The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues
Encyclopedia
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. The entire EP was made available for streaming two weeks before its release on March 31, 2011.
The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues is the first release in a two-part conceptual album
suite. The second half will be a full-length album to be released in the near future. Between the Buried and Me made the conscious decision to precede a studio album with an extended play
for several reasons. In addition to being part of a concept album series, frontman Tommy Giles Rogers also listed wanting to keep the group's name "out there" and seeking new material to perform at concerts in an interview with MetalSucks.
In support of the release, Between the Buried and Me toured North America with Job for a Cowboy
, The Ocean and Cephalic Carnage
during April through May 2011. During this tour, the group performed the entire EP, along with several tracks from previous albums, live at all concert dates.
noted that, "there's nothing at all new[that Between the Buried and Me is] doing here, but what matters most is just how fresh they can make this new material sound, predictable as it all may feel."
On the negative end, Lymangrover noted that the EP was somewhat "exhausting" and that "an intermission to break up this prog-metal opera feels necessary." Jeff Treppel of Decibel said that the concept of the EP was difficult to follow, commenting that "if they want you to care about what's going on, they fail."
chart at number 54. On other Billboard charts
, the album ranked at number 16 on Rock Albums, number 8 on Independent Albums
, number 5 on Hard Rock Albums and number 13 on Tastemaker albums.
Between the Buried and Me
Production
Artwork
Between the Buried and Me
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...
. It was released on April 12, 2011 and was the group's first release through 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...
after leaving 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....
in 2010. The entire EP was made available for streaming two weeks before its release on March 31, 2011.
The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues is the first release in a two-part conceptual album
Concept album
In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
suite. The second half will be a full-length album to be released in the near future. Between the Buried and Me made the conscious decision to precede a studio album with an extended play
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...
for several reasons. In addition to being part of a concept album series, frontman Tommy Giles Rogers also listed wanting to keep the group's name "out there" and seeking new material to perform at concerts in an interview with MetalSucks.
In support of the release, Between the Buried and Me toured North America 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...
, The Ocean and 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...
during April through May 2011. During this tour, the group performed the entire EP, along with several tracks from previous albums, live at all concert dates.
Critical reception
The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues received generally favorable reviews. Jason Lymangrover of Allmusic praised David Bottrill's production stating that it "is perfectly suited, and only enhances the band's ever-intensifying talents," and that the EP itself is "a short one, but even with a 30-minute running time, the EP cobbles together enough intricate twists and turns that it feels massive, and each of the three songs is an epic journey in precision." Adrien Begrand of PopMattersPopMatters
PopMatters is an international webzine of cultural criticism that covers many aspects of popular culture. PopMatters publishes reviews, interviews, and detailed essays on most cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, films, books, video games, comics, sports, theater,...
noted that, "there's nothing at all new
On the negative end, Lymangrover noted that the EP was somewhat "exhausting" and that "an intermission to break up this prog-metal opera feels necessary." Jeff Treppel of Decibel said that the concept of the EP was difficult to follow, commenting that "if they want you to care about what's going on, they fail."
Charts and sales
In its first week of release, The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues sold around 10,000 units and debuted on the US Billboard 200Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
chart at number 54. On other Billboard charts
Billboard charts
The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...
, the album ranked at number 16 on Rock Albums, number 8 on Independent Albums
Independent Albums
The Billboard Independent Albums is a chart of the highest-selling independent music albums and extended plays in the United States, compiled by Nielsen SoundScan and published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is used to list artists who are not signed to major labels...
, number 5 on Hard Rock Albums and number 13 on Tastemaker albums.
Track listing
All music written by Between the Buried and Me, all lyrics written by Tommy Rogers.- "Specular Reflection" – 11:21
- "Augment of Rebirth" – 10:19
- "Lunar Wilderness" – 8:22
Personnel
The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues as adapted from the CD liner notes.Between the Buried and Me
- 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.... - 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 ....
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration... - Tommy Giles Rogers – 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...
, 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... - 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...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s - Dustie Waring – guitars
Production
- David BottrillDavid BottrillDavid Bottrill is a Canadian record producer. He has won three Grammys. Currently, he owns Rattlebox Studios in Toronto, Ontario with producer Brian Moncarz...
– engineering, production - Jamie King – mixing, mastering, additional production
- Between the Buried and Me – production
Artwork
- Sons of NeroSons of NeroSons of Nero is a graphic design group that was formed in 2000 by Matthew "Portland" Hay of the metalcore group Nora. It consists of four artists who primarily design artwork and packaging for bands and musical ensembles, but also design t-shirts and websites...
– artwork, layout