Review of Between The Buried and Me - "Coma Ecliptic"

MID-MAJOR MAYHEM

By: Geoff Teach

If you know me at all, then you know that I do not hide the fact that Between The Buried and Me is my favorite metal act of the 21st century. However, while some may argue that the band has changed too much since the days of Silent Circus and Alaska, I contend that change has always been an integral part of the North Carolina quintet’s D.N.A. Since solidifying their current lineup before Alaska, the progressive metal prodigies continued to seek new sonic ground and proceeded to release a string of stunning and wholly unique albums: Colors (2007, followed up by the Colors Live CD/DVD in 2008), The Great Misdirect (2009), and the 2011 E.P. The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues, which was the precursor to the band’s 2012 opus, The Parallax II: Future Sequence.

After touring for nearly two full years in support of Future Sequence, the boys in BTBAM decided that it was time for yet another change. Ditching the thematic elements of space travel and evil, intelligent computers, Between The Buried and Me entered the studio of their old friend Jamie King in late 2014 to lay down the eleven tracks that would become Coma Ecliptic (Metal Blade Records), due out next month. Thematically, Coma Ecliptic turns its focus inward onto the wonders of the human mind; musically, Coma Ecliptic is richer and warmer than any of the band’s works since Colors.

Starting off gently with “Node”, Between The Buried and Me use something before the next track that I have not heard them use since Alaska: a song break. (I know, right?!?) Moving into “The Coma Machine”, BTBAM continue their long-established dynamic agenda with this ebbing and flowing number. Next, the band heads into near-Kraftwerk territory with the short, digitized ditty “Dim Ignition”, which reminds me of some of Tommy Rodgers’s solo material. But with the start of the following song, Between The Buried and Me delve into what I believe is the greatest six track sequence that the act has ever dared to compose: “Famine Wolf”, “King Redeem/Queen Serene”, “Turn Up the Darkness”, “The Ectopic Stroll”, “Rapid Calm”, and “Memory Palace” combine to produce a succession of striking songs that are nearly transcendental. Every possible human emotion is folded into the architecture of the tracks, and the result is nothing short of progressive metal perfection – and when I say metal, I fucking mean it! This album is heavy, and even though Tommy sings a bit more than he screams, those listeners of BTBAM who enjoyed the resplendent heaviness of Colors and Future Sequence should absolutely love Coma Ecliptic.

Ultimately, Coma Ecliptic is wonderful. It’s heavy, it’s beautiful, and everything else in between. I cannot express enough how much I encourage all of my readers to pre-order this mind-blowing album. Go head to one of their websites (links provided below) and reserve your merchandise package today!

Keep it Metal! \m/

To listen to “Memory Palace”, one of my favorite offerings from Coma Ecliptic, just press play below!