basically says This is what the music sounds like, and its good.

The review does a very poor job describing WHY the music is good, or even what HE THOUGHT made it good. or why other fans of this music would think its good.

obviously every review is mostly opinion, its all in how you shape it. saying this is an epic metal album, and its reallly really good, does not make for a good review. which is what the HonestAbe was saying.

Posted by SilentStorms on 2007-09-25 22:43:07

"I realize that this is what either;
A. Detracts from the quality of this site, or,
B. enhances the quality of this site depending on how you look at it

I get the whole community vibe, and the idea that anyone can get their review published which allows for a more diverse selection of review spanning different types of music, and increases the volume of reviews by allowing non-staff members to pick uo the slack and review the huge amount of records that comes out.

But it seems like every review is from some kid who really loves his favorite bands new record (which is fantanstic, more power to him...there's nothing better than being blown away by a record you've been eagerly anticipating), however the amoutn of reviews on this site that proclaim various records to be..."the greatest thing ever recoreded"...."the next classic in the genre"..."an example of said band's dominance of said genre, over other bands"....the greatest album of the year"....is pretty pathetic, and takes away all credibility

Why not have people who know alot about alot of different types of music review the albums with an objective viewpoint, and offer insight into what these albums sound like while offering refrence points to other bands and types of music giving the pluses and minueses so that the readers can make an informed decision.

1. That might make the sight less entertaining, ie. this review where it's just funny to watch some hardcore fan gush over his favorite bands new record
2. Ironically if i cared so much to write this rant, I could've taken the time to write a review that I felt was more up to my standards, so basically I'm a lazy hypocrite

......I don't know, whatever"

What a waste of time. Please remember that people actually enjoy music, so I don't think this reviewer is gushing - he just happens to like the cd. Crazy thought, I know. Score is for your comment.

Posted by Big_Guy on 2007-09-25 18:03:47

great album.

Posted by punkinohio on 2007-09-25 17:37:03

Org-Core kids usually don't dig anything other than scratchy vocaled three chord punk. This cd is a mind blowing example of great musicianship and overall talent. The fact that these songs are so widely ranged, yet flow together so well is impossible to understand. Take notes.

Posted by HonestAbe on 2007-09-25 16:33:31

I realize that this is what either;
A. Detracts from the quality of this site, or,
B. enhances the quality of this site depending on how you look at it

I get the whole community vibe, and the idea that anyone can get their review published which allows for a more diverse selection of review spanning different types of music, and increases the volume of reviews by allowing non-staff members to pick uo the slack and review the huge amount of records that comes out.

But it seems like every review is from some kid who really loves his favorite bands new record (which is fantanstic, more power to him...there's nothing better than being blown away by a record you've been eagerly anticipating), however the amoutn of reviews on this site that proclaim various records to be..."the greatest thing ever recoreded"...."the next classic in the genre"..."an example of said band's dominance of said genre, over other bands"....the greatest album of the year"....is pretty pathetic, and takes away all credibility

Why not have people who know alot about alot of different types of music review the albums with an objective viewpoint, and offer insight into what these albums sound like while offering refrence points to other bands and types of music giving the pluses and minueses so that the readers can make an informed decision.

1. That might make the sight less entertaining, ie. this review where it's just funny to watch some hardcore fan gush over his favorite bands new record
2. Ironically if i cared so much to write this rant, I could've taken the time to write a review that I felt was more up to my standards, so basically I'm a lazy hypocrite

......I don't know, whatever

Posted by moneenerd on 2007-09-25 14:20:21

cannot stand this album, or the last. this one really takes the cake though. it's almost like a spoof of their first 2 wicked albums

Posted by LetTheDayBegin on 2007-09-25 13:52:13
My Score:

I can't stand the vocals but I really dig the insruments. Not bad for a band I'm not really into.

Posted by k-dubs on 2007-09-25 13:23:02
My Score:

score is for baroness - the red album, cause id rather listen to that than this anyday.

Posted by pwfanatic37 on 2007-09-25 12:17:31

this album is absolutely phenomenal. not for everyone obviously, but i'm surprised to hear other people who like the previous work to not like this one. the combo of Sun of Nothing/Ants in the Sky is devastating.

Posted by fallingupwards84 on 2007-09-25 12:06:12

"Wow, the first paragraph of this review sounds like a first year marketing student's attempt at a press release."

Haha very true

Posted by denbez on 2007-09-25 10:36:58

Boring, structureless crap. Horrible horrible record.

Posted by thus_spoke_sean on 2007-09-25 10:01:25
My Score:

I like BTBAM, and everyone else I know who likes them loves this album. But i dont, maybe i just cant do 64 minute songs. but besides the obvious technical ability showcased here, i really dont enjoy it.

yeah, there are a lot of style changes, but i just dont really like any of them. none of the riffs jump out at me, none of the melodies seem THAT good.

the album seems to switches genres just for the sake of switching genres. and when you are able to listen to and say, "oh they are ripping off the beatles there" "oh they are ripping off mike patton right there.....and there" etc etc, its seems less like an epic metal album, and more like a bunch of dudes who chose to recreate rather than do something original.

Posted by pastliferock on 2007-09-25 06:02:48

absolutely INCREDIBLE. i really like most of their previous work, but this album blows...i don't even know what...OUT OF THE WATER. everything, probably. it's insane. i can't stop listening to it. destined to be a classic, at least in my mind. it fucking rocks.

Posted by sitars on 2007-09-25 05:55:23
My Score:

Purchasing this week, can't wait!

Score for the review reminding me I have to buy the CD.

Posted by pulsar on 2007-09-25 04:09:47
My Score:

Best metalcore release of 2007 and possibly one of the few that will go down in the future as being a "classic". Truly amazing.

Posted by zick on 2007-09-25 03:23:42

this is progcore. sick record

Posted by Kursk on 2007-09-25 01:36:11

this is about 500,000 times better than Darkest hour, DH went from a pretty good american thrash metal band to melodic guitars and a guy screaming of them. Woop de doo.

This, The Red Chord, and The Black Dahlia Murder are the best 3 metal albums of the year in my opinion...so far, DEP will be out soon as well...

Posted by Archangel on 2007-09-25 01:34:42

Wow, the first paragraph of this review sounds like a first year marketing student's attempt at a press release.

Posted by jbright on 2007-09-25 01:28:12

amazing cd. maybe the best this year with Darkest Hour.

Posted by treos on 2007-09-25 01:16:18
My Score:

solid disc

Posted by skankur on 2007-09-25 00:36:07

It's probably my favourite album of 2007.

Posted by GlassPipeMurder on 2007-09-25 00:25:46
My Score:

so the Victory roster now includes: Bury Your Dead, Buried Alive, and Between the Buried and Me...nice.

this CD is actually kinda cool. i would call it more "operatic metalcore" but whatever, it's still interesting even if the songs' average length is seven minutes.

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