Between the Buried and Me - The Great Misdirect Review

Posted by Enrique on 10.30.2009

Improbably, BTBAM tops itself once again. The Great Misdirect is a breathtaking example of a band exceeding the ridiculously high expectations it has set for itself, and solidifies BTBAM as one of the most artistically important rock bands of our young 21st century.



Band

Dan Briggs – bass
Dustie Waring – guitar
Tommy Rogers – vocals, keys
Paul Waggoner – guitar
Blake Richardson – drums

Songs

1. Mirrors (3:38)
2. Obfuscation (9:15)
3. Disease, Injury, Madness (11:03)
4. Fossil Genera – A Feed from Cloud Mountain (12:11)
5. Desert of Song (5:33)
6. Swim to the Moon (17:54)

Between the Buried and Me’s 2007 album Colors was an incredibly dense and imaginative piece of work that firmly established the band as one of metal’s elite artistic forces. Progressive metal godfather Mike Portnoy named it one of his top albums of that year, and BTBAM played alongside Dream Theater and Opeth on 2008’s “Progressive Nation” North American tour. It would be an understatement to say the band’s profile has been raised considerably in the last few years, and understandably so – Colors was a textured, dynamic, and moving record. It was also heavy as fuck. And it set a standard that would be difficult to top.

In an era when it seems like bands take bloody ages between albums (I’m looking at you, Nevermore), BTBAM took just over two years to follow up the best album of its career. And wouldn’t you know it, they’ve outdone themselves once again. It would be difficult to describe the many facets of BTBAM’s sound to the uninitiated listener. Luckily, thanks to the power of YouTube, I don’t have to. Here’s “Obfuscation” for your listening pleasure:



As fans of progressive rock/metal are aware, if you’re going to do 10+ minute songs effectively, the music has to tell a story. The heavy parts have to transition into the mellow parts seamlessly, taking the listener on an emotional journey. Some progressive bands lose impact when they launch into several minutes of “widdly-widdly” instrumental showmanship – something Dream Theater has been frequently (and often justly) accused of. BTBAM avoids that pitfall for the most part, focusing on creative arrangements that command the listener’s attention without the needless displays of technical proficiency.

That’s not to say “The Great Misdirect” doesn’t give the individual performers space to shine. Tommy Rogers’ clean singing really stands out on this record – this guy just keeps getting better at crafting affecting vocal melodies. His screams are awesomely evil, as usual, and his keyboard work is as effective as ever in adding that extra texture to the band’s sound. Dan Briggs has always been a creative, soulful bass player, and he consistently impresses, particularly during the album’s quieter, fusion-y parts (which are still very busy). Blake Richardson likewise turns in an inspired performance, never taking the easy way out, always delivering a killer groove when necessary, and ready to blast at a moment’s notice. The guitar work of Dustie Waring and founding member Paul Waggoner is brilliant as ever. It sounds like each musician made an effort to put his best foot forward on “The Great Misdirect” and the result is tremendous.

What more is there to say? If you miss out on “The Great Misdirect,” you’ll be missing out on a thrilling musical experience. This is a must-have for all serious metal fans. Years from now, I expect I'll be listening to it and still noticing things I hadn't heard before. If you were marooned on a desert island, this is the one album you’d want to have with you.

The 411: I’ve tried to think of something critical to say about “The Great Misdirect,” because I’d hate to come off as some kind of benighted BTBAM toady. Upon careful reflection, there’s simply not one bad word I can say about this towering piece of work. Album of the year, no question. Ribbit.

Final Score:  9.5   [  Amazing ]