BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME
VENUE the electric factory, philadelphia DATE 31/03/2018 SUPPORT leprous, the dear hunter
North Carolina quintet Between The Buried And Me have been leading the progressive metal scene for over a decade, with their latest record, Automata I, reinforcing their mastery of melding crushing sophistication and soaring catchiness. It’s no surprise, then, that this headline show explodes with all of the lustrous savagery fans expect.
They’re preceded by two equally remarkable acts. Up first are Norwegians Leprous, who begin with a bittersweet lone cello recital before fully delving into their entrancingly thunderous arsenal. Naturally, they prioritise tracks from 2017’s Malina, faultlessly pulling off Bonneville and From The Flame, among others, before closing with Mirage. In between, they do justice to the rhythmic hypnosis of The Price and guttural atmospheres of The Flood, both from 2015’s The Congregation.
American folk/orchestral/progressive rock group The Dear Hunter are up next, clearly relishing the opportunity to present some dynamic and invigorating material. Specifically, their penultimate performance of Witness Me is headed by livelier nods to nearly every album. The combination of The Old Haunt and The March is a highlight, while other
standouts, such as Mustard Gas, The revival and the sublime finale The Moon/Awake, demonstrate why they’re one of the best bands around.
BTBAM kick things off with selections from Automata I, including Condemned To The Gallows, Millions and the two‑ part powerhouse of Gold Distance and Blot. In between, they pay respect to their prior masterworks, with stunning renditions of The Coma Machine, Dim Ignition, Astral Body, Lay Your Ghosts To rest and even a section of Obfuscation. Their greatest epic — Silent Flight Parliament/Goodbye To everything (reprise) — is the perfect encore.
BTBAM always dominate in a live setting, and they certainly deliver here. Aided by two exceptional opening ensembles, they provide an astounding array of devilish yet serene progressive metal majesty that further enhances their reputation as a supreme modern act in the genre. Let’s hope they offer a comparably stellar line‑up when it’s time to tour Automata II later this year.