Power of Metal.dk Review

Between the Buried and Me
The Parallax II: Future Sequence
Rating
Style: Extreme Progressive Metal
Release date: 8 October, 2012
Playing time: 72:39
 

After a divine-looking amuse bouche with “The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues” EP, the time has come for "The Parallax II: Future Sequence", a consistent LP.

As I did for the EP, please allow me to copy the story from BtBaM's info sheet. Separated by millions of light years, the two men exist in ignorance of the other yet are intrinsically connected by a shared soul, which ultimately brings them together. Both men exist in isolation, one because he runs away from the life that is his and the other when he leaves his dying planet in the hope of creating new life elsewhere, through the planting of souls.

As the story progresses you realize they are actually the same person, and at the end of the journey they're responsible for destroying all life as they know it, reinforcing the idea that humanity is a destructive species, and that there's some kind of innate flaw about us that causes us to destroy everything we touch. 

You need an ambitious music to match up to themes like these. "Goodbye to Everything" is an ethereal overture with voices of the angels; then comes "Astral Body", a kind of dreamtheaterian song, except for some "roooarrrs" from a possessed throat: the perfect start. 

"Lay Your Ghosts to Rest" is pure BtBaM: flowing creativity, through blast beats or waltz, to get a coherent music piece. That is a tour de force few can achieve. Ten minutes which go faster than an eyeblink. Same positive diagnosis for "Extremophile Elite", which brings brutality under control, with a peel of cool parts and jazzy touch. 

"Telos" and "Melting City" show a tough alloy between ruthless metal and progressive rock: 70's ancestors can be proud of their grandchildren. I heard also there some swing from the 60’s. 

"Silent Flight Parliament" is le morceau du chef, with world class progressive metal, no less. "Goodbye to Everything Reprise" closes the space portal a pinkfloydian way.  

You got a short presentation of "The Parallax II: Future Sequence" story. Then, I tried to describe the music. Well, it was an easy task like learning fluent Finnish in two weeks…


Tracklist
01. Goodbye to Everything
02. Astral Body
03. Lay Your Ghosts to Rest
04. Autumn
05. Extremophile Elite
06. Parallax
07. The Black Box
08. Telos
09. Bloom
10. Melting City
11. Silent Flight Parliament

12. Goodbye to Everything Reprise
Label: Metal Blade
Distribution: Target (Denmark)
Reviewed by: Philippe Leconte
Date: 7 October, 2012
Website: BtBaM @ MySpace