Coma music for guitar dweebs

This is one part Pink Floyd, one part Dream Theater & one part death metal but all these allusions do not paint the proper picture of what BTBAM is all about. I'm saying this because 2012's The Parallax II is one of heavy music's best release by a contemporary metal band whose critics deemed them as 'death core' (like that means much in terms of definition) but this release contains elements of departure. The heaviness served by Coma Ecliptic remains essential because we couldn't have anything else here to supplement intense drumming & death growls. However, the guitars veered into psychedelia every now & then which makes the journey a little more exciting. Team W (Waggoner/ Warring) have chosen to peg their guitar's heavy elements in tandem with what prog does, even the technicalities reek of Steve Morse & John Petrucci more than anything else but we know what these guys could offer collectively so the band's identity isn't lying in the shadows of some other established acts. Coming back to death metal- the overall concept of this albums simply questions the relevance of those bit-part death growls which aren't essential, I'd dare say. However, the band had embraced this vocal style for some time & they understandably wouldn't want to leave it out entirely. A good metal album & it's threatening to be uniquely beyond compare but let's see what the rest of 2015 has to offer.

Ibanez: Paul Wagonner signature

This one might not debut here at all (currently a regional exclusive) but it's worth noting. Paul Wagonner is (one of ) the guitarist of Between the Buried & Me & this here is his signature Ibanez PWM100. Instead of a mahogany body, this one sports an ash & the bridge there is a Lo-Pro Edge unit. Mr. Wagonner also opted for a pair of Mojotone humbucker. The instrument is as simple as it gets but it's a worthy work horse. It's good to see an Ibanez with the traditional 'Ibanez' decal on the headstock & not some label propelling a perceived premium or prestige status.

Enslaved The Buried

2 more CDs from Inokii:

• Enslaved- Riitiir Enslaved is a great band. More importantly, they have grown to become better. The music is a little richer with their subsequent releases, notably the incorporation of progressive elements while retaining their roots. This is one of the those bands I listen to for that feel good factor- because these chaps stick to their genre while showing the world they profess at what they are doing. Too many outfits of this ilk get away with noise as if noise is the pre-requisite for getting you somewhere in terms of music reverance. I like the guitars in this one as well, less fuzzy.
• Between the Buried & Me: The Parallax II Before this album, I didn't bother with the band- I saw their stuff on the net; they are good but they are nothing special (these chaps performed here not too long ago). Until this one, of course. I actually took time to re-listen to selected tracks, noted some of the minor inclusions which really defined this release; it's a classic case of the insignificant inclusions defining brilliance. It's disrespectful to associate a band's capacity to another because it implies incapacity but I tell you what I hear in this release- the twisted genius of Arcturus peppered all over the songs, a very heavy Dream Theater plying the jist of it all & that Nachtmystium Assassin beeps, pops & tweets which boils down to Pink Floyd's psychedelia application- thoroughly enjoyable. Respect!