US progressive metal act Between the Buried and Me are no strangers to concept albums, and their latest release Coma Ecliptic once again sees them doing what they do best, this time around they've concocted what they are calling a 'rock opera' that takes the listener into the mind of a coma patient, and eventually his 'rediscovery' of the world after awakening. Moving even further away from their metalcore roots, Coma Ecliptic is more melodic & grandiose than anything they've done before, the band no doubt studying classic concept albums like The Wall, Quadrophenia, Welcome to My Nightmare, Operation Mindcrime, Scenes From a Memory, and The Lamb Dies Down on Broadway in order to gain inspiration for this very complex undertaking.
The skills of vocalist/keyboard player Tommy Rogers are fully on display throughout Coma Ecliptic, as his lovely piano melodies and clean vocals seem to float in and out of the many tracks, especially "Node" and "King Redeem - Queen Serene". Those who have preferred some of the bands more melodic moments will love what's on display here, though fear not, the death metal side of the band is still present, just not as forceful as it has been in the past. "The Coma Machine" and "Turn on the Darkness" mixes stunning, complex Dream Theater styled prog with passages of death metal intensity, as guitarists Paul Waggoner & Dustie Waring blend all sorts of six string mayhem & beauty, and drummer Blake Richardson goes from jazzy fills to thunderous blast beats. BtBaM really goes for something different on "The Ectopic Stroll", a wild concoction of theatrical Broadway show themes, jazz, pop, and technical extreme metal, while "Rapid Calm" is just a great slice of melodic progressive metal, featuring stunning keyboard textures, alluring guitar arpeggios, and a mix of clean & growling vocals. Prog fans will also love the intricate "Memory Palace" as well as the lush closer "Life in Velvet", the latter containing some of Waggoner's tastiest soloing on the album .
Obviously, as with all of BtBaM's albums, don't expect to fully digest this one on first listen, as the complex nature of the story as well as the music is something that will unfold over repeated spins. Once you get to that point, expect to be amazed by what the band have created for you, as Coma Ecliptic is another mind blowing release from a group that shows no slowing down of the creative juices.
See more about this release on our recent YouTube show!
Track Listing
- Node
- The Coma Machine
- Dim Ignition
- Famine Wolf k
- King Redeem - Queen Serene
- Turn on the Darkness
- The Ectopic Stroll
- Rapid Calm
- Memory Palace
- Option Oblivion
- Life in Velvet
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