The Great Misdirect
Between the Buried and Me
Victory Records
4/5 stars
I am by no means a metalhead. I’ll listen to the odd song a friend shows me, but it’s a rarity to find me headbanging alone. For this reason I review Between the Buried and Me’s new record with a grain of salt.
The Great Misdirect is a massive piece of work. With six songs clocking in at an average runtime of 10 minutes each, the album requires a high level of commitment – or a long bus ride – to sit through the whole thing.
The title track “Mirrors” would lead someone unfamiliar with BTBAM to think this is a theatrical fusion record. Without a scream or distorted guitar the track lulls the listener into a false sense of security. Singer/keyboardist Tommy Rogers pines about the dissolution of society throughout the track, which seems to be a theme of the album.
This is one of those recordings that can’t really be classified because of its genre-defying tactics. One minute there will be a progressive rock jam and then within a split second the band will blast out their take on death metal. The band came from hardcore roots but have all grown out of that style of music with their sixth studio album.
The record is a showcase of virtuosic players pushing the limits of their genre.
For fans of progressive metal it is a must listen, and for those who are not used to headbanging, it is worth a try. Some parts may seem unbearable, but you may be surprised by how enjoyable this complex album can be.