Between the Buried and Me, an American progressive metal band formed in 2000 from North Carolina. Their discography is vast yet tight in consistency, although they have had some rough patches. Their debut represents that rough patch, and it’s pretty hard to listen to in all honesty. But in reality that’s in retrospect of their newer work, that is if not some of the best records of music known to man. I’ll be ranking the songs and concluding the album in full resolution. I’ll be doing this with all three records that are on here, Self-Titled, The Silent Circus, Alaska. 

S/T  (2002)

Starting off, the band didn’t have a vocalist and they needed one. So Thomas Giles Rogers Jr. also referred to as Tommy, became their vocalist. He was the guitarist for a metalcore band, Prayer for Cleansing previously. The same was intended for BTBAM to be one of their guitarists. He was in actuality inspired by vocalists like; Mike Patton from Faith No More, Radiohead, Pink Floyd, The Mars Volta, Nine Inch Nails, and Muse. His clean vocals were incredible, and the opposite could be said with his false chord screams. He inhales screams throughout this record and it is absolutely terrible, awful in fact. Making the record almost unlistenable at times. For some context, this was a popular technique amongst the metal scene at the time. An awful technique that doesn’t sound good, nor is it even safe for your vocal chords. It is considered one of the worst things you could do to your voice for heavy vocals beyond just blatant raw screaming. (Which is not what false chords are) Parts of the record sound good, with the clean vocals and melodic instruments. Most of the record is nonsense with vocals and doesn’t age well at all. Now of course this is an exaggeration at times, yet it is quite valid. The album remains decent and I fully believe this record stands as its own believe it or not. Even if I think this album is their worst, it shows how far they’ve come. If this were released after any other record, it would take a toll on their reputation. Now let’s dive into the entire record from the track list.

“More of Myself to Kill”: Initially it is a mess of inhale vocals sounding pitiful. Then it gets a tad bit better, eventually getting to the melodic part that I really enjoy. It is very jarring to hear these inhale screams and other techniques. When Giles actually uses correct techniques they’re pretty decent. I refer to the vocalist, Tommy throughout the BTBAM reviews because it’s one of the biggest developments the band has up until, Colors. The instruments and the composition are quite impressive for a debut. I enjoy this record without the jarring vocals, and I’ll keep critiquing them. 6.5/10

“Arsonist”: It starts off better, but the nonsensical pig squeal uttering is not helping. What still remains is the instruments sounding incredible. Riffs and drums changing time signatures, it almost resembles early (The) Ocean sound and tone. Sadly there are no melodic bridges or choruses to save it. 6/10

“Aspirations”: This album does sound all this same, and it’s hard to recognize each track. The vocals sound like nonsense half the time, and I cannot stand behind that. This track has a great melodic guitar part that is quite memorable, besides that I can’t differ from it. The guitar and vocals were very inspired by Dragonforce. This track also has clean vocals, and as always they succeed in being great. The guitar is an absolute highlight in this track. 7/10 “I really liked Dragonforce back in the day.”

“What We Have Become”: Overtime listening to this record, I get used to the terrible squeals and nonsensical utterances. This track isn’t bad, but there is nothing truly added here. 5.5/10

“Fire for a Dry Mouth”: … 0/10 No comment.

“Naked by the Computer”: It starts off nice and sweet, so that’s nice. 6/10 

“Use of a Weapon”: One of the only songs to actually sound competent with vocals. I enjoy this song the most, and is the one exception compared to even my favorite record. 7/10

“Shevanel Cut a Flip”: Elements of this song and some parts of the record itself correspond to what BTBAM was going to be in the future. Combining two tracks is what this song really is, and sadly enough it’s a rough cut to it at that. Doesn’t mean it didn’t work for me, this is my favorite track of this record easily. It’s the small details that seem too odd to work, that remain alive in their work today. 7/10

Throughout this record I tried to separate the vocals and listen to the instruments. Maybe Thomas knew what he was doing. In that he was adapting our ears to hear his nonsense ninety-five percent of the time, so when there are melodic pieces and vocals it sounds outstanding. Let alone Thomas’ vocals are impressive, but who would have thought this nonsense was good sound? We may never know.

The Silent Circus (2003)

Between the Buried and Me’s second studio album. it is still not near their best work, but it still provides the original BTBAM tone that we all know. (Maybe not love) This is yet again, still a very competent record nonetheless. I still strongly feel they don’t have the same energy or character as future albums would have. The goofiness still remains in the lyrics.

“Lost Perfection A) Coulrophobia”: Imagine if you will, the best of their debut with more polish. It actually sounds pretty alright, and better than decent. The riff towards the end is the highlight of this track. 7/10

“B) Anablephobia”: These tracks transition into each other and it continues to sound like the second iteration of Between the Buried and Me. Thomas’ vocals are less gibberish and are just as low as ever. (This would became a common technique, and one I personally like) 6.5/10

“Camilla Rhodes”: This is a great track, and it has some great headbanging riffs and drums to back it. 7/10

“Mordecai”: This is one of their most well known songs ever, and I understand why. Tommy’s vocals are incredible and transcend the melodic metalcore that most know. That could be an over exaggeration, but it is their best track of this album. The melodic tone of the guitar riffs and everything makes this my favorite track. 8.5/10

“Reaction”: A favorite of mine, this album is like a sequel to the debut in many ways. Especially with the next track, “(Shevanel Take 2)” this continues the closure of the last album. 7/10

“(Shevanel Take 2)”: It transitions just like this article, and it is smooth. The clean vocals are yet again immaculate, I believe there was a guest vocalist on this song. With that it’s back to the metalcore. 7.5/10

“Ad a dglgmut”: It proceeds to go back into nonsense, which is not a comfort that I like to endure at this point. This song is promising in its length of over seven minutes. It retains the tone of “Mordecai” in its guitar. The clean vocals follow and it becomes peaceful. I overall enjoy this song, not near as much as “Mordecai.” 7.5/10

“Destructo Spin”: It retains the nonsense that is at this point deserved to be the downfall of this record. It has some potential, but sounds like a regression of a track. It also has the audacity to fade away as if it’s catchy. It felt like a waste of my time. At this point, I’m getting sick of listening to these first two records back to back. 5/10

“Aesthetic”: Continuing that enthusiasm towards this album, I still consider this album to be a talented piece nonetheless. Not listening, or looking too deep into the record it will seem all the same. In some cases, like vocally, you aren’t wrong. 7/10

“The Need for Repetition”: This track is heavy, and sounds great. Even the hard vocals are a highlight here. It is pretty underwhelming for a closer in my taste. It ends about six minutes in and there is a hidden track preceding it. That track isn’t worth discussing in depth. 7/10

Overall these first two records have talent, but I do not enjoy these in comparison to the rest of their discography. They have underlying issues that are overwhelmingly present in some cases. It’s all still, talented, impressive, and incredible. I can’t justify its sound to be that incredible to the work that would eventually proceed with this band, and transcend the technological endeavors of their music.

Alaska (2005)

The opening track “All Bodies” is one of my favorite tracks they’ve ever made. With that said, this is where BTBAM found themselves, and it only gets better from this point on. Before this record they went through numerous members in a small span of time. By this point Tommy had his vocals figured out, and what I mean by that is they were now really good all around. No more inhale screams and other terrible techniques the same could be said to The Silent Circus, but it is more prominent in this record. The band was just about entirely secure in its members. This is easily their best record up until this point, no question. This is the best of the original BTBAM that some love, and I can hear why. Although I critiqued the nonsensical sounds that they composed before, they’ve perfected it here. That doesn’t mean this record is perfect, but is miles better than their previous albums.

“All Bodies”: As I said, this track is incredible. Having some of my favorite vocals/lyrics, and one of the best melodic vocals yet that this band has had to offer. One of the best openers in my opinion for a record. 9/10

“Alaska”: I could also say the same greatness about the title track that the previous track had. Some of the best writing lyrically and musically. They were getting quite talented at this point. This track is well worth a listen. The nonsense of the track works thematically in context and in composition. 9/10

“Croakies and Boatshoes”: Another regression in my opinion, but not a terrible song technically. The last minute is pretty good I will add. 6.5/10

“Selkies: The Endless Obsession”: Another BTBAM classic and it totally deserves to remain a classic. The beginning keyboard with the surround output is iconic, and the riff that continues after that is incredible. The lyrics and vocals yet again similar to “All Bodies” and another track on the record “Backwards Marathon” are amazing. The iconic line, The Sweet relief, is among us is timeless despite another reference. 9/10

“Breathe in, Breathe out”: An instrumental That is a certified vibe, and it’s under a minute. 9.9/10

“Roboturner”: just to turn around and get really loud again. I don’t get anything out of this track beyond this is very reminiscent of their early work. They composed it in a way that makes it enjoyable, and very heavy. Crescendo is also heavily present on this track. 7/10

“Backwards Marathon”: It’s raining, it’s raining, that’s all I have to say. Though I really want to go in depth with this track though. It has some of the best melodic parts. (On this record) It does start as any BTBAM song would at the time, but unwinds to what I absolutely loved about the vocals and guitar tones of “Moredaci.” The falsetto of his voice and the soft drums add another to it on top of the sampled rain atmosphere. The rest of the song returns to chaos. 9/10

“Medicine Wheel”: Another certified vibe, and it’s longer than a minute. It makes me want an entire full length record with these kinds of composed songs. Sounding calm and full of emotion instrumentally. It adds another dimension to this album that could have not been had without. 9.9/10

“The Primer”: The end of the track is the highlight, but I don’t enjoy the rest as much as the other highly rated hits. 7.5/10

“Autodidact”: It has some goofy sequences. Not goofy enough that they’re memorable as other sequences. It works as a closer, it’s heavy and headbanging good. But, it’s another track that I cannot necessarily fully critique or praise, it’s in limbo of my opinions. With that, it’s justified to be good enough. 7/10

“Laser Speed” Out every single track in this article, this is their best. I am completely confident in that statement. An acoustic instrumental that justifies its own existence alone. 10/10 I highly recommend this song to anyone.

In all honesty what drove me to write this article was so that I could cover Colors. Alaska on the other hand is something that kept my sanity listening to these records back to back. Especially those instrumental tracks like “Breathe In, Breathe Out.” Between the Buried and Me released a cover album around Alaska‘s release. At this point they were getting better and better, and they struck perfection. Ironically throwing in some news ideas, and inevitably being remembered for it. I am quite actually referencing their next album lyrically, and that album is Colors. An album so highly praised it is considered the best metal(core) album ever. I cannot disagree, it possibly is the greatest piece of music of all time even.