Between the Buried and Me - Alaska (2005)

This is what I call "Progressive Deathgrind". This band is simply amazing, and this is the album that proves it. I am excited to see what they put out in September on their new album "Colors". I'll be sure to put up a review on that one. Here is some studio footage of "Colors", which features a nice bass solo; probably the best I've heard in a while.

1. All Bodies – 6:12 (10/10)
   
2. Alaska – 3:57 (9/10)
3. Croakies and Boatshoes – 2:22 (9/10)
   
4. Selkies: The Endless Obsession – 7:23 (10/10)
5. Breathe In, Breathe Out – 0:55 (10/10)
   
6. Roboturner – 7:07 (8/10)
   
7. Backwards Marathon – 8:27 (10/10)
8. Medicine Wheel – 4:18 (8/10)
   
9. The Primer – 4:46 (9/10)
   
10. Autodidact – 5:30 (8/10)
11. Laser Speed – 2:53 (10/10)
    

Alright, if your reading this, you are wondering what the hype is about this "Deathgrind" band. Some of the most versatile artists in the industry are in this band, well alright, everyone in this band is extremely talented and it shows. Do yourself a favor a listen to "Selkies: The Endless Obsession", it might change your mind about grind in general. Honestly, I never really liked grindcore, but I feel that BTBAM does "grind" the best with their Meshuggah like feel to grind riffs. Where BTBAM shines, however, is how they contrast their grindy sections with some of the most beautiful sounds ever heard this side of jazz. "Backwards Marathon" is a perfect example of how these guys take you high with Ultra-melodic ambient sequences and then drop you in a free fall of blast beats.

As for the individual instruments themselves, the lead guitar is most noticeably extremely advanced. Listen to the sweeps at the end of Selkies for proof of the lead's technical and melodic qualities. The Bass guitar is extremely tight throughout the album, often following the guitar's complicated grind and melodic passages; twice as hard to play on bass. Now the percussion involved in this album is top notch. I really haven't heard a drummer on record utilize as many styles and techniques as BTBAM's drummer. I hear Chris Alder, Neil Peart, and Martin Lopez in this guy, very creative and NEVER boring. Tommy, on vocals hits the high and lows very nicely, and seems extremely dynamic. Keyboards are spot on, not too much and not too little.
The only flaw I could dig up is that some songs could have been arranged better (less random). That's about it.


"All Bodies", "Selkies", and "Backwards Marathon" are must listens, each present amazing progressions and unprecedented moments of pure brutality. This album will satisfy your sweet tooth for Prog and Death, and everything in between.

Overall (9/10) - Very Strong