technical metal

Album Review: Between the Buried and Me — “Colors II”

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What is there to say about Between the Buried and Me that hasn’t already been said?  What is there to say about Colors that hasn’t already been said?  Between the Buried and Me are one of those very special bands where everyone has a different favorite album by them.  However, for the overwhelming majority, it’s Colors, which is pretty near universally beloved.  How, and why, then, would the band ever try to put out an album like Colors II, one that at first glance might seem like a quick and easy way to cash in on something that they know will be a home run.  Taking a deeper look, however, reveals this release as something much more important and much more personal.

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Profile / Interview: Jesse Zuretti of Binary Code

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Binary Code

On the surface, calling a metal band’s newest offering “crushingly heavy” seems a bit cliche. But, in the case of Binary Code’s third full length, Memento Mori, it’s the closest to the truth as can possibly be. The album was born out of a tragic event that left founder/guitarist Jesse Zuretti devastated and with a deep need to find some sort of light, catharsis, and hope. As such, “crushing” is fully captured throughout each pained scream, each hauntingly quieter moment and a heartbreaking, yet beautiful, cover. Beyond that though, this is an incredible album that takes their earlier tech death cues and gels with their more progressive, heavy rock stance of today. We’re calling it their finest moment and highly suggest supporting the band and this album. Plus, the proceeds go to a much needed cause, more on that below. Just ahead of the album’s release we had the opportunity to send Jesse our set of Profile questions but modified it to dig deeper and get a little more personal. He fully obliged with his responses and we can’t thank him enough so, do the thing immediately below.  Continue reading →

Profile: Jason Braatz of Tech-Proggers Freighter

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Freighter

Batshit crazy is one way to describe the tech/prog/core explosion of Freighter’s second effort The Den. But, that would completely understate just how cohesive the colorful vocals, slamming riffs, and complex songsmithery are as a whole across these eight tracks. I am fully aware that cohesive and crazy normally wouldn’t share the same space but take the complex grindesque feel of “Presto Change-O” and follow it with the insane melody (and horns!) of “Hot Car Death Dad” and those two descriptors make complete sense. We recently had the chance to ask co-founder and bassist Jason Braatz our set of Profile questions in an effort to peer behind the scenes of Freighter so head below to get the scoop and don’t forget to open your mind and snag a copy from the links contained within. Continue reading →