ALBUM REVIEW: Automata I – Between The Buried And Me
Somehow three years have passed since BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME released their last studio effort but to make amends they are spoiling us with two offerings in 2018, the first entitled Automata I will be making an appearance on March 9th via their new residence Sumerian Records. After focusing on the nostalgic, rekindling everyone’s love for their quintessential album Colors on recent touring ventures it’s time to sink our teeth into some new material!
Condemned To The Gallows continues in a similar vein to where Coma Ecliptic left off with the futuristic synths, intricate textures dowsed with frantic drumming and the unmistakable snarl of Tommy Giles. The upbeat, high energy sets the pace for incoming procession and is continued in following track House Organ‘s aggressive tone and slick overlaying guitar work. Accompanied by a subdued melodic piano segment this track transcends through various styles despite being relatively short in length by the quintet’s usual standards.
Yellow Eyes provides some of Automata‘s most intriguing offerings opening with a very distinctive vintage prog rock vibe heavily layered with keyboards and chiming in with jazzy interludes to keep the listener guessing whilst still maintaining the disjointed, frenzied tempo we have become accustomed to. At times throughout this track’s metamorphosis it becomes increasingly dense and elaborate but all the fragments feel vital like some bewildering jigsaw puzzle which seamlessly slots into place. To somewhat balance the crazy transitions there are also some serene calming intervals to stop your head from spinning off.
Millions is the ultimate medication for what has just unravelled with a soothing vibe and floating vocals that glide delicately throughout. The technicality isn’t completely removed from the process however, just presented in a more subtle accessible format which shows the frightening level of diversity that BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME possess.
Gold Distance didn’t really require it’s status as a standalone track. Clocking in at just over a minute it is basically a calming placeholder introducing the longest contribution on Automata I in the form of Blot, which is probably one of the most experimental constructions in the band’s career. Leaving no instrument unturned the track commences with a quirky sitar style vibe which returns in short bursts at latter stages but this is where the stringsmen really begin to flex their muscles with flamboyant fills and intoxicating lead work. With its almost theatrical production quality it feels like Blot requires an elaborately vivid video feature to accompany the immersive twists and turns within.
On initial inspection you would be forgiven to be confused at BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME‘s decision to split this release into two segments considering the majority of their previous releases have spanned over an hour but you absolutely need a significant period of time to digest and comprehend the sheer level of musical tapestries which lay under the surface of Automata I. Every listen will unearth components that were not apparent initially due to the impressive amount of layers surrounding you. It will be intriguing to see how the impending second instalment coincides with this release but for now there is plenty to dissect and become enthralled in as BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME continue to stay completely peerless at the summit of progressive metal.
Rating: 9/10
Automata I is set for release on March 9th via Sumerian Records.
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