ALBUM REVIEW: Automata II – Between The Buried And Me
It’s all systems go in the BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME camp. With Automata I already under their belts and having recently been confirmed for this year’s instalment of the Summer Slaughter tour 2018 could turn out to be one of the most significant periods in the band’s career. To top this off they are due to release the second chapter Automata II on July 13th via Sumerian Records.
The Proverbial Bellow kicks things off with a brisk pace, throwing graceful melodies in amongst frantic blast beats proving you can never quite grasp what to expect from BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME. As the track advances it ebbs and flows between energetic intricacies and quirky keyboard segments keeping you on your toes. Some elements show an 80’s prog rock charm as the instrumentation meshes together seamlessly, feeling chaotic but remarkably cohesive. You still feel at times it would be handy to have a second set of ears just to fully interpret the density of the arrangement. The quintet have most certainly stepped up the creativity a few notches from the first instalment, the solo work towards the latter stages drags you into a world of pure euphoria and before you know it you are greeted by the harpsichord’s of Glide. This brief yet captivating excerpt feels like it wouldn’t be out-of-place in an elaborate RPG as you traverse along the ocean.
A jazzy outro bursts straight into life and leads right into the intense buoyancy of Voice Of Trespass, which could easily be mistaken for the long-lost twin of DEVIN TOWNSEND‘s Bad Devil. The smooth bass lines and slick guitar work make you want to start snapping your fingers and imagine being sat in the dark corner of a smokey room on open mic night. If this doesn’t become a staple of many live sets to come it will be criminal. The entire composition is flawless and is guaranteed to become ingrained into every fibre of your body. The frenzy begins to ramp up considerably as the track passes its midway point but it’s so incredibly infectious that you can’t help but roll with it and become immersed in all it’s over the top splendour.
The Grid takes a more subtle approach than its predecessor but still packs a punch with some dark jabbing riffs sparsely placed into the track. The soaring vocals of Tommy Giles elegantly float throughout, taking the odd dabble into maniacal growls to suit the twists and turns in heaviness. The calming acoustic interlude mixed with the lyrics of “We are in this together” feels very empowering and uplifting as Automata II begins to wind down with some tasteful solo work giving an almost power ballad style vibe as the track draws to a close.
Despite only being four tracks (..well three and a half) in length Automata II feels like one of the most bold projects that BETWEEN THAT BURIED AND ME have created. There is so much to love about this effort and it’s diversity shines through. Each track is strong enough to individually stand tall on its own but they still feel like part of a collective unit. It’s not often a band treat us to two releases in a calendar year never mind both being of such exceptional quality. Just when you had an idea of what to expect from the five piece they manage to evolve and continue to become one of the most exciting bands in the world of progressive metal.
Rating: 9/10
Automata II is due for release on July 13 via Sumerian Records
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