Between the Buried and Me : The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues

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by Cyndi Jo
Staff Writer

Between the Buried and Me is one of the few bands out there right now that can be credited for some fierce progressive experiments. They’ve circled around everything and anything from death metal, progressive rock, and metalcore to create their own distinct sound. After 9 years in the game, it’s only perceptible that new EP The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues is nothing that’s expected from BTBAM, just something new to embrace.

Jagged lines, the inconsistency stream of heavy piano through a hoarse growl brought on by Tommy Rogers in the first track “Specular Reflection” welcomes a listener into a 10-minute melodic engagement that only BTBAM knows how to deliver. Rogers melodic singing sounds better than ever through the heavy chromatic guitar riffs, weaved into those collected pieces that undeniably conceal an intensity that tear up everything else that the band has ever created. There’s not a chance of tediousness with this track– not all. The creativity is incredible, especially since the orchestral theme in the beginning emulates the ending as well.

On the next track “Augment of Rebirth” BTBAM takes a step back into their “Alaska” style of death metal vocals over an intricate and captivating abstract guitar rhythm. Drummer, Blake Richardson, has a way of emphasizing this drumming skill that is infused exotically and helps the song settle into a theme that no other song does in this EP. The double-time section would take a listener off-guard through all the mayhem–making it sound completely normal and natural. The song overall foreshadows into the next track, “Lunar Wilderness.”

The third and final track of the EP is the most breathtaking and strongest of the three. With it spiraling down into nothing but chaos that gracefully incarnates to the overall theme of the short compilation. A strong, progressive guitar solo propels into a jazz panorama backed up by a heavy passage that can only be unionized with BTBAM signature guitar. Surprises in this last track include some drops of what seems like electronica and overpowering vocal interludes.

The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues is an immensely, ponderous, theatrical mini album that needs to go through someones’ auditory system multiple times to fully comprehend it’s power. It’s lyrically brilliant and musically groundbreaking. If BTBAM can do this on an EP, watch out for a full LP and hope the band goes on to further lengths because the talent is clearly there.

Track Listing:
1. Specular Reflection
2. Augment of Rebirth
3. Lunar Wilderness

Band:
Dan Briggs
Blake Richardson
Tommy Rogers
Paul Waggoner
Dustie Waring

Metal Blade Records

http://www.betweentheburiedandme.com/

Hardrock Haven Rating: 10/10