Between the Buried and Me

[Dark Castle]

Keys/Synth are the worst sounding stuff on this album. The key's in title track sound so so so so bad. Other times they just feel pasted in and stock. Overall I don't mind this album but it really sounds like they're starting to get close to empty. Guitars at parts really sound like rough track, not final finished track material. Tommy's harshes are starting to sound tired, and he doesn't really push himself cleanwise on this album. I don't know, it's better than I expected but it's a far cry from the bands other material.

[FlyingBIZKIT]

*Dumb opening opinion of the album*

[Kilgore Trout]

The key's in title track sound so so so so bad.

There is no title track.

At first I thought it was better than expected, and overall strong. On second spinning, it think it's downright amazing. What is most impressive is how the band matures with each album. The writing on Colors sounds juvenile compared to Parallax II and this. There is nothing rough or tired about this album. On the contrary, it showcases the band's hability to drift away from their over-the-top heavy style while still improving on their songwriting. The album brings tons of ideas, switching from one to the next in a matter of seconds, with some damn intricate parts, while never feeling all over the place or overly and needlessly "showy", even with all the "rock opera" influences. This is seriously tight songwriting. Moreover, while being their less heavy album, it's also maybe their most complex one in terms of detail and overall structures. There is no concession, to anything or anyone.
And just when I thought they would end the album on a quiet note... Oh, boy.

I don't know how it will last, but there is no question that it holds to their precedents, and proof that they have still a lot to give. Fourth amazing album in a row.

And Tommy not pushing himself ? This is the most diverse he's ever been, pushing his high and low registers, trying effects, tone variations and something in pretty much every song.

[Dark Castle]

The key's in title track sound so so so so bad.

There is no title track.

My bad, meant Coma Machine

Anywho, the keys in that are disappointing imo.

[Kilgore Trout]

Anywho, the keys in that are disappointing imo.

What keys are you talking about ? The piano has a digital piano sound when a real piano would have been better, but keys are not proeminent in that song. From 2', apart from some sawtooth synth in the last climax, it's pretty much all guitars.

On the whole album, it's pretty obvious they were going for a 80's sounding synth/keys (with that John Carpenter's movie feel in Dim Ignition/Famine wolf), in relation with the overall themes of the songs, but they're buried under the guitars most of the time, except in a few parts. I'm not fond of that type of sounds, but at times it's pretty fun (dim ignition), and they're not really a key (ahah) element here.
A lot of prog albums have more embarrassing and invasive synth sounds than that.

[mikemangioy]

Hm i dunno, I liked the keyboard sounds.

Also, great fucking album. The Ectopic Stroll blew my mind.

[ZKX-2099]

Hm i dunno, I liked the keyboard sounds.

Also, great fucking album. The Ectopic Stroll blew my mind.

Ditto.

[FlyingBIZKIT]

Yeah this album is already starting to grow and I like it more than I stated in my previous post.

I think Tommy is fantastic in this album. This is a different album for sure, just going to take time to soak in for me!

[PixelDream]

I'm listening now. Just listening to the third track, and I'm already familiar with Memory Palace.

Sounds really great to my ears. As energetic as ever, lots of creativity and catchiness. Great production. As much as I dig the band, their albums always have that 'grating' quality to the production, but this one hasn't. Organic drum tones, synth experiments. I'm digging this very much already.

[ResultsMayVary]

I wish they'd get away with opening tracks always being piano and vocals featuring other instruments.

edit: get away from

[PixelDream]

I wish they'd get away with opening tracks always being piano and vocals featuring other instruments.

Well, aren't they getting away with it?

[Zantera]

I like this quite a bit. Probably the best progressive album of 2015, though I'm not sure if that's saying much.

[The Cat Of Tuscany]

Wait, is Coma Ecliptic already out?

[ZKX-2099]

Yes. But not to buy.

[ResultsMayVary]

I wish they'd get away with opening tracks always being piano and vocals featuring other instruments.

Well, aren't they getting away with it?

Obviously I meant get away from doing that. Ugh.

It seems incredibly forced now.

[Zantera]

I think they do it so well, it doesn't bother me. Backtrack and Mirrors are amazing, and I would say Node is a great addition. Goodbye to Everything is probably the most meh out of the bunch, but still a nice little intro.

[mikemangioy]

All of BTBAM's album intro are truly something. They know how to start an album, and they've confirmed it with Nodes IMO.

[ResultsMayVary]

I think they do it so well, it doesn't bother me. Backtrack and Mirrors are amazing, and I would say Node is a great addition. Goodbye to Everything is probably the most meh out of the bunch, but still a nice little intro.

Oh, I love those. It's just clear the one on the new album is not that great. It makes it look like they're thinking "we always need a piano and clean vocal opening featuring everyone in the band in a low-key type way" for the opening track on every album. Backtrack was cool, because it fit. This one just doesn't fit, at least to me.

[mikemangioy]

So, I was casually in the funny things thread, while listening to Coma Ecliptic.

Dim Ignition starts, and I almost immediatly see this gif.



This is a perfect union.

[ZKX-2099]

I fucking love the end of Rapid Calm.

[pain of occupation]

whoa, this thing's been leaked for damn near a week?!

I like this quite a bit. Probably the best progressive album of 2015, though I'm not sure if that's saying much.

it IS saying much; that Native Construct album's from this year!

[Heretic]

Checking in to say I think I like this album better than Future Sequence, maybe more than TGM. Not quite sure yet, but it's a really refreshing and enjoyable album-- like Colors, it doesn't feel like a task to sit through the whole thing, which Future Sequence did at times.

Turn On the Darkness is the JAM, too, btw.

[de_fromage]

lolfacts.

I'll still always love TSC the most, but I love their recent work just as much for totally different reasons.

Speaking of... I would really love me some new BTBAM in the next couple years.

Another Silent Circus lover here. COME ON: Mordecai!!! Shevanel!!! Ad a Dglgmt (or something)

Still love everything else but this one has a special place in my heart. Also the liner notes:

"I'd kill love and hate for all of you. Thank you for the best part of my life"

I'd also love there would be more bootlegs of them circulating

[mikemangioy]

Ok, Coma Ecliptic is so fun. It's different from their other stuff not only because of the music, but also because of its vibe and what reactions I have to it.

While Colors leaves me like this


and Parallax II like this


Coma Ecliptic just makes me go "YEAH" and rock out, something that their music kind of has, but it's buried underneath all the technical chaos. But in this album it shines.

[FireForADryMouth]

Quick thoughts on the album. Will always be in favor of the S/t, TSC, Alaska and Colors. Feel like after these albums they started to add too much filler throughout the songs and Memory Palace is a perfect example. Would be a much MUCH better song without that pointless boring instrumental in the first minute of the song. Coma Machine and Famine Wolf rule, Turn on the Darkness is kind of meh until the last two minutes. When the chorus first hits in King Redeem the first time it's honestly my favorite part of the album so far. Rapid Calm doesn't do anything for me but the last two songs I feel are pretty solid. Will definitely be giving it a lot of listens in the coming weeks. Also saw there was a top favorite 5 list going around.

1. Mordecai
2. More of Myself to Kill (seriously the clean part is god damn perfection)
3. Ad a Dglgmut
4. Backwards Marathon
5. Viridian/White Walls

[PixelDream]

I just can't seem to get in the mood for this album. I'll wait until I have a craving for over-the-top hardcore-goes-opera music.

[Ultimetalhead]

lolfacts.

I'll still always love TSC the most, but I love their recent work just as much for totally different reasons.

Speaking of... I would really love me some new BTBAM in the next couple years.

Another Silent Circus lover here. COME ON: Mordecai!!! Shevanel!!! Ad a Dglgmt (or something)

Still love everything else but this one has a special place in my heart. Also the liner notes:

"I'd kill love and hate for all of you. Thank you for the best part of my life"

I'd also love there would be more bootlegs of them circulating

Mordecai - Ad a Dglgmt is utter perfection.

[de_fromage]

lolfacts.

I'll still always love TSC the most, but I love their recent work just as much for totally different reasons.

Speaking of... I would really love me some new BTBAM in the next couple years.

Another Silent Circus lover here. COME ON: Mordecai!!! Shevanel!!! Ad a Dglgmt (or something)

Still love everything else but this one has a special place in my heart. Also the liner notes:

"I'd kill love and hate for all of you. Thank you for the best part of my life"

I'd also love there would be more bootlegs of them circulating

Mordecai - Ad a Dglgmt is utter perfection.

Indeed. It's an incredible experience, I also love how those last albums connected lyrically with Silent Circus.

[Zantera]

Coma is their best album since Colors IMO, just wonderful. 

[faizoff]

Waiting to pick up the new album when it comes out, I find that I've enjoyed albums immensely when waiting for their release date and picking it up at the store.

[Heretic]

Coma is their best album since Colors IMO, just wonderful. 

I... agree, honestly. At first I didn't think so, but after letting it grow on me, I definitely find myself like, having fun listening to the entire album. It's not just good music, it's an entertaining listen.

[ResultsMayVary]

This album has REALLY grown on me. I'm still not the biggest fan of Node, but the rest is just fucking killer. King Redeem - Queen Serene is probably my favorite at this point.

And no matter how hard I try, I can't get the "One" (Metallica) thoughts out of my head when listening to "Turn On The Darkness."

Fucking killer album, though. Definitely their best since Colors, as others have said here.

[Dark Castle]

Can't say I agree with that though.

The Great Misdirect is such a better album than people give it credit for, and Future Sequence while tilting into the wonkadonk sound had a solid song selection.

This album just feels like they're slightly dumbing down their writing, and throwing in a couple good spots in too small of proportion.

Idk, I'm off and on about BTBAM anyways.

[Zantera]

I really like both TGM and Parallax but Coma is just better than both IMO. Really happy with the result considering I had some concerns beforehand, but I've already pre-ordered the blue vinyl, the CD and a t-shirt.

[FireForADryMouth]

Really do not like going back to the chorus at the end of Ectopic Stroll instead of ending the song at the end of the solo. Another example of just adding more than needed. Turn On The Darkness has grown on me more though. Really has some guitar riffs similar to Kashmir, plus the slam at the end is great.

Even though the last two songs are pretty good, it just sounds like they are both outro songs and it's a weird thing to hear. Another album though and Mirrors is still the best song post Colors.