Between The Buried And Me - Colors

[Drew Beringer]

Between The Buried And Me - Colors
Release Date: September 18, 2007
Record Label: Victory

Sometimes when listening to an album, I like to picture it as a soundtrack to some sort of movie. Especially an album that covers a lot of different sounds and vibes and crosses genres, thus making it versatile, something soundtracks require to accompany a movie and its different scenes and moods. And, now thanks to Between The Buried And Me’s fourth album. Colors, I’ve found my latest pseudo-soundtrack.

The major selling point of Colors is that it is only eight tracks long yet spans over a hour’s worth of time, making for some pretty epic jams. Produced by the band and Jamie King, Colors is chock full of killer riffs, booming drums, and an increased sense of melody. And this isn’t even mentioning the jazz and western influenced breakdowns featured throughout, making Colors a smörgåsbord of musical variety.

The first track off of Colors, “Foam Born (A) The Backtrack,” immediately will draw comparisons to Muse, well at least for the first two minutes or so until BTBAM unleash their auditory assault. “(B) The Decade Of Statues” and “Informal Gluttony” are BTBAM at their best, with Tommy Rogers shredding his vocals along with the insane guitar work from Paul Waggoner and Dustie Waring.

The meat and potatoes of the album are the fourth, fifth, and sixth tracks, each clocking in at eight minutes and above. Each track is unique and introduces us to some of the newer things the band has been working on. The eleven minute “Sun Of Nothing” is equally brutal and funky, incorporating a smooth jazz breakdown, while “Ants Of The Sky” (which clocks in just over thirteen minutes) beats your brain in, then soothes you with moody keys courtesy of Rogers, only to end Saloon style, with the boys whooping and hollering like they’re in the Wild Wild West. “Prequel To The Sequel,” only a measly eight and a half minutes long, thrashes throughout, putting the technical skills of BTBAM on display. After listening to these three tracks over and over, eventually you realize that these three tracks sum up Colors in a nutshell: intense, sporadic, and versatile.

While the highlight of each Between The Buried And Me album is the band’s amazing technical work on the guitars and kit, it’s Tommy Rogers flexibility with his vocals that prove to be the unsung hero. Whether he is growling, shouting, or singing, he does a damn good job at it. The only knock on this album is that Colors is not for those with short attention spans, as there are literally no breaks within the tracks, just great transitions. While only time will tell if this release will be regarded as highly as The Silent Circus, it is definitely a huge step up from Alaska (which I did enjoy, for the record). With Colors, Between The Buried And Me have released the pinnacle metal album of 2007 and the perfect soundtrack to all of our frantic lives.

Track Listing:
1. Foam (A) The Backtrack – 2:13
2. (B) The Decade Of Statues – 5:20
3. Informal Gluttony – 6:47
4. Sun Of Nothing – 10:59
5. Ants Of The Sky – 13:10
6. Prequel To The Sequel – 8:36
7. Viridian – 2:51
8. White Walls – 14:13
Produced by: Between The Buried And Me & Jamie King

Between The Buried And Me are:
Tommy Rogers - Vocals/Keyboards
Paul Waggoner - Guitar
Dustie Waring - Guitar
Blake Richardson - Drums/Percussion
Dan Briggs - Bass guitar

Official Website (http://www.betweentheburiedandme.com); Official Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/betweentheburiedandmeband)

[Winnie the Pooh]

*Fourth album.

[Drew Beringer]

*Fourth album.
whooops forgot about the Lifeforce release. my b

[Winnie the Pooh]

Silly drewbie.

[Drew Beringer]

Silly drewbie.
Seriously, how can I live with myself?

[xtheaudition]

yah man this record is soo sick, ive been listening to it for the past month and a half/

[Winnie the Pooh]

Anyway, I'm glad you reviewed this. Good job.

[Lithiumniv]

Drew, you are the cream of the crop of AP to me. Great review, great album. Can't go wrong.

[Romancebled]

such a great album.

[MakeYourMove]

solid review. this album rips.

[Chris Fallon]

Very badass disc. Solid review Drew -- I am glad AP is paying some attention to a sweet release like this. It's too epic to go unnoticed.

[lauren<3s music]

great review drew. you actually convinced me to go buy it.

[sell the sunris]

Extremely well written review. I just don't agree with it hahah

Ah well. To each his own.

[saysmydoctor]

Bro music.

[Alex DiVincenzo]

Decent review and album. I wish they'd stick to shorter songs. A track doesn't have to be 10 minutes to be epic. Yes, they're good musicians, but they just string together different riffs. Those long tracks don't really flow.

[Silver Bullets]

great review, insane album

[Tom Good]

This is an awesome album. These guys sound a hell of a lot like Dream Theater at points on this album though. Whatever, it's still cool. Good review Drewb.

[racecar]

decent review. i think before you review something you should let the initial hype of the record coming out die down before giving it a score. this record is good. it's just not really a sonic preogression worthy of giving it an 88.

[maxrabkin]

decent review. i think before you review something you should let the initial hype of the record coming out die down before giving it a score. this record is good. it's just not really a sonic preogression worthy of giving it an 88.

I agree with your idea of letting the hype die before a review, but I was hoping for a higher score than 88. I honestly thought before clicking the link, that it would be 90-94. This cd is exactly what Alaska was trying to be: epic and blistering, but also subtle and progressive. Too much filler on Alaska for it to be a GREAT record, although it is still very good, if only for tracks 1-4 & 9-11.

Well written review though. Kudos Drew B; I shall be picking this up on payday.


Anyone catch the guest vox from Adam of Fear Before The March Of Flames on Prequel to the Sequel? (6:10-7:30) One of the best parts of the album IMO.

[RonMexico]

My only complaint is that to me, this album blows away Silent Circus. As far as structure goes, anyway.

We have our best metal album of the year, folks. Game over.

[redeyes]

if this record's musicianship doesn't demand a 10, then I don't know what does. The 'tar players go faster than dragonforce at one point, and the drummer winged demon straight from the bowels of hell, sent up to earth to punish drum kits. and the bass player isn't fucking bad either. I didn't even like this band before this record. best record of 2007.

[last light]

shit album. shit band. id like to pack drew's shit in. mmmm mmmmmm good.

[beerad]

there is nothing worse for my ears than a 10 minute BTBAM song

[Drew Beringer]

shit album. shit band. id like to pack drew's shit in. mmmm mmmmmm good.
hahahah

[HeartLikeAGun27]

This is the only review I've been waiting for. While i also think it should be been higher, it's a pretty decent review. Colors is amazing. I agree that it's not for "fans" with short attention spans. However, those that understand the song structure and appreciate how much talent this band has won't get tired of it.

[newfoundmichael]

This will be on a lot of top 10 lists at the end of the year. These guys get more and more solid with each album.

[xtbs7645x]

i haven't listened to the album fully yet. takes me a while to listen to such long songs.. o yea and the first track made me think of muse too.

[last light]

This is the only review I've been waiting for. While i also think it should be been higher, it's a pretty decent review. Colors is amazing. I agree that it's not for "fans" with short attention spans. However, those that understand the song structure and appreciate how much talent this band has won't get tired of it.

this band has no song structure.

[IamNogreatMan]

Album of the Year so far. Remarkable.

[jaywarden1]

you didnt even mention the "epic-ness" (dunno if thats a word or not) of the ending track White Walls

that shit is brilliant...

[Greg.Kushlan]

waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay underrated, it needed 100%

[motioncity182]

awesome review, i'm definetly getting this

[trustmeimokay]

I was totally at Ball State yesterday with my woman. To think, my glance could've met Drew's.....that's almost too much to handle right now.

Anyway, great review. I almost completely agree, but I have to admit, I think Alaska is better. I didn't know that that many people disliked it...everyone I talk to around here loves it. Oh well. Solid review. Solid album (referring to Colors).

[presedona_bass]

havent heard the album yet but this is just getting me more and more stoked to go out and pick it up....awesome review

[mikeyxxcore]

good review, Drew. you hear albums like you call football, haha.

still my Album Of The Year

[tehlazerviking]

this could be my favorite album in the last 5 years. sooooo solid. although i did catch a Muse vibe at the beginning, it reminded me more of the Beatles "because"

[timetofind]

wait, i thought this was the fifth album?

btbam - self titled
btbam - the silent circus
btbam - the alaska
btbam - the anatomy of...
btbam - colors

right? or is it the fourth in a different context?

[assgrinder]

wait, i thought this was the fifth album?

btbam - self titled
btbam - the silent circus
btbam - the alaska
btbam - the anatomy of...
btbam - colors

right? or is it the fourth in a different context?

You're missing like two eps bro.

[meeotch]

I despised Alaska so I had written this off. But I might give it a chance thanks to this review.

[Nowisnotthetime]

My only wish is that this album wasn't on Victory.

[LikeACat]

Finally an album that deserves the high rating you love to throw around.

Congrats.

Wait, for some reason I think I've said this before, it could of been a different reviewer but it would make sense that if I did say it, it would of been towards you.

So congrats on your second fair rating!!!!!

[love_american_style]

Isn't this their fifth album?

[Drew Beringer]

I don't count the covers album as a real full-length. It's up to interpretation.

[keeplioving]

Damn. This cd is amazing.

[Silver Bullets]

My only wish is that this album wasn't on Victory.


Good music is good music, regardless of what label releases it...

[tonighttonight0]

fucking amazing album...it had better be remembered 40 years from now...if not...shit is going down

[Wolf I Am!]

Good review, I agree the songs are long IMO, the best song is Prequel To The Sequel and the guest vocals from the dude of Fear Before the March Of Flames are sweet!

[...generic...]

Good review Drew...I too often think of cd's as movie soundtracks.

To everyone who says this band has no structure they need to shut up before everyone realizes they know nothing at all about structure. If you had said they don't have the same structure as 3 -minute pop songs such as ,one of drew's favorite's, "Hey There Delilah" then they wouvd be completely correct. They have a lot of Jazz influences and to the untrained idiot, jazz usually sounds formless...and there are even other times when not having structure deliberately is a structure all by itself.

[Drew Beringer]

Good review Drew...I too often think of cd's as movie soundtracks.

To everyone who says this band has no structure they need to shut up before everyone realizes they know nothing at all about structure. If you had said they don't have the same structure as 3 -minute pop songs such as ,one of drew's favorite's, "Hey There Delilah" then they wouvd be completely correct. They have a lot of Jazz influences and to the untrained idiot, jazz usually sounds formless...and there are even other times when not having structure deliberately is a structure all by itself.
hahaha you know I hate the living hell out of that song.

[tangnar]

I registered to say this: If the musicianship of this album doesn't deserve a 10, then nothing does.

[sman789]

I also had to register to say how much this album rocks...a truly mindblowing album.
Tommy's vocals are great, I wonder if he has any softer projects in line because Giles sucked but I'd like to hear more from him.

[ohkkk]

Amazing.

[RonMexico]

For the love of God, go see them on their tour. They play "Colors" front to back.

[withyouandwithi]

this band is boreing now

[FullCollapse299]

Amazing, amazing album. =]

[duhpunk]

AOTY for me.

i'm still perplexed how anyone can argue that they suck because their songs don't have an ABABCB structure. the guitar, bass, and drum work is astounding. i'm not a huge fan of Tommy's vocals, but i love the lyrics on this album as well.

i would have rated it around 95%

[zapbryann]

easily my number 1 album of the year, score should have been a 100

[pesh1011]

colors is the sex

[iamtaylorrr]

Watched a video of Form Born A and B.. I shit my pants.


And I want to hurt myself for not seeing them on wednesday :[

[xglassjawx]

Hmn, in terms of technical ability, this band is lightyears ahead of it's time, but it doesn't mean this album is great, I like it in bits, it's kind of a grower.

They will still never ever beat The Silent Circus though. :-)

[Cheesus]

Good review... This album still amazes me. And I seriously had no clue that FBTMOF did guest vocals on this album, wow.

[Özgür Kurtoglu]

Yey for smörgåsbord! :dance:

I'm listening to this later today after having it recommended to me by the DEP guys.

[EndSerenading]

i thought I had already commented on this album, but its great. They are hometown boys and have been one of my favorite bands for going on 9 years. At this point in their career their albums are ranked like this for me:

1 Self Titled
2 Colors
3 Silent Circus
4 Alaska

[buzzhannahbuzz]

Very well written review, and on such an amazing album.
Random: Sun of Nothing has an amazing meaning behind it. Something about a man building a rocket ship so he can 'fly' to the moon, and commit suicide. On his journey to the sun, he thinks about his life. He eventually decides that he wants to continue living his life, but unfortunately, he's come too close to the sun and is doomed to deal with his decision.
I don't know, I thought it was pretty cool. Tommy Rogers has such an interesting mind. Haha.

[drakey]

i love how the transitions are so brilliant, that they all blend no matter what order you play the songs in. this review is perfect. I definately aggree 100% and I typically don't go for similar bands, but BTBAM is a force to be reckoned with.

[Logan512]

Easily one of the greatest albums ever created. i give it a 10/10

[Andrew33]

This is a massive opus, epic journey through worlds we have never seen and will never fully comprehend. The most played album on my iPod (iTunes claims 536 times on the play count, but the CD was in the car for 6 months), this is more than just an album. It is a masterpiece, a painting, a sculpture made out of shifting time signatures, genre-hopping riffs, expermental/progressive keyboards, a large range of vocals, and Blake Richardson being my drum idol. Colors will forever go down in my mind as my favorite album in my life. Between The Buried and Me, all of you, my hat's off to you. 100%.

[Rubbersoul87]

sweet.