Between the Buried and Me: Musical Chaos In

Between the Buried and Me w/ August Burns Red and Good Tiger
Showbox SoDo, Seattle, WA
03.24.16

All ages meant an early show, and after missing Good Tiger due to #adulting, thankfully I arrived just in the nick of time as Between The Buried and Me hit the stage. The Raleigh, North Carolina quintet is known as a progressive metal band. However, for the loyal fans here tonight it is the sheer musicianship – encompassing so many different styles – that sets them apart from the usual “progressive” title. BTBAM’s chaotic mix of technical death metal, metalcore, thrash and keyboards makes their blinding musical mathematics confusing, yet somehow it works.

Playing a mix of songs from their latest release Coma Ecliptic, and their eclectic back catalogue, singer Tommy Giles Rogers, Jr. took us on an epic journey of ups and downs through his ever-changing vocal style over the hour-long set. One moment he is singing a melodic, jazzy verse then switches into a death metal/thrash style mixed with the frantic time changes of the band. The music matched with frenzied graphics on the video screens and strobe light show kept it interesting. This is the beautiful madness of BTBAM.

Tonight’s headliner August Burns Red burst onto the stage before 9pm. The Pennsylvania metalcore band is touring their latest album Found In Far Away Places, and the Grammy-nominated group sure know how to excite a crowd. Front man Jake Luhrs is a huge presence and gets the crowd chanting and pumping their fists the entire time.

The stage is simple in comparison to BTBAM. Less strobe and no video screens, a simple backdrop. Three “ego risers” occupy the stage and the band members continuously trade places on them, in what seems like a frenetic game of “Frogger.” They never seem to stand still. The constant state of motion makes it even more entertaining seeing guitarist John Benjamin “JB” Brubaker is only wearing flip-flops.

Tonight was a very high-energy, chaotic musical evening for the near sold out crowd at Showbox Sodo. It is always good to see a tour package that boasts musically similar groups, but still has emough diversity to draw different fans of all ages together!

BTBAM Set List
The Coma Machine
Foam Born (A) The Backtrack
(B) The Decade of Statues
Telos
Shevanel Cut a Flip
The Ectopic Stroll
Mirrors
Obfuscation
Famine Wolf
Selkies: The Endless Obsession

ABR Set List
Intro
Martyr
Empire
Everlasting Ending
Spirit Breaker
Cutting the Ties
Provision
Back Burner
Ghosts
Marianas Trench
Composure
Majoring in the Minors
Drum Solo
White Washed

Review and photos by Neil Lim Sang

Between the Buried and Me