Between The Buried And Me - The Great Misdirect

Between The Buried And Me. Where do I begin? This album is a mix of heavy and melodic bliss. It's nearly impossible to accurately categorize this band. Every song on this album is it's own work of art. Let's start with Mirrors. This song is the furthest from heavy that you can get. It starts as a sad ballad that slowly builds into a strong adult contemporary/jazz groove with gentle guitars and soothing synth. This is a 'feel good' song for sure until it explodes into track 2; Obfuscation. Instantly you are barraged with a whirlwind of melody compacted into a soaring guitar riff. It proceeds to speed up into a train wreck of sound which slowly lessens into a soothing interlude to the second sensory attack. Track 3: Disease, Injury, Madness starts out with a heavy chugging riff that suddenly drops off into a ominously tranquil finger-picked, peaceful guitar and jazzy drums accompanied by clean singing. This album will bash your face in and then nurse it back to health multiple times.

Vocals: 10/10
Singing. Screaming. Growling. Grunting. Whatever it may be at that point in the song, it is done flawlessly. Tommy does it all, great singer, great vocalist in general. Top notch, interesting vocals throughout the album, never gets old.

Guitar: 11/10
I give the technicality of the guitar on this album a 10 out of 5. The guitars are just incredible, masterful melodies, impossible riffs, seamless jump form genre to genre. This is talent. But that's what i've come to expect from BTBAM. From Mirrors' masterful plucked melodies to "Disease, Injury, Madness" slamming, tightly technical, controlled chaotic riffs this album leaves you satisfied.

Drums: 10/10
CRAZY drums. Just crazy. The amount of creativity expressed in this band as a whole is RIDICULOUS. The originality factor is through the roof, and quite frankly this is one of the most original, entertaining albums i've ever had the pleasure of listening to.

Overall: 10/10 Godlike