Between the Buried and Me
Encyclopedia
Between the Buried and Me is an American heavy metal
band from Raleigh
, North Carolina
. They have released a total of five studio albums, as well as a cover album, an EP and a live DVD/CD. A majority of the group's releases were made through Victory Records
, until their shift to Metal Blade
in 2011 where they released their first EP, The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues
through the label on April 12, 2011.
, North Carolina
by vocalist Tommy Rogers, guitarist Paul Waggoner, drummer Will Goodyear, guitarist Nick Fletcher (formerly of Empire Falls), and bassist Jason King. The band's name is derived from a section of lyrics in the Counting Crows
song, "Ghost Train;" "Took the cannonball down to the ocean/Across the desert from the sea to shining sea/I rode a ladder that climbed across the nation/Fifty million feet of earth between the buried and me."
Between the Buried and Me's first release was a three-song demo, containing the tracks "Use of a Weapon", "What We Have Become", and "More of Myself to Kill". These three tracks were re-recorded for the band's self-titled debut album
, released through Lifeforce Records
in 2002. The album includes the track "Arsonist", a protest against the beliefs and practices of the Westboro Baptist Church
in Topeka, Kansas
. The song "Aspirations" became the band's first music video. This album is not widely known and the songs from it are rarely played live. However, its release did catch the attention of Victory Records
, to which they later signed. Victory Records reissued the album in 2004 as an enhanced CD
.
In 2003, the band released their second studio album, The Silent Circus
, featuring the singles "Mordecai", "Aesthetic", and "Camilla Rhodes". "Mordecai" was produced as their second music video. The album was re-released in 2006 with a live DVD of the band's performance at The Cat's Cradle in Chapel Hill
, North Carolina on July 17, 2005. Mark Castillo played drums on The Silent Circus, replacing Will Goodyear, though for the live DVD Blake Richardson, Dustie Waring, and Dan Briggs had already joined the band, and recording for the third Between the Buried and Me album, Alaska, was already finished.
After the release of The Silent Circus, the band went through numerous members before the current lineup was assembled for Alaska. On drums, Mark Castillo was replaced by Jason Roe, and later by Blake Richardson. On guitar, Nick Fletcher was replaced by Shane Blay, and later by Dustie Waring. And on bass, Jason King was replaced by Kevin Falk
(later replaced by Dan Briggs). This is the lineup that has lasted until the present.
In the summer of 2005, Between the Buried and Me released their third studio album, Alaska. The title track "Alaska" became their third music video. The album released the songs "Selkies: The Endless Obsession", "The Primer", and "Backwards Marathon" as singles. Then in the following year, the band released The Anatomy Of
, a collection of covers of bands that influenced Between the Buried and Me, including Metallica
, King Crimson
, Pantera
, Queen
, Pink Floyd
, Earth Crisis
, Counting Crows
, and Soundgarden
.
In September 2007, the band released their fourth studio album, Colors
. Band members have said that "it's a 65 minute opus of non stop pummeling beautiful music... we have described this release as 'new wave
polka
grunge
'." The band has also described the album as "adult contemporary
progressive death metal
".
On November 6, 2008 the song "Prequel to the Sequel" was made available as downloadable content for the video game Rock Band
on the Xbox Live marketplace and the PlayStation store. Since then, the tracks "Mordecai", "Obfuscation", and on May 17, 2011, "Alaska" have also been made available.
On May 31, 2009, the group went into the studio to record their fifth original album, The Great Misdirect
. They have described one song as having "a noisy Coalesce breakdown, 3/4 Mastodon
groove, 9/8 The Mars Volta
, Queen chromatic build up, and Megadeth
chorus". Tommy Giles Rogers had stated that they planned to "out do Colors
".
In early fall 2010, the group confirmed that they were recording an EP
, which was cited as being a possible precursor for their next full-length album. In October 2010, they put up a video on their YouTube account with the band in the studio. January 18 a second teaser with them in the studio was posted.
On February 21, 2011, Between the Buried and Me stated their move from Victory to Metal Blade Records
, on which they released their EP entitled, The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues
on April 12, 2011. In May, Victory Records
announced the release of a greatest hits album as a three-disc set.
along with Every Time I Die
and Haste the Day
. They were also on the Ozzfest
2006 Second Stage. In late 2006, they were on the Radio Rebellion Tour headlined by Norma Jean
.
In September 2007, after the release of Colors
, the band went on tour with Animosity
and Horse the Band
. Giant (now known as BraveYoung) also supported their shows in the USA. The run concluded with their November 4 appearance at the Saints and Sinners Fest in Asbury Park, New Jersey. In December 2007, they again embarked on a headlining tour, supported by August Burns Red
and Behold... The Arctopus
. The band were also the main support on The Dillinger Escape Plan
's 2008 U.K. tour. Between the Buried and Me were one of the acts that took part at "Progressive Nation '08", the first in what became an annual progressive music
festival, also featuring Dream Theater
, Opeth
, and 3
.
Starting in summer 2008 and continuing in the fall, they performed as a supporting act for Children of Bodom
's US headlining tour, alongside The Black Dahlia Murder. In early December 2008, they went on a short 4-show tour around the Carolinas and Georgia (US) with other Carolina-based bands, such as He Is Legend
, Advent
, and Nightbear. Between the Buried and Me finished a month-long tour of Australia on January 9 with headliners Bleeding Through
, As Blood Runs Black, In Trenches and The Abandonment
. In September 2009, Between the Buried and Me performed a Canadian Tour with Killswitch Engage
and In Flames
co-headlining, along with the support of Protest the Hero
.
In early 2010, Between the Buried and Me toured across North America with Cynic
, Devin Townsend
, and Scale the Summit
. Afterwards, they traveled to Europe supporting Lamb of God
, along with Job for a Cowboy
and August Burns Red
.
In February 2010, Between the Buried and Me supported Mastodon along with Baroness on their US headlining tour. During the summer of 2010, they were on the Cool Tour with As I Lay Dying
, Underoath
, War of Ages
, The Acacia Strain
, Architects
, Cancer Bats
and Blessthefall
.
In February 2011, Between the Buried and Me were confirmed to play at the New England Metal & Hardcore Festival on Saturday, April 16 in Worcester, MA. They will be main support for Hatebreed
. In April and May 2011 they will headline a tour featuring Job for a Cowboy, The Ocean
and on select dates Cephalic Carnage
.
Between the Buried and Me have also announced a headline European tour beginning in Paris
, France
on 02 Sept 2011 and continuing throughout the mainland and into the UK, ending up in Moscow
, Russia
on September 30. The tour will be supported by Animals as Leaders
.
In July 2011, Between the Buried and Me announced their headlining North American tour, "Saints&Sinners Tour" playing through out November and December with Animals as Leaders
and TesseracT
. The band created a few medleys just for this tour, and performed songs that they haven't played in years such as Mordecai.
, progressive metal
and death metal
, along with various musical styles: "One minute the band may be playing thrash metal
and the next they're flowing into death metal growls and thick guitar riffs... the metal take on things can seemingly change in a flash as lead singer Tommy Rogers flashes out his vocals and utilizes the keyboards to create something that sounds more like it should be on a Smashing Pumpkins
album". On their cover album, The Anatomy Of
, the band pays tribute to many of their diverse influences, including Metallica
, Queen
, King Crimson
, Soundgarden
, Pantera
, Pink Floyd
, Earth Crisis
, and The Smashing Pumpkins.
Former
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band from Raleigh
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. They have released a total of five studio albums, as well as a cover album, an EP and a live DVD/CD. A majority of the group's releases were made through Victory Records
Victory Records
Victory Records is a Chicago-based record label founded by Tony Brummel. It is a privately held corporation. It also operates a music publishing company called "Another Victory, Inc." and is the distributor of several smaller independent record labels....
, until their shift to Metal Blade
Metal Blade Records
Metal Blade Records is a record label which was founded by Brian Slagel in 1982. The U.S. corporate office for Metal Blade is located in Agoura Hills, California. It also has offices in Arizona, Germany, Japan, Canada, and the UK. The label is distributed in the U.S. by Sony BMG Music...
in 2011 where they released their first EP, The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues
The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues
The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues is an EP by the American metal band Between the Buried and Me. It was released on April 12, 2011 and was the group's first release through Metal Blade Records after leaving Victory Records in 2010...
through the label on April 12, 2011.
Biography
Between the Buried and Me was founded in 2000 in RaleighRaleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
by vocalist Tommy Rogers, guitarist Paul Waggoner, drummer Will Goodyear, guitarist Nick Fletcher (formerly of Empire Falls), and bassist Jason King. The band's name is derived from a section of lyrics in the Counting Crows
Counting Crows
Counting Crows is an American rock band originating from Berkeley, California. Formed in 1991, the group gained popularity following the release of its debut album in 1993, August and Everything After, which featured the hit single "Mr. Jones"...
song, "Ghost Train;" "Took the cannonball down to the ocean/Across the desert from the sea to shining sea/I rode a ladder that climbed across the nation/Fifty million feet of earth between the buried and me."
Between the Buried and Me's first release was a three-song demo, containing the tracks "Use of a Weapon", "What We Have Become", and "More of Myself to Kill". These three tracks were re-recorded for the band's self-titled debut album
Between the Buried and Me (album)
Between the Buried and Me is the debut album by American heavy metal band Between the Buried and Me. The songs on the album demonstrate numerous concepts--one of which, the song "Arsonist", was written about their strong feelings towards Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas, which has become...
, released through Lifeforce Records
Lifeforce Records
Lifeforce Records is a German record label that specializes in metalcore, death metal, and post-hardcore. Their current roster contains bands such as Burning Skies, This or the Apocalypse, Light Pupil Dilate and Nightrage, and they have helped to launch the careers of a number bands who went on to...
in 2002. The album includes the track "Arsonist", a protest against the beliefs and practices of the Westboro Baptist Church
Westboro Baptist Church
The Westboro Baptist Church is an independent Baptist church known for its extreme stance against homosexuality and its protest activities, which include picketing funerals and desecrating the American flag. The church is widely described as a hate group and is monitored as such by the...
in Topeka, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
. The song "Aspirations" became the band's first music video. This album is not widely known and the songs from it are rarely played live. However, its release did catch the attention of Victory Records
Victory Records
Victory Records is a Chicago-based record label founded by Tony Brummel. It is a privately held corporation. It also operates a music publishing company called "Another Victory, Inc." and is the distributor of several smaller independent record labels....
, to which they later signed. Victory Records reissued the album in 2004 as an enhanced CD
Enhanced CD
Enhanced CD, also known as CD Extra and CD Plus, is a certification mark of the Recording Industry Association of America for various technologies that combine audio and computer data for use in both Compact Disc and CD-ROM players....
.
In 2003, the band released their second studio album, The Silent Circus
The Silent Circus
The Silent Circus is the second album by American heavy metal band Between the Buried and Me. Released October 21, 2003 through Victory Records...
, featuring the singles "Mordecai", "Aesthetic", and "Camilla Rhodes". "Mordecai" was produced as their second music video. The album was re-released in 2006 with a live DVD of the band's performance at The Cat's Cradle in Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Chapel Hill is a town in Orange County, North Carolina, United States and the home of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and UNC Health Care...
, North Carolina on July 17, 2005. Mark Castillo played drums on The Silent Circus, replacing Will Goodyear, though for the live DVD Blake Richardson, Dustie Waring, and Dan Briggs had already joined the band, and recording for the third Between the Buried and Me album, Alaska, was already finished.
After the release of The Silent Circus, the band went through numerous members before the current lineup was assembled for Alaska. On drums, Mark Castillo was replaced by Jason Roe, and later by Blake Richardson. On guitar, Nick Fletcher was replaced by Shane Blay, and later by Dustie Waring. And on bass, Jason King was replaced by Kevin Falk
Kevin Falk
Kevin Falk is an American musician. He has played the bass guitar for Between The Buried And Me during their Silent Circus album cycle. He has also played with Every Time I Die, writing and recording the album Gutter Phenomenon including the tracks "The New Black" and "Apocalypse Now and Then"...
(later replaced by Dan Briggs). This is the lineup that has lasted until the present.
In the summer of 2005, Between the Buried and Me released their third studio album, Alaska. The title track "Alaska" became their third music video. The album released the songs "Selkies: The Endless Obsession", "The Primer", and "Backwards Marathon" as singles. Then in the following year, the band released The Anatomy Of
The Anatomy Of
The Anatomy Of is the first cover album by the American progressive metal band Between the Buried and Me. It is the second release to include Dan Briggs, Blake Richardson, and Dustie Waring.-Track listing:-Reception:*Allmusic [ link]*Lambgoat...
, a collection of covers of bands that influenced Between the Buried and Me, including Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
, King Crimson
King Crimson
King Crimson are a rock band founded in London, England in 1969. Often categorised as a foundational progressive rock group, the band have incorporated diverse influences and instrumentation during their history...
, Pantera
Pantera
Pantera was an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas. Formed by the Abbott brothers, Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell in 1981, bassist Rex Brown would join in late 1981 with vocalist Terry Glaze. Looking for a new and heavier sound, Pantera had Terry replaced in 1987 with Phil Anselmo as...
, Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
, Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
, Earth Crisis
Earth Crisis
Earth Crisis is an American metalcore band from Syracuse, New York, active from 1989 until 2001, reuniting in 2007. Their most recent record, To the Death, was released in May 2009 through Century Media....
, Counting Crows
Counting Crows
Counting Crows is an American rock band originating from Berkeley, California. Formed in 1991, the group gained popularity following the release of its debut album in 1993, August and Everything After, which featured the hit single "Mr. Jones"...
, and Soundgarden
Soundgarden
Soundgarden is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington in 1984 by singer Chris Cornell, lead guitarist Kim Thayil, and bassist Hiro Yamamoto...
.
In September 2007, the band released their fourth studio album, Colors
Colors (Between the Buried and Me album)
Colors is the fourth album by American heavy metal band Between the Buried and Me, released on September 18, 2007 through Victory Records. The group brought out many different influences within the structure of the songs featured on the album....
. Band members have said that "it's a 65 minute opus of non stop pummeling beautiful music... we have described this release as 'new wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
polka
Polka
The polka is a Central European dance and also a genre of dance music familiar throughout Europe and the Americas. It originated in the middle of the 19th century in Bohemia...
grunge
Grunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
'." The band has also described the album as "adult contemporary
Adult contemporary music
Adult contemporary music is a broad style of popular music that ranges from lush 1950s and 1960s vocal music to predominantly ballad-heavy music with varying degrees of rock influence, as well as a radio format that plays such music....
progressive death metal
Death metal
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, minor keys or atonality, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes....
".
On November 6, 2008 the song "Prequel to the Sequel" was made available as downloadable content for the video game Rock Band
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
on the Xbox Live marketplace and the PlayStation store. Since then, the tracks "Mordecai", "Obfuscation", and on May 17, 2011, "Alaska" have also been made available.
On May 31, 2009, the group went into the studio to record their fifth original album, The Great Misdirect
The Great Misdirect
-Personnel:Between the Buried and Me*Tommy Giles Rogers – vocals, keyboards*Paul Waggoner – lead guitar, vocals on "Desert of Song"*Dan Briggs – bass*Dustie Waring – rhythm guitar*Blake Richardson – drums, percussionGuest musicians...
. They have described one song as having "a noisy Coalesce breakdown, 3/4 Mastodon
Mastodon (band)
Mastodon is an American heavy metal band from Atlanta, Georgia, formed in 1999. The band is composed of bassist/vocalist Troy Sanders, guitarist/vocalist Brent Hinds, guitarist Bill Kelliher and drummer/vocalist Brann Dailor...
groove, 9/8 The Mars Volta
The Mars Volta
The Mars Volta is a Grammy award winning American progressive rock band from El Paso, Texas. Founded in 2001 by guitarist Omar Rodríguez-López and vocalist Cedric Bixler-Zavala, the band incorporates various influences including progressive rock, krautrock, jazz fusion, Latin American music, and...
, Queen chromatic build up, and Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
chorus". Tommy Giles Rogers had stated that they planned to "out do Colors
Colors (Between the Buried and Me album)
Colors is the fourth album by American heavy metal band Between the Buried and Me, released on September 18, 2007 through Victory Records. The group brought out many different influences within the structure of the songs featured on the album....
".
In early fall 2010, the group confirmed that they were recording an EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
, which was cited as being a possible precursor for their next full-length album. In October 2010, they put up a video on their YouTube account with the band in the studio. January 18 a second teaser with them in the studio was posted.
On February 21, 2011, Between the Buried and Me stated their move from Victory to Metal Blade Records
Metal Blade Records
Metal Blade Records is a record label which was founded by Brian Slagel in 1982. The U.S. corporate office for Metal Blade is located in Agoura Hills, California. It also has offices in Arizona, Germany, Japan, Canada, and the UK. The label is distributed in the U.S. by Sony BMG Music...
, on which they released their EP entitled, The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues
The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues
The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues is an EP by the American metal band Between the Buried and Me. It was released on April 12, 2011 and was the group's first release through Metal Blade Records after leaving Victory Records in 2010...
on April 12, 2011. In May, Victory Records
Victory Records
Victory Records is a Chicago-based record label founded by Tony Brummel. It is a privately held corporation. It also operates a music publishing company called "Another Victory, Inc." and is the distributor of several smaller independent record labels....
announced the release of a greatest hits album as a three-disc set.
Touring
In early 2006, Between the Buried and Me was on tour supporting Bleeding ThroughBleeding Through
Bleeding Through is an American metalcore band from Orange County, California. Formed in 1999, the band blends influences stemming from modern hardcore punk, symphonic black metal, and melodic death metal...
along with Every Time I Die
Every Time I Die
Every Time I Die is a metalcore band from Buffalo, New York, formed in 1998. Their musical style is rooted in technical hardcore with strong southern metal and mathcore elements, and is also characterised by their cryptic, bitingly sarcastic lyrics. The band announced on July 14, 2008 that they had...
and Haste the Day
Haste the Day
Haste the Day was an American Christian metalcore band signed with Solid State Records that was formed in Carmel, Indiana 2001. Their band is named after a lyric in the hymn "It Is Well With My Soul." The band released their debut release, an extended play titled That They May Know You, in 2002,...
. They were also on the Ozzfest
Ozzfest
Ozzfest is an annual festival tour of the United States featuring performances by many heavy metal and hard rock musical groups. It was founded by Ozzy Osbourne and his wife Sharon Osbourne, both of whom also organize each yearly tour with their son Jack Osbourne...
2006 Second Stage. In late 2006, they were on the Radio Rebellion Tour headlined by Norma Jean
Norma Jean (band)
Norma Jean is an American metalcore band from Douglasville, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. Since their inception in 1997 and replacement of members throughout the years, the band's only original member is the guitarist, Chris Day...
.
In September 2007, after the release of Colors
Colors (Between the Buried and Me album)
Colors is the fourth album by American heavy metal band Between the Buried and Me, released on September 18, 2007 through Victory Records. The group brought out many different influences within the structure of the songs featured on the album....
, the band went on tour with Animosity
Animosity (band)
Animosity was a death metal band from San Francisco, California, formed in 2000. The band released three studio albums and disbanded in 2009.-History:...
and Horse the Band
HORSE the band
Horse the Band is a band from Lake Forest, California who are best known for their 8-bit Nintendo-influenced sound combined with metalcore. Frontman Nathan Winneke once described their sound as "Nintendocore".-Biography:...
. Giant (now known as BraveYoung) also supported their shows in the USA. The run concluded with their November 4 appearance at the Saints and Sinners Fest in Asbury Park, New Jersey. In December 2007, they again embarked on a headlining tour, supported by August Burns Red
August Burns Red
August Burns Red is an American metal band, from Manheim, Pennsylvania. Formed in 2003, the group began their first performances while a majority of the members were attending their senior year of high school, and soon began playing shows around Lancaster, before being signed to CI Records, and...
and Behold... The Arctopus
Behold... The Arctopus
Behold... The Arctopus is an experimental metal band from Brooklyn, New York, United States.-Biography:Behold... The Arctopus was formed by Colin Marston and Mike Lerner, who had been playing guitar together for over a year-and-a-half by the time they found a drummer. Their demo We Need a Drummer ...
. The band were also the main support on The Dillinger Escape Plan
The Dillinger Escape Plan
The Dillinger Escape Plan is an American mathcore band from Morris Plains, New Jersey. The group originated in 1997 after the disbanding of Arcane, a hardcore punk trio consisting of Ben Weinman, Dimitri Minakakis, and Chris Pennie. The band's current line-up consists of guitarist Ben Weinman,...
's 2008 U.K. tour. Between the Buried and Me were one of the acts that took part at "Progressive Nation '08", the first in what became an annual progressive music
Progressive metal
Progressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal originating in the United Kingdom and North America in the late 1980s...
festival, also featuring Dream Theater
Dream Theater
Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Petrucci, John Myung, and Mike Portnoy while they attended Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts. They subsequently dropped out of their studies to further concentrate on the band that would...
, Opeth
Opeth
Opeth is a Swedish heavy metal band from Stockholm, formed in 1990. Though the group has been through several personnel changes, singer, guitarist, and songwriter Mikael Åkerfeldt has remained Opeth's driving force throughout the years...
, and 3
3 (band)
3, also known as Three, is an American hybrid band formed in Woodstock, New York in the early 90s.-History:...
.
Starting in summer 2008 and continuing in the fall, they performed as a supporting act for Children of Bodom
Children of Bodom
Children of Bodom is a Finnish heavy metal band from Espoo. Formed in 1993, the group currently consists of Alexi Laiho , Roope Latvala , Janne Wirman , Henkka Seppälä , and Jaska Raatikainen...
's US headlining tour, alongside The Black Dahlia Murder. In early December 2008, they went on a short 4-show tour around the Carolinas and Georgia (US) with other Carolina-based bands, such as He Is Legend
He Is Legend
He Is Legend is a hard rock band formed in Wilmington, North Carolina who signed to Tragic Hero Records in 2009. The band consists of vocalist front man Schuylar Croom, guitarist Adam Tanbouz, drummer Steven Bache, bassist Matt Williams....
, Advent
Advent (band)
Advent was an American Christian Kernersville, North Carolina-based hardcore band and was signed to Solid State Records. The band featured members of Beloved, and was considered a pseudo-continuation of Beloved. The band had released two albums under the label Solid State Records...
, and Nightbear. Between the Buried and Me finished a month-long tour of Australia on January 9 with headliners Bleeding Through
Bleeding Through
Bleeding Through is an American metalcore band from Orange County, California. Formed in 1999, the band blends influences stemming from modern hardcore punk, symphonic black metal, and melodic death metal...
, As Blood Runs Black, In Trenches and The Abandonment
The Abandonment
The Abandonment is a 1916 American silent short drama film directed by Donald MacDonald starring Helene Rosson, Forrest Taylor and Harry von Meter ....
. In September 2009, Between the Buried and Me performed a Canadian Tour with Killswitch Engage
Killswitch Engage
Killswitch Engage is an American metalcore band from Westfield, Massachusetts, formed in 1999 after the disbandment of Overcast and Aftershock. Killswitch Engage's current lineup consists of vocalist Howard Jones, bassist Mike D'Antonio, guitarists Joel Stroetzel and Adam Dutkiewicz, and drummer...
and In Flames
In Flames
In Flames is a Swedish heavy metal band from Gothenburg, formed in 1990. Since the band's inception in 1993, they have released ten studio albums and one live DVD...
co-headlining, along with the support of Protest the Hero
Protest the Hero
Protest the Hero is a Canadian progressive metal band from Whitby, Ontario. Originally named Happy Go Lucky, the band line-up has remained the same since their formation in 1999. The band changed their name to Protest the Hero shortly before releasing their debut EP, Search for the Truth, in 2002...
.
In early 2010, Between the Buried and Me toured across North America with Cynic
Cynic (band)
Cynic is an American progressive rock band, incorporating experimental music, alternative, metal and jazz fusion elements, founded in Miami, Florida and currently based in Los Angeles, California. Their first album, Focus, released on September 14, 1993, is widely regarded as a landmark release of...
, Devin Townsend
Devin Townsend
Devin Garret Townsend is a Canadian musician and record producer. He was the founder, songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist in extreme metal band Strapping Young Lad from 1994 to 2007 and has had an extensive career as a solo artist....
, and Scale the Summit
Scale the Summit
Scale the Summit is an American instrumental metal band based out of Houston, Texas. It formed in 2004 and signed to Prosthetic Records.The band draws influences from other progressive acts such as Cynic and Dream Theater. However, unlike most other progressive metal bands, they have no vocalist...
. Afterwards, they traveled to Europe supporting Lamb of God
Lamb of God (band)
Lamb of God is an American heavy metal band from Richmond, Virginia. Formed in 1994, the group consists of vocalist Randy Blythe, guitarists Mark Morton and Willie Adler, bassist John Campbell, and drummer Chris Adler...
, along with Job for a Cowboy
Job for a Cowboy
Job for a Cowboy is a American death metal band from Glendale, Arizona. Formed in 2003, the band's debut album Genesis was released in 2007, peaking at #54 on the US Billboard 200 and selling 13,000 copies in its first week of release. The second album, 2009's Ruination, sold 10,600 copies in...
and August Burns Red
August Burns Red
August Burns Red is an American metal band, from Manheim, Pennsylvania. Formed in 2003, the group began their first performances while a majority of the members were attending their senior year of high school, and soon began playing shows around Lancaster, before being signed to CI Records, and...
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In February 2010, Between the Buried and Me supported Mastodon along with Baroness on their US headlining tour. During the summer of 2010, they were on the Cool Tour with As I Lay Dying
As I Lay Dying (band)
As I Lay Dying is an American metalcore band from San Diego, California. Founded in 2000 by Tim Lambesis and having completed their first Line-up in 2001, the band consists of vocalist Tim Lambesis, drummer Jordan Mancino, lead guitarist Nick Hipa, rhythm guitarist Phil Sgrosso, and bassist Josh...
, Underoath
Underoath
Underoath is an American Christian metalcore band from Tampa, Florida. Founded by Dallas Taylor and Luke Morton on November 30, 1997 in Ocala, Florida, subsequently its additional members were from Tampa, Florida...
, War of Ages
War of Ages
War of Ages is a Christian metalcore band formed during the summer of 2002 in Erie, Pennsylvania. They have five music videos: "All Consuming Fire", "Stand Your Ground", "Through the Flames", "Strength Within", and "Collapse". Aaron Harkness aka Aaron Martyr made an appearance in Stand your Ground...
, The Acacia Strain
The Acacia Strain
The Acacia Strain is an American deathcore band from Chicopee, Massachusetts. Originally founded in 2001, the band itself has undergone numerous changes in the member line-up...
, Architects
Architects (British band)
Architects are an English Metalcore band from Brighton, England, formed in 2004. The band went through several name changes before they decided upon Architects. Their first name was Inharmonic, which was swiftly changed to Counting the Days...
, Cancer Bats
Cancer Bats
Cancer Bats are a hardcore punk/sludge metal band from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.-Background:Cancer Bats originated in May 2004 with singer Liam Cormier and guitarist Scott Middleton, former member of Toronto heavy metal band At the Mercy of Inspiration...
and Blessthefall
Blessthefall
Blessthefall is an American metalcore band from Phoenix, Arizona, currently signed to Fearless Records. The band was founded in 2003 by guitarist Mike Frisby, drummer Matt Traynor, and bassist Jared Warth. Their debut album, His Last Walk, with original vocalist Craig Mabbitt, was released April...
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In February 2011, Between the Buried and Me were confirmed to play at the New England Metal & Hardcore Festival on Saturday, April 16 in Worcester, MA. They will be main support for Hatebreed
Hatebreed
- History :Hatebreed was formed in 1994 in Bridgeport, Waterbury and New Haven. They began by recording a three song demo and selling it to locals. Those three songs would eventually be released on a split seven inch with New York's Neglect in 1995...
. In April and May 2011 they will headline a tour featuring Job for a Cowboy, The Ocean
The Ocean Collective
The Ocean is an experimental metal band from Berlin, Germany. Their work combines elements of progressive metal and electronic soundscapes, occasionally incorporating strings to create their aggressive post-metal sound. The band often describes its sound as "ambient soundtrack doomrock".- History...
and on select dates Cephalic Carnage
Cephalic Carnage
Cephalic Carnage is an American grindcore band formed in 1992 in Denver, Colorado. The band comprises vocalist Lenzig Leal, guitarists Steve Goldberg and Brian Hopp, drummer John Merryman and bassist Nick Schendzielos...
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Between the Buried and Me have also announced a headline European tour beginning in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
on 02 Sept 2011 and continuing throughout the mainland and into the UK, ending up in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
on September 30. The tour will be supported by Animals as Leaders
Animals as Leaders
Animals as Leaders is an American, Washington, D.C.–based instrumental progressive metal band, formed by guitarist Tosin Abasi in 2007 which now includes guitarist Javier Reyes and drummer Navene Koperweis. The self-titled debut album was released in April 2009 by Prosthetic Records...
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In July 2011, Between the Buried and Me announced their headlining North American tour, "Saints&Sinners Tour" playing through out November and December with Animals as Leaders
Animals as Leaders
Animals as Leaders is an American, Washington, D.C.–based instrumental progressive metal band, formed by guitarist Tosin Abasi in 2007 which now includes guitarist Javier Reyes and drummer Navene Koperweis. The self-titled debut album was released in April 2009 by Prosthetic Records...
and TesseracT
Tesseract
In geometry, the tesseract, also called an 8-cell or regular octachoron or cubic prism, is the four-dimensional analog of the cube. The tesseract is to the cube as the cube is to the square. Just as the surface of the cube consists of 6 square faces, the hypersurface of the tesseract consists of 8...
. The band created a few medleys just for this tour, and performed songs that they haven't played in years such as Mordecai.
Musical style and influence
Between the Buried and Me's general musical style has been stated by critics to be primarily a blend of metalcoreMetalcore
Metalcore is a subgenre of heavy metal combining various elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk. The name is a portmanteau of the names of the two genres. The term took on its current meaning in the mid-1990s, describing bands such as Earth Crisis, Deadguy and Integrity...
, progressive metal
Progressive metal
Progressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal originating in the United Kingdom and North America in the late 1980s...
and death metal
Death metal
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, minor keys or atonality, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes....
, along with various musical styles: "One minute the band may be playing thrash metal
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
and the next they're flowing into death metal growls and thick guitar riffs... the metal take on things can seemingly change in a flash as lead singer Tommy Rogers flashes out his vocals and utilizes the keyboards to create something that sounds more like it should be on a Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins are an American alternative rock band that formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1988. Formed by Billy Corgan frontman and James Iha , the band has included Jimmy Chamberlin , D'arcy Wretzky , and currently includes Jeff Schroeder Mike Byrne , and Nicole Fiorentino The Smashing...
album". On their cover album, The Anatomy Of
The Anatomy Of
The Anatomy Of is the first cover album by the American progressive metal band Between the Buried and Me. It is the second release to include Dan Briggs, Blake Richardson, and Dustie Waring.-Track listing:-Reception:*Allmusic [ link]*Lambgoat...
, the band pays tribute to many of their diverse influences, including Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
, Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
, King Crimson
King Crimson
King Crimson are a rock band founded in London, England in 1969. Often categorised as a foundational progressive rock group, the band have incorporated diverse influences and instrumentation during their history...
, Soundgarden
Soundgarden
Soundgarden is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington in 1984 by singer Chris Cornell, lead guitarist Kim Thayil, and bassist Hiro Yamamoto...
, Pantera
Pantera
Pantera was an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas. Formed by the Abbott brothers, Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell in 1981, bassist Rex Brown would join in late 1981 with vocalist Terry Glaze. Looking for a new and heavier sound, Pantera had Terry replaced in 1987 with Phil Anselmo as...
, Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
, Earth Crisis
Earth Crisis
Earth Crisis is an American metalcore band from Syracuse, New York, active from 1989 until 2001, reuniting in 2007. Their most recent record, To the Death, was released in May 2009 through Century Media....
, and The Smashing Pumpkins.
Band members
Current- Tommy Giles Rogers – lead vocalsLead vocalistThe lead vocalist is the member of a band who sings the main vocal portions of a song. They may also play one or more instruments. Lead vocalists are sometimes referred to as the frontman or frontwoman, and as such, are usually considered to be the "leader" of the groups they perform in, often the...
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
(2000-present) - Paul WaggonerPaul WaggonerPaul Waggoner is the lead guitarist of the American heavy metal band, Between the Buried and Me from North Carolina. Being an avid fan of progressive rock, he is heavily influenced by John Petrucci, Pat Metheny, Allan Holdsworth and Steve Vai. He formerly played guitar in the metalcore band, Prayer...
– lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
, backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
(2000-present) - Dan BriggsDan Briggs (musician)Dan Briggs is a musician from Erie, PA, best known for playing bass guitar for the American progressive metalcore band Between the Buried and Me.He also plays guitar in the band Orbs. He is vegan...
– bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, backing vocals (2004–present) - Blake RichardsonBlake RichardsonCartland Blake Richardson is the drummer for the American heavy metal band, Between the Buried and Me as well as the drummer for the deathcore band Glass Casket with fellow member of Between the Buried and Me, Dustie Waring...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(2004–present) - Dustie Waring – rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
(2004–present)
Former
- Shane Blay – rhythm guitar (2004)
- Mark Edward Castillo – drums (2003)
- Kevin FalkKevin FalkKevin Falk is an American musician. He has played the bass guitar for Between The Buried And Me during their Silent Circus album cycle. He has also played with Every Time I Die, writing and recording the album Gutter Phenomenon including the tracks "The New Black" and "Apocalypse Now and Then"...
– bass guitar (2004) - Nicholas Shawn Fletcher – rhythm guitar (2000–2003)
- Will Goodyear – drums, clean vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
(2000–2003) - Jason Schofield King – bass guitar (2000–2003)
- Jason Roe – drums (2004)
Discography
Studio albums- Between the Buried and MeBetween the Buried and Me (album)Between the Buried and Me is the debut album by American heavy metal band Between the Buried and Me. The songs on the album demonstrate numerous concepts--one of which, the song "Arsonist", was written about their strong feelings towards Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas, which has become...
(2002, LifeforceLifeforce RecordsLifeforce Records is a German record label that specializes in metalcore, death metal, and post-hardcore. Their current roster contains bands such as Burning Skies, This or the Apocalypse, Light Pupil Dilate and Nightrage, and they have helped to launch the careers of a number bands who went on to...
) - The Silent CircusThe Silent CircusThe Silent Circus is the second album by American heavy metal band Between the Buried and Me. Released October 21, 2003 through Victory Records...
(2003, VictoryVictory RecordsVictory Records is a Chicago-based record label founded by Tony Brummel. It is a privately held corporation. It also operates a music publishing company called "Another Victory, Inc." and is the distributor of several smaller independent record labels....
) - Alaska (2005, Victory)
- ColorsColors (Between the Buried and Me album)Colors is the fourth album by American heavy metal band Between the Buried and Me, released on September 18, 2007 through Victory Records. The group brought out many different influences within the structure of the songs featured on the album....
(2007, Victory) - The Great MisdirectThe Great Misdirect-Personnel:Between the Buried and Me*Tommy Giles Rogers – vocals, keyboards*Paul Waggoner – lead guitar, vocals on "Desert of Song"*Dan Briggs – bass*Dustie Waring – rhythm guitar*Blake Richardson – drums, percussionGuest musicians...
(2009, Victory)
Other projects
- Tommy Giles Rogers has an electronicaElectronicaElectronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
side project named Giles. A music video for the song "Slumber Party" is featured on the DVD that is included on the re-release for Between the Buried and Me's second album The Silent CircusThe Silent CircusThe Silent Circus is the second album by American heavy metal band Between the Buried and Me. Released October 21, 2003 through Victory Records...
. Rogers also released a solo album on February 1, 2011, entitled PulsePulse (Thomas Giles album)Pulse is the debut studio album by the American solo artist Thomas Giles — the pseudonym for vocalist and keyboardist Tommy Giles Rogers, Jr. of the progressive metal band Between the Buried and Me. The album was released on February 1, 2011 through Metal Blade Records...
. The album is credited under the name Thomas Giles. - Dustie Waring and Blake Richardson are members of the deathcoreDeathcoreDeathcore is an extreme metal music genre that combines elements of death metal with elements of metalcore or hardcore punk, or both. It is defined by an "excessive" use of death metal riffs, blast beats and use of hardcore punk breakdowns...
band Glass CasketGlass CasketGlass Casket is a deathcore band from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. They were originally called Gadrel when they released their first demo To Cherish A Falsity. The band formed after several members previous band Narayan broke up. Dustie Waring and Blake Richardson are also currently members of...
. - Rogers and Jacob Troth run a clothing line named Jacob Rogers.
- Dan Briggs and members of Fear BeforeFear BeforeFear Before is an experimental rock band that resides in Aurora, Colorado. As stated on their Alternative Press podcast, their name originates from a Denver Post newspaper headline of local forest fires titled "The Fear Before The March of Flames." They released their debut album Odd How People...
and Abigail WilliamsAbigail Williams (band)Abigail Williams is an American metal band, originally from Phoenix, Arizona, but now based in Los Angeles. Formed in 2004, the group would suffer constant changes to their line-up...
are members of an experimental supergroupSupergroup (music)In the late 1960s, the term supergroup was coined to describe "a rock music group whose performers are already famous from having performed individually or in other groups"....
named OrbsOrbs (band)Orbs is an American band consisting of Dan Briggs of Between the Buried and Me, Adam Fisher and Clayton Holyoak of Fear Before the March of Flames, Ashley Ellyllon, formerly of Abigail Williams and now of Cradle of Filth, and Chuck Johnson of Torch Runner....
. - Will Goodyear is now the drumline instructor for the East Carolina University Marching Pirates.
- Shane Blay is now in the Christian metalcore band Oh, SleeperOh, SleeperOh, Sleeper is an American metalcore band from Fort Worth, Texas and is signed to Solid State Records. They have recorded three full-length albums to date, the most recent being their third album Children of Fire, released on September 6, 2011....
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