Meaningful Songs: Between the Buried and Me - Selkies: The Endless Obsession

Between the Buried and Me - Selkies: The Endless Obsession

From a concise/tight/concrete songwriting approach, I don't think the band ever made anything as well-crafted.

When I got into BTBAM in 2007, it was mostly about Colors. But Alaska has always been a relatively close 2nd, and this track is the climax of that album.

Great guitar harmonizing, great segues, and great flow.

And yes, along with Burst, a band who took the King Crimson"Three of a Perfect Pair" interval pattern/riff and ran with it to make perfection.

The Lost in Vegas guys just did a Reaction video to their 1st BTBAM song, "The Coma Machine," and I cannot stress how much better this tune would have been,

The Dear Hunter + BTBAM w/ Leprous @ First Avenue in MPLS 3/3/18

The set lists are all below. I can 1st add since it's March 6th, this is a delayed review of course (new yet screwed up, and soon to be exchanged Laptop being a big reason).

Leprous: they were fun, energetic. Their drummer has mad chops. I like the atmosphere and they had this wonderful cellist on tour with them. Their music though, I can't say I feel any more strongly about overall than I did before really. I suppose they do add presence, but when it comes down to it, I question if their style of prog metal will be something I will ever get obsessed with.

But I thought they set up the evening well and hardly lacked interest. And oddly, I don't recall a ton of chatting upstairs where I sat during their show. But to counter, maybe per time limits, their singer didn't have a ton of stage presence.

The Dear Hunter: Of course I guess this was kind of a slight-double bill, so they got a bit of a longer set than the Coheed show in 2017. The sound:..well I suppose was BETTER than the terribly low mix at the Coheed show. But maybe it's just my hearing, I still found their levels to be too low. Especially Casey's vocals. Maybe that was intentional? or last year with Coheed as well? I dunno.

I thought their performance was fanboy-biased, quite good still. Liked the little guitar solo during "Mustard Gas."

"This Old Haunt" I don't recall if they played on the last tour, nor the "Bitter Suite IV and V." I enjoyed "The Moon/Awake" of course as a closer.

The new EP tracks? I'm not sure if I could even recognize half the time, but it might just be my familiarity or like I mentioned, the mix/sound. Or maybe it's what I get for sitting/watching upstairs?..dunno.

But, I'm counting in my head, and I think this was my 10th or 11th show seeing them, going back to 2007 with Say Anything, Saves the Day and Meg and Dia at First Avenue.

Of course being a Lifetime Member, that numbers seems pretty understandable, and now 11 years later. And oddly, with BTBAM headlining First Avenue finally, maybe First Avenue is starting to come around on Prog? with Coheed, BTBAM and maybe TDH will find themselves headlining there too in the coming years.

As I told many there, the likes of dredg, Porcupine Tree and Fair to Midland got ignored but The Dear Hunter may have endured long enough not to find the same fate with First Avenue.

Between the Buried and Me, especially considering the set list was almost entirely from Parallax-Present. The new album? haven't heard it beyond the 1st song/video, but I hopefully will soon.

I'm not sure, but I guess the newer music, or even include The Great Misdirect, I can accept live easier. Now I'd still prefer the Colors/Alaska/Silent Circus tracks of course, but I get that they want to play the new stuff. Focus on it, etc. And the jury is still out on both Automata I and of course II later this year.

I did really enjoy mixing with the fans both at Pizza Luce beforehand..even saying a few words to Dan Briggs of BTBAM with a group of fans, and then meeting up with some huge fans of The Dear Hunter.

And then waiting in line, between sets, and afterwards. I can definitely say the BTBAM fans are usually really cool and down to earth (even the ones who moshed, lol). Which I'm not sure was as much the case for many of the Coheed fans last year (although I met some cool people there as well mind you).

Anyway..that's  more than enough detail for now. I do think this show and being among TDH fans, I really want to write and publish a RIYL/FFO entry for them soon (so anyone who cares, maybe look for it in the near future).


also cool to meet some people who came just for Leprous, although it wasn't their 1st show here, it was nice to meet some hardcore, underground prog metal fans in MN.
The Dear Hunter

The Old Haunt
Blame Paradise
The March
The Most Cursed of Hands
The Tank
The Bitter Suite IV and V: The Congregation and The Sermon in the Silt
Wait
Mustard Gas
The Revival
Witness Me
The Moon / Awake


Between the Buried and Me
Condemned to the Gallows
The Coma Machine
Dim Ignition
Millions
Blot
Astral Body
Lay Your Ghosts to Rest
Obfuscation (second half only)

Encore:
Silent Flight Parliament
Goodbye to Everything Reprise


Leprous
Bonneville
Stuck
Play Video
Illuminate
The Flood
From the Flame
The Price
Mirage

Between the Buried and Me - Automata I (2017-2018)

1/19/18

"Condemned to the Gallows"


like it. It has a bit of an Alaska-feel to it.

Also this album is Part 1 of 2 (per the "I") in the title. Granted, I enjoyed Parallax I quite a lot. Nuff said.



1/18/18

1. Condemned to the Gallows (6:35)
2. House Organ (3:41)
3. Yellow Eyes (8:45)
4. Millions (4:43)
5. Gold Distance (1:02)
6. Blot (10:27)




Short Clip

We’re excited to announce our two-part album Automata! Part I will be released on March 9th viaSumerian Records and we’ll be touring this March with The Dear Hunter & Leprous.

VIP on sale now (limited to 1000 total):http://www.showstubs.com/btbam
Pre-orders and tickets on sale this Friday

March 9th, 2018.

Will try and edit the track list and such on Friday or soon after.

I honestly though just will repeat what I've said about the last couple of albums.

Will listen, but I can't honestly say I'm expecting to love this. Another concept album? which I guess could make it something I could enjoy more. I just would love to have them write more concise songs, and also don't lose the growling.

Also odd as this says it's on Sumerian Records. I thought they were on Metal Blade? maybe their contract was only for 2 albums?

The Dear Hunter + BTBAM + Leprous March/April NA Tour

This is a tour I can't be too surprised to see as there's been BTBAM fans among TDH fan base and TDH fans among the BTBAM fan base for a long time. Leprous? I guess is kind of an added bonus.

March 3rd, at First Avenue. I sent in my Lifetime Member email asap after I saw this announcement. I know those were at 1 time limited to HEADLINE shows, but the Coheed show last year I was lucky enough to be able to use it, so no harm in trying.

There is of course a VIP ticket for $75 which includes:

-General Admission Ticket
-Exclusive BTBAM/TDH Split 7 inch Vinyl
-Digital Download of Split 7 inch
-Tour Poster Signed by BTBAM and TDH
-Early Entry for Merch
-BTBAM - Automata I CD
-TDH - Act V: Hymns with the Devil in Confessional CD

which would be all well and good. The 7" split especially I'm curious about.

The 1 thing though I would think would be listed is RESERVED SEATING, which I see often upstairs at First Avenue shows, but not for this?

And of course while I enjoyed the Coheed/TDH show last May, I can't forget of course the almost PREDICTABLE chatter from Coheed fans behind me upstairs while TDH were playing. Hardly the 1st time, and I'm sure hardly the last. Makes me tempted to make a foldable sign in FLOURESCENT INK that says something more specific, but similar to this.



expect an edit, per I'm looking for but can't find the exact image.



 

Mar 02 House of Blues
Chicago, IL

Mar 03 First Ave
Minneapolis, MN

Mar 05 Ogden Theatre
Denver, CO

Mar 06 The Complex
Salt Lake City, UT

Mar 08 Showbox
Seattle, WA

Mar 09 Wonder Ballroom
Portland, OR

Mar 10 The Regency Ballroom
San Francisco, CA

Mar 11 House Of Blues
Anaheim, CA

Mar 13 Belasco Theater
Los Angeles, CA

Mar 15 House of Blues
Las Vegas, NV

Mar 16 Marquee
Phoenix, AZ

Mar 17 Sunshine Theater
Albuquerque, NM

Mar 19 Come and Take It Live
Austin, TX

Mar 20 Canton Hall
Dallas, TX

Mar 21 Warehouse Ballroom
Houston, TX

Mar 23 The Beacham Theater
Orlando, FL

Mar 24 Revolution
Fort Lauderdale, FL

Mar 27 Cannery Ballroom
Nashville, TN

Mar 28 Orange Peel
Asheville, NC

Mar 30 Mr. Smalls
Millvale, PA

Mar 31 Electric Factory
Philadelphia, PA

Apr 02 Upstate Concert Hall
Albany, NY

Apr 03 Royale
Boston, MA

Apr 04 Playstation Theater
New York, NY

Apr 05 Fillmore
Silver Spring, MD

Apr 06 Agora Theatre
Cleveland, OH

Apr 07
Emerald Theatre
Mt. Clemens, MI

TRIPLE ROCK SOCIAL CLUB RIP 11/22/17

Facebook

After 19 years of business, The Triple Rock will be closing after November 22nd.
We are proud to have been part of an amazing time in the Twin Cities Music scene. We have had more than our fair share of legendary performances and events, watched numerous local artists get their start on our stage, and hosted the Minneapolis debuts of countless national acts.
We want to thank all the customers, bands, and artists who have been a part of this place over the years.
Most of all we want to thank our current staff and those who have worked here in the past. We could not have done it without you!
We still have a lot of great events coming up, so come on down and celebrate The Triple Rock!

2 days late, and not enough time to rant about this right now, but I wanted to share it and I did spend time instead researching most if not all of the shows I attended at The Triple Rock Social Club.

This REALLY REALLY SUCKS, but at least it sounds like the reason is for the best.

I just hate the fact there's not really a venue in town now I consider a favorite for Rock Shows, that definitely is preferable to First Avenue, and really, their whole MONOPOLY of venues. But maybe something will pop up.

The once great,  Varsity Theater is supposedly coming back soon, so that may help, but I still hate the way Dinkytown has become all about Corporate Housing for students and the environment feels less intimate.

maybe more l8tr.

20 shows, and other than having my cc taken per an IPhone App at 1 (as many others did, including the Merch guy himself), and an issue or 2 (Horse the Band's exceeding stage time/cutting into BTBAM's set?), nearly every show was an enjoyable experience. As I've said, many other venues could learn from The Triple Rock, but I question whether they will. Even down to the way many people in the crowd at other shows never seem to shut up during the opening acts. I don't have any memory of that EVER happening at The Triple Rock, which for 20 shows, says a lot.



2007
Between the Buried and Me
The Receiving End of Sirens
Russian Circles

2008
Baroness/Genghis Tron

2009
The Dear Hunter/Felix Culpa

2010
Brooke Waggoner (with Timbre)

2011
Deerhoof
The Book of Right On
The Dear Hunter
The Besnard Lakes/Malajube
East of the Wall/Iron Thrones/Earthrise

2012
Menomena/PVT

2013
Field Mouse

2014
Agalloch
NOMIA
The Red Paintings

2015
Bubblemath 
The Dear Hunter/CHON
Mew/The Dodos

2017
Bubblemath

The Reign of Kindo @ Amsterdam Bar and Hall St.Paul, MN 8/27/17

So this could be an extensively long review, per it's been a long time coming, wanting to see them live for many years, and The Reign of Kindo's tours not coming to the Upper Midwest nor Minnesota.

And they have been an earmarked, bucket-list band to see in concert for me pretty soon after I got into their music. Which that in and of itself may warrant some babbling-on about to an extent.


--------------------------------------


August 26th, 2008 Rhythm Chord and Melody was released by the way, now I think I own 3? copies on CD and would LOVE it to come out on VINYL.

Per the Traversing Message Board August 2008

Aug 8th, 2008
yeah I saw their name on the Kaddisfly forum a few days ago and like a lot of what I've heard so far. Sort of a mix of modern pop/rock with a jazz element..piano and what not. 

Still waiting on the chance to hear the whole record as my mp3 player is not being nice to me at home (it loaded 5 tracks and then shut down).

some clown in AP magazine gave it 1/5 stars tho..lol

Aug 11, 2008
listening to some of this today..I'm a little unsure how much replay value their style has..it feels so jazz-pop to me..and the cymbals are clipping which often kills music for me. I guess they remind me a bit of One Republic or Aviatic with some jazz elements, but for some reason the vocal melodies aren't as good.

December 17, 2008
ok..I will eat a bit of crow here and admit to REALLY digging these guys now. the drummer is incredible..the cymbal work is really technical and yet accurate as hell.

I'm pretty addicted to this album. I'd love to see them live now.

So that shows how far it goes back. I don't remember all the discussion on the Kaddisfly fans forum (Crimson Solitude), but it would be interesting to read about now However I don't think it's available unless it was from some kind of web archive.

So, 9 years, and finally last night I got to see them, opening for Jason Richardson with Luke Holland.

Just to not forget, there were 2 local openers, The Atlantis Theorem (who played 2nd),and this band named UMI who were REALLY good. All-instrumental, very jazzy with piano, and some acoustic and electric guitar. Very melodic, and a new band I guess but had Flash Drives for free of I forget how many EPs. But I gave them a little cash and gladly took 1 of them. I hope to include more soon if they are as great as they sounded last night.

Stolas was the other opener, who are a band from Las Vegas? And threw me off a bit. At 1st, they sounded very much in the vein of The Mars Volta or even as bombastic as Hella. But by the middle of their set, I was kind of getting a mid-late 2000's Post-Hardcore vibe. I did l like moments from them, including some group or at least multiple-member percussion.

The vocals at times were not easy to makeout, which makes me wonder if hearing some recordings of them could help.

Jason Richardson with Luke Holland, I did like moments from as well, although I concluded the music was very much in the Shred-Metal vein with hints of Djent. Similar to Animals as Leaders, which I did see 1 person with a Periphery t-shirt on, so that might make sense. The Guitar-worship community I'm not sure knew about this show too much, but like Tosin from Animals as Leaders, I would imagine Jason Richardson should appeal to the tastes of Steve Vai, Satriani, etc. But maybe the fans in this town didn't hear about this show?

Luke Holland though, as noted below, is a monster as he sat-in with Kindo just nailed Hold Out, so I can see why both Kindo was asked to come on this tour with him and Jason Richardson, and why Kindo might ask him to sit-in, as I guess he has drum-cam cover videos on YouTube of Kindo tunes.

So on to Kindo themself. The set list I posted below is not 100% complete sadly, as they played at least 2 or 3 tunes I either haven't listened to in quite awhile and didn't remember, or didn't recognize well enough to be certain. But I put a few tunes below as "unsure."

I know they played at least 2 maybe 3 tunes after City of Gods, and I think Feeling in the Night came after.

note, I can't find any set lists on setlist.fm from their current tour.

But the tunes I recognized I of course went apeshit for. Moments in Between gave me goosebumps, both the energy and the nostalgia. Very similar to my experience seeing Bend Sinister a few years ago for the 1st time, or even Mew a few weeks ago. Tears nearly hit me.

Great Blue Sea and Hero/Saint are 2 favorites as well.\

Hold Out was the 1st tune I ever loved, so that also was a highlight.

And 2 of the new tunes of course I have been addicted to this Spring/Summer especially, really worked well live. Especially with the energy they have. Their drummer Steve Pardin brings.

The only thing I think is worth mentioning other than I certainly would love to see an even longer set and some/any of my favorites like "Till We Make Out Ascent," "Out of Sight out of Mind," "Sing When No One's Around," "I Hate Music" among others, is Joey's LEAD VOCAL MICROPHONE and mix at The Amsterdam was probably not ideal.

Now mind you, when Kindo hit the stage, I went to the front (which most shows now I do not do), but per this was the 1st time seeing them live after so many years, I made an exception. Plus the show/crowd size last night, even with Kindo being the 4th band performing, per there was enough space among the crowd to not have to deal with fighting my way that far up, etc.

But Joey's lead vocals from where I was were at times at least audible, to other times barely present. I'm not sure if it was the fact the BASS MIX was really high, or just his mic was also not high enough.

The BASS MIX though was rather high for all the bands it seemed except maybe UMI, so that is why I wonder if it was the venue or the setup/board/levels, etc there last night.

But, minor issue overall.

Seeing them live finally was still an incredible thrill, and happily, getting to chat with Jeff their bassist a fair amount after the show as he was behind the Merch booth. Joey and Steve as well after wards. And I did get to talk to John Baab their lead guitarist, outside. Very cool guy as the rest of the band was.

Among the folks I met/saw, my friend Min Lee with Cities 97 was there, not surprisingly. But nice to catchup with him. Hopefully he will find a way to review their next album when it comes out, on the Cities 97 website like he did back in 2013 with Play With Fire. Which to include a detail or 2 in talking with Jeff.

1st off, there's a new track coming soon to the Patreon (September likely) that he thinks is the best (or Jeff said is his favorite, more than "About Love" which has become my favorite among all great new tunes per the Patreon).

And as far as a release, etc. Jeff just mentioned to me that the album may not actually be released officially until around February of 2018. But he added, that what will be on it, likely may not include some of the Patreon songs. And even the songs that may be on it that were part of the Patreon, may not all be the exact versions on the album, etc.

Now this is just what he told me, etc. Relatively vague, but at least as a fan, I'm not anticipating an official release/new album for a few months, which I totally understand, especially given the Patreon tunes, and so many of them already.

Also one other thing that irked me a bit as I came to learn chatting with Jeff and telling him how long it had been waiting to see Kindo, and what I believed is they had never come to Minnesota,
'
He mentioned coming like 8 years before, which would have been in 2009, at 1 of the theaters. Well so in searching, I failed to find a show/tour with them from 2009 or even 2010 or 2008 in Minnesota.

However, Google with the help of last.fm, found a show they played on October 21st, 2007 at The Varsity Theater with 3 other bands I don't know of, the headliner being a band called Daphne Loves Derby.

So it made sense that I wouldn't have known about or seen that show, since, like Janelle Monae a year or 2 later at The Varsity, and maybe even more significant, the 1 and only Minnesota Oceansize show in 2004 at The 7th Street Entry, I had never heard of The Reign of Kindo in October of 2007, so I can't really regret missing them. Along with the fact 10/21/2007 also happened to be the same exact night Between the Buried and Me headlined on the Colors tour (playing the entire album) at The Triple Rock.

Now had I known Kindo and a Concert jump were possible, I sure as hell would have tried to do both, but it may have been a bit of a tall task, and then being way in the back at The Triple Rock show, etc.

But anyway, all parallel universe realities and not mine.

I also did hear from Min Lee and 1 or 2 of the guys in the band, they are looking to tour the US again next Spring and Summer. Spring 2018 likely won't happen in MN, but more likely Summer of 2018.

Maybe with The Dear Hunter or Headlining or even another band (one I love or may not know yet, I could rattle off a handful of them if I wanted to. But maybe that's for another entry, lol..both REALISTIC and unlikely's like Vennart or say Pepe Deluxe or 22 of course...pipe dreams of course).

Oh and a final note, like Bend Sinister, Godspeed You Black Emperor, Agalloch and some others moderate to big..Kindo and Bend Sinister being very big deals..I look to Imogen Heap I guess as the primary Bucket List artist I have yet to see that I haven't, from at least somewhat of a realistic touring performer, and in the US namely.

A BUCKET LIST I should post/post again/update maybe soon. People like Fjokra, Vennart, Pepe Deluxe, Subterranean Masquerade, Small Leaks Sink Ships...Fish/Andre Matos/John Arch (or Arch Matheos), 22, Major Parkinson, etc. But Heap is the earmarker 1 since like Kindo, I got into her in the previous decade and at least 1 time, she toured the States a decent amount. Now this decade she has not unfortunately per her lack of releases and I recall her having children, but I hope she can and will eventually again and I can see her like I just finally did with The Reign of Kindo.




Partial Set List
The Moments in Between
Needle and Thread
The Hero, the Saint, the Tyrant and the Terrorist
Great Blue Sea
Hold Out (with Luke Holland on drums)
Human Convention
City of Gods
Feeling in the Night

Unsure
Romancing a Stranger
Just Wait
Thrill of the Fall
Battling the Years

edit: if/when I find a more fully accurate set list I'll try and update this. Unlike many shows of late, I didn't see a set list sheet to pickup unfortunately. Maybe next time.

Nova Collective - Dancing Machines

very nice. rather LTE-ish but in a good way.

Album drops March 10th, 2017 as the video shows.

fyi: mbrs of Between the Buried and Me and Haken.

Ideology - Ideology (2015-2016)

This is a long-awaited debut album from this local Minnesota Progressive Metal band whose drummer, Charlie Engen, I've known and seen do these amazing performances at recitals the last few years.

Musically, this is very much in the vein of what I've been hoping to get from Painted in Exile or even like Native Construct last year. Progressive extreme Metal, with well-thought-out, flowing compositions that showcase chops and melody.

Between the Buried and Me fans very likely will love this.

I'll try and add more in here and/or YouTube, etc among other spots soon. But I'm really happy for Charlie and these guys for finally getting this released.

And they should play a show with other local bands like Gracepoint perhaps? Brice Plays Drums or any other of the excellent progressive bands in my hometown.  

Facebook 

https://ideologyband.bandcamp.com/


1. Oxygen (feat. Hedras Ramos) 09:34
2. Synergy 01:39
3. Inhale (Attritionmen) 07:31
4. Exhale (Patefaction) 05:54
5. Circuitry 01:36
6. Bliss 05:56
7. Hazard 01:16
8. Eyes Up! 05:21

Updated PROG METAL Discussion with Sam Dunn+Dan Briggs (BTBAM)

Very cool discussion that was done last December per a live stream. Sam Dunn of course of Metal Evolution and documentaries like Metal: A Headbanger's Journey, Beyond the Lighted Stage (Rush) and Flight 666 (Iron Maiden).

And it is nice to see Dan Briggs in there from Between the Buried and Me and his opinion/taste/knowledge of a lot of these bands.

This could be a much more extensive discussion than the 30+ mins they did this, and many of the comments, additions and subtractions I agree with overall. Even in cases where I'm not a fan of the bands.

Gojira and The Dillinger Escape Plan are questionable, and the bands I mentioned below may be more warranted in a lot of respects.

It reminds me of that entry I wrote about Mean Deviation from Jeff Wagner.

Also stuff like the Post Metal stuff (Long Distance Calling, Russian Circles, East of the Wall), and even someone mentioned Karnivool, and while I would agree with them, you'd have to add the likes of dredg, Fair to Midland or even Oceansize, even if the "Metal" tag doesn't fully fit. I guess call it the umbrella of progressive metal which  bands that are heavy rock bands sort of find their way into in many respects.

I dunno. I wish I had seen this when it 1st was made last December. And I did subscribe. I wonder if they ever made a follow-up just about the progressive extreme metal, or the 1 comment about the different "waves" of progressive metal. The 3rd being sort of the djent stuff and stuff that's come out in the last 10 years or less. A band like The Contortionist I suppose who only use djent sparingly.

Also Ne Obliviscaris.


Here's my comment:

very cool discussion! I agree with a lot of it. Thank you for adding Pain of Salvation! My suggestions: Shadow Gallery (if Symphony X is, they definitely should be included) SikTh maudlin of the Well King's X (and Galactic Cowboys) Subterranean Masquerade Orphaned Land Angra (more Power Metal, with progressive elements) Burst (if Mastodon is included, they should be as well) Three (if Coheed and Cambria is included, they should be as well) Superior
Zero Hour
Spiral Architect
Green Carnation
Sculptured (and Agalloch)  
UneXpect

Paul Waggoner's ranking of the BTBAM Catalog

http://noisey.vice.com/blog/rank-your-records-between-the-buried-and-me

7. The Silent Circus
6. Between the Buried and Me
5. Alaska
4. The Great Misdirect
3. Colors
2. The Parallax II: Future Sequence
1. Coma Ecliptic

I don't think my personal rankings are that surprising to be a fair amount different. But just for the sake of comparison, here's mine


1. Colors


2. Alaska


3. The Silent Circus


4. Parallax I: Hypersleep Dialogues


5. Parallax II: Future Sequence



6. Between the Buried and Me


7a. The Great Misdirect


7b. Coma Ecliptic

Painted in Exile: Indiegogo

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/painted-in-exile-new-full-length-album-2016--3#/



The video more or less explains everything. I am still optimistic about what this band will do, even after everything that's happened with lineup changes (member's leaving, and returning in the case of their singer Rob Richards) and just how many years its been since I first got into them, 2009?

I can't help though think about  Native Construct and how they got signed to Metal Blade records, and this band has been around longer I recall, but were not signed to them nor a label like Summerian or Relapse.

But maybe putting this album out how they will could be for the best.

I'll try and bump this as their progress on the campaign happens.

Into the Machine Ep 1: OPETH (new modern prog doc)

So here's the debut episode of this new series done by Freqs TV (or Frequency TV?), which is a feature on Opeth. It's only a 5+ minute piece, which may be standard length for these, I dunno. Pluses and minuses to that, in that to get the YouTube and Social Media audience, as I have come to learn and struggle with still, the shorter length videos work.

I also don't know if all of these will feature interviews as it seems this one does. Time, resources, etc with said artists. I could see interviews being done per Google Hangout or just on Skype, but then again, those are rarely short.

Anyway, great to see the 1st one up; although it probably is worth adding how Freqs TV's YouTube channel has a lot of docs and footage of many musicians, including people like Steven Wilson and God is an Astronaut, so perhaps this is just a new style of video for them, but just focusing on modern progressive rock exclusively.

Edit: also cool to look forward to Between the Buried and Me next week!

Into the Machine: Upcoming new Prog Rock Documentary Series

Quite curious about this. I hope they may take some suggestions.

Premieres on January 7th.

Between the Buried and Me - Coma Ecliptic (2014-2015)

6/11/15 5:54AM
"Famine Wolf" streaming

Uh, kind of more of the same feeling. Not going crazy over it, but will certainly hope to like it more within the album.


5/14/15 5:35AM

2nd single "The Coma Machine"..the video lends some mystery or to the concept of course per the title and the whole being in a coma idea. Musically? kind of vanilla for them. I mean there's a few nice moments, and on the record per just this long of a video (nearly 9 minutes), I may get more into this.

I guess I'm just paying attention with not incredibly high expectations. Wanting them to shock me or expect something dramatically cool or new, remains in the past.

Some comments mention Queen on this track, I don't exactly hear it. Perhaps in subtle spots I guess.

4/3/15 12:10PM
1st single "Memory Palace"..9 minutes and 56 seconds; not necessarily an excessive length, for these guys, but I guess I do agree overall with some of the comments about this

a) sounding like Dream Theater, maybe a little too much

b) simply, lacking those great moments, and seeming to have some of the prog/prog metal cliches.

Some of the talk about this album in interviews is it's supposed to be a lot different and weird(er) and also  being an Opera or something.

I guess as I've said, I don't have enormous expectations for these guys, and this 1st track/single doesn't really change that all that much.

But, it is only the 1st track at least.



3/17/15 12:06PM



Not a ton to say about this other than I will of course check this out, and it's too bad their upcoming tour isn't coming to Minneapolis (although even if it was, I wonder/worry it would be at Mill City Nights anyway).

Parallax II, from 2012 I liked a lot of, but I still think suffered from some of what The Great Misdirect did in lacking flow and a lot of unnecessary extended sections. But I also recall concluding that is who BTBAM are now and I don't really expect another Colors or Alaska really at this point. But if it happens, I'll be all the happier. I'm still a fan regardless.

More edits and bumps when the details are made public of course.

https://www.facebook.com/BTBAMofficial

"We are excited to announce the Coma Ecliptic tour named after our forthcoming new album! Our tour will feature Animals As Leaders and The Contortionist.  
VIP Packages are on-sale now at: showstubs.com/btbam 
Coma Ecliptic will be released via Metal Blade Records July 7th! 

More about our new album: 
"Once again, the band has returned with an ambitious concept album. This time, the story follows the wanderings of an unidentified man, stuck in a coma, as he journeys through his past lives. Each song is its own episode in a modern day, sort of The Twilight Zone-esque fashion. The unidentified man enters each world and is offered a choice: stay, or move on to the next in search of something better, something more "perfect." Vocalist / keyboardist Tommy Rogers spoke with Revolver Magazine for their upcoming issue, which will be on newsstands everywhere March 31st. Pick up the magazine for an exclusive first look at the album's recording process and concept. New music and pre-orders bundles will be launched on April 3rd, 2015." "

Abnormal Thought Patterns - Altered States Of Consciousness (Zero Hour mbrs + Tommy BTBAM)

6/5/15 6:29AM

Lifeforce Records Preorder link

This is an album from the Tipton brothers from Zero Hour/Cynthesis, and Mike Guy whose also from Zero Hour (drums).

"Nocturnal Haven" below features Tommy from BTBAM, which sounds promising.

This is being released on June 26th (Europe) and June 30th (Europe).

In just looking, I guess this is Abnormal Thought Patterns 2nd album as they released a debut record back in 2013 titled Manipulation Under Anesthesia.



01. Distortions of Perception
02. Nocturnal Haven (feat. Tommy Rogers, Jeff Loomis)
03. Blindsight
04. Synesthesia (feat. Michael Manring, John Onder)
05. Delusions
06. Nocturnal Haven - Instrumental Version (feat. Jeff Loomis, Tim Roth)
07. Subliminal Perception

Words for Penga - Prose (2014-2015)

http://www.wordsforpenga.com/

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Words for Penga are a relatively new progressive metal band from my home state of Minnesota. I guess they formed in Ely, MN, but have moved to the Twin Cities relatively recently.

Long story short: I happened to meet their guitarist Ben Balitch, of all places, walking my Fiancee's dog in her neighborhood. He and the woman he was with (girlfrend/fiancee/wife? unsure) were walking their dog, etc. And he made a comment on my The Reign of Kindo hoodie, etc, etc.

Anyway, so timing was pretty good as this debut album of his band Words for Penga literally was released like a week or so after I met him. And I have been slowly checking it out and probably more surprisingly, really digging a lot of it (my Minnesota biased could be included, but I really don't think it would matter where they are from actually).

Musically, Words for Penga and this debut album Prose I would describe as progressive metal of a sort. But not like Dream Theater or even that much like Between the Buried and Me who Ben mentioned they either get compared-to or lumped-in with.

I would maybe compare them to East of the Wall (something like The Apologist) and some others. Their lead singer reminds me somewhat of Daron from System of a Down when he's singing clean, although I suppose you could say he has a bit of the Grunge/Post-Grunge style in his voice, but at the same time, I am beginning to appreciate his vocals the more I hear them. And the screams also do work well, and I suppose that is one reason I thought of East of the Wall.

They use saxophone in spots, which while it seems to be becoming more common, still is rare and very much something I enjoy in Metal in the right arrangement. The beginning of the record even on "The Mouth of the Nile" has some among some other moments (I want to say the closing track "Drown" as well "This Was Icarus Drowning"..which might be a reference/reprise per a Concept?).

But I will certainly be taking this in more this year, and maybe add more here or another entry in terms of details (or a Video).

I am enjoying this enough though to maybe regard this as 2015's Brice Plays Drums or RisingSide in that it's another local band doing progressive stuff that I am surprised how good and how much I am enjoying them. And for that matter, where they will go, as this is just their debut record.

I'd love to also see them live, perhaps with another band like The Royal Veil, Nomia, Maeth among other favorites. I wonder if the members and their fans know any of those bands.




1 The Mouth of the Nile 8:11
2 I Cover All 5:55
3 This Was Icarus Drowning 4:41
4 It Was Dark and Then It Isn't 6:26
5 Skinny Bells 9:44
6 Drown 7:15

Between the Buried and Me - Bohemian Rhapsody (live)

Not the best recording as it's just an audience recording, and they sort of abridged part of it. Interesting using a higher octave single-string tone for some of the falsetto vocal parts.

Now, if only they would cover Stairway to Heaven and segue it with White Walls (or even just the solos somehow together).

Native Construct - Quiet World (2014-2015)

I'm unclear how good this album is/will be as it's not released yet anyway, dropping next Tuesday April 21st I noticed.

But the video below with "Mute" definitely holds some optimism. Props to a friend of mine  named Jason on Facebook and Mike Portnoy's forum for recommending this song/band to me.

This is a 3-piece band as the info below shows, comprised of musicians who met at Berklee College of Music. Style-wise, it is progressive metal, that I suppose isn't exactly reinventing the wheel, but I do like the textures and symphonic elements. This doesn't sound like progressive metal trying to be Dream Theater really, but more just highly influenced by Between the Buried and Me and perhaps Mr.Bungle and some others (both are mentioned in the comments and some other places online).

I guess I hear this track "Mute" as sounding rather refined and the use of strings working quite well. In just checking out the 1 track on their Bandcamp Page from 2012 (embedded at the bottom), they clearly have an interest in using textures and strings? (even if they are just programmed). That along with composition could allow my feelings about this band stand out among so many "prog metal" bands who may be heavily influenced by BTBAM (or Dream Theater I suppose).

I guess if there's a band who I am most reminded of in that using that influence and doing cool thins with it, it'd probably be Painted in Exile, who, after that great EP in the late 2000's, have been rather quiet (1 new track recently), so perhaps Native Construct will bring that kind of thing in more quantity (at least they are signed to Metal Blade).

PiE and I suppose I am reminded a little of that newest The Contortionist album/style.

Perhaps Native Construct could do a tour with either Painted in Exile or more likely, The Contortionist?

I guess we'll see, but this album should be something cool to look forward to next week, post-Record Store Day even.

Purchase Link



1. Mute
2. The Spark of the Archon
3. Passage
4. Your Familiar Face
5. Come Hell or High Water
6. Chromatic Lights
7. Chromatic Aberration



https://www.facebook.com/NativeConstruct?fref=ts

https://twitter.com/NConstructBand

http://www.metalblade.com/nativeconstruct/



Robert Edens: Vocals
Myles Yang: Guitar
Max Harchik: Bass

Native Construct is the product of collaboration between several students that began in 2011 at the storied Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. Fueled by a desire to breathe new life into the modern metal genre, Native Construct artfully blends a wide spectrum of compositional influences, ranging from classical all the way to prog metal and musical theatre. The result is a wonderfully unique sonic texture, made up of extended-range guitars, theatrical vocals, and a full complement of symphonic instrumentation. Guitarist and composer Myles Yang's passion for innovation, coupled with his extensive academic study of arranging and compositional techniques, makes Native Construct a truly distinctive up-and-coming metal act.

In 2014, the band's music caught the ear of Brian Slagel at Metal Blade Records, and led to a recording contract and a worldwide release of the band's debut album, Quiet World. The album promises to be a rich, vibrant, and aurally engaging musical experience. While following a musically programmatic approach to its storytelling, the album demonstrates a fascinating unification of numerous musical styles and provides an emotional journey through the vast and imaginative world Native Construct have envisioned.

Quiet World was largely self-produced and written between 2011 and 2013 in between the individual band members' studies at the Berklee College of Music. What began as jam sessions simply for fun eventually turned into a full-fledged musical endeavor. All tracking and programming was done at the band's home studios in Boston, MA, with the exception of vocals, which were recorded with Jamie King at The Basement Studios in Winston-Salem, NC. The album was mixed by Rich Mouser at The Mouse House Studio in Los Angeles, CA, and mastered by Jamie King.

A brief listen to Quiet World is enough to make it apparent that there is a concept, here. Though it's best to let the band explain the album in their own words: "Quiet World is about a guy who loves a girl. The guy is a bit of an odd and eccentric person - an outcast. He's also a mute, and a little unstable, as it turns out. The girl doesn't return his feelings, but he can't bring himself to let go. As his unrequited passion for her devolves into obsession and eventual resentment, his mind begins to slip further and further away. He convinces himself that he can't be loved because of his condition and abnormalities. So he decides to create for himself a new, fantastic world of which he has complete control - a world where there are no oddballs or outcasts. A world where everyone is surrounded by people who are just like themselves: a much quieter world.

"It's at this point that the first track of the album, "Mute," begins. And it turns out that many of the subjects of his new world are not as content living this way as he is. In the second track we see a new character, the Archon, rise up and unite his people in the clouds with the once distant people in the sea. He leads an opposition to "Sinister Silence," as the people come to call him. The rest of the album unfolds with events within the "Quiet World" and manifestations of the enduring struggle between the Archon and Sinister Silence. The lone exception is track number four, "Your Familiar Face," which steps out of this world for a moment to give a closer look at the events prior to the first track and the tragedy of Sinister Silence."

What is impressive about Native Construct is not necessarily an involved concept on a debut record, it's that they wrote, produced, and recorded the album while balancing school work and on a college student budget. It's the epitome of "self produced." And what Native Construct wants fans to know is that "the composition process for this album was intensely meticulous from top to bottom. Each note, each lyric, each twist and each turn were arrived at with the utmost care. As such, we were able to weave rich, often subtle layers of meaning into the music and text. We're very excited for you all to experience the result of our efforts!"

Metal Evolution: The Lost Episode - EXTREME METAL

I obviously just found out about this being shared onto Youtube, so I haven't seen it.

How much will be covered in terms of Tech/Death and progressive Death? Avant etc..I'm kind of skeptical. Opeth? yeah..but BTBAM or even like uneXpect or SikTh???..

kinda thinking not much if any..BTBAM and maybe Protest the Hero will show up in the Metalcore.

Anyway, gotta head back to work, but this should be cool to finally check out. I know there was a campaign to get this made and released a few years ago, not long after the series ended. And it may have succeeded, but I lost track of it.

In other words, for those who did contribute, this is old news, but for everyone else, this is making up for that. Another?..I doubt it, but perhaps Sam Dunn will try and make another doc/series just online for another genre of Metal or even just music in general.


edit: Just watched it. Well, NONE of the Tech/Death and Metalcore stuff showed up, but I guess "Extreme Metal" is so broad a term, it's not entirely surprising. Granted, even Opeth only was given a brief scan of a photo, lol. And the Black Metal stuff, nothing about Agalloch either.

And nothing about Melodic Death Metal either. Enslaved gets love, but not Dark Tranquility, In Flames or Soilwork.

I think he should he should make an episode on Death Metal and at least include a percentage on Technical Death Metal.

Death and Celtic Frost and I suppose Gojira were the only real connection to prog in this, and it was very vague.

But whatever, it was nice to see another episode regardless.

For many metal fans, Extreme Metal is heavy metal. Death, Morbid Angel, Carcass, Entombed, Darkthrone, Dimmu Borgir, Opeth, guttural vocals, blast beats, lyrics about death and the occult …. we couldn’t tell the story of metal without it. And so Banger Films presents Extreme Metal, the latest chapter in Metal Evolution, the biggest-ever TV series on the history of heavy metal and hard rock. Hosted by Sam Dunn and based on Banger’s groundbreaking “Heavy Metal Family Tree”, Extreme Metal features new interviews with Death Metal, Grindcore and Black Metal’s most influential sonic architects and a global journey from Tampa to the UK, Norway and France's Hellfest to investigate the history, myths and intricacies of this most innovative and transgressive subgenre. How extreme is it? Too extreme for some TV networks! Which is why Banger Films turned to crowdfunding—it was support from the metal community around the world through an IndieGogo campaign which made Metal Evolution: Extreme Metal a reality. 

And it doesn’t stop here: Metal Evolution will soon continue online on Banger TV. What part of the Heavy Metal Family Tree will we explore next? Sign up/watch this space for all the news.

Thomas Giles - Modern Noise (2014-2015)

11/21/14 2:31AM

digging this 2nd track"Siphon the Bad Blood." + Interview


11/11/14 6:06PM



Being released on November 20th, Modern Noise is the upcoming solo LP from Between the Buried and Me's lead singer/keyboardist. I'm digging this, and I'm probably more optimistic about this album than his last solo record from 2011 Pulse.

http://www.metalblade.com/thomasgiles/

http://www.indiemerch.com/metalbladerecords/item/28910



01. Wise and Silent
02. Mutilated World
03. Siphon the Bad Blood
04. I Appear Disappear
05. Blueberry Queen
06. We Wander Lonely
07. M3
08. lkcvjvhljbvj≥˜∆˚nnnjmkjijm
09. Noise Upon
10. Wander Drug
11. The Devil Net
12. Modern Noise