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Between the Buried and Me

The Anatomy Of
2006
Victory

Between the Buried and Me - The Anatomy Of (Cover Artwork)

Review by: MedicineWheel
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Published on June 23rd 2006

Let me start this review by saying that yes, I am a huge fan of this band, and therefore many of you will probably not agree with half the things I have to say. Nevertheless, Between the Buried and Me are an extremely talented group of individuals, and no one should be able to deny that. The band's fourth official outing, The Anatomy Of finds BTBAM covering the bands that have had the most influence on their music. While most bands that feature screaming or growling vocals tend to ruin classic songs by doing just that, BTBAM shows much restraint here, screaming when it works, and toning down the parts that should be softer. It's extremely effective, and certainly makes the future of cover songs look much brighter.

The album leads off with Metallica's "Blackened." After nailing the intro perfectly, the song kicks into high gear with chugging guitar riffs matching the original's note for note, and growling vocals that only add to the natural urge to headbang. When I first heard that this song was on the album, I knew it was a great choice, just based on the badass guitar solo. Needless to say, the band exceeds all expectations. The super-harmonized solo is so good, I almost like this version better.

Next comes a cover of Mötley Crüe's "Kickstart My Heart." Not being a huge MC fan, I wasn't expecting much, but not only is it bearable, it makes me want to give the Crüe another listen. The singing here fits perfectly. Just hearing the difference and variety in the vocals from one song to the next is mindblowing.

A cover of Soundgarden's "The Day I Tried to Live" brings me back to the nineties for a second, and then kicks my ass with a screaming chorus. I swear, if Tommy Rogers wasn't a singer, he'd be an impressionist. Chris Cornell would be proud.

After the flashback, we're treated to the best song on the album, a cover of Queen's "Bicycle Race." Now, I know what you're thinking, but seriously, give it a listen. You'll be surprised. No, Tommy is no Freddie, but damn, he can sing, and damn, he can sing like Freddie. Enough said. Kudos to the backing vocalists by the way.

King Crimson's "Three of a Perfect Pair" is expertly copied to the point where you almost forget which version you're listening to. Some people would criticize, but I'd rather hear the same song by different people than a shitty pop version or something.

Pink Floyd's "Us and Them" is up next, and...wow. Covers don't get any better than this. The band is honestly as talented as the `70s legends, and they prove they've got chops here, with an emotional, surreal, and beautiful rendition of a true classic, saxophone included. The choruses are filled with hard-hitting vocals, harmonized distortion, and what sounds like (but I'm not sure) incredibly fast double-bass. The solos are perfect. Everything about the song is astounding. I swear I've heard new things every time I listen to it.

I never really liked "Geek USA" by Smashing Pumpkins, but listening to this song is like listening to Billy and Co. on steroids. When I said "impressionist" earlier, I wasn't kidding. Tommy's Corgan is dead on. It comes off as a great hard rock / metal song and takes one of the top spots on the disc.

As much as I love Earth Crisis, BTBAM's cover of "Forced March" blows the old version out of the water. I can't explain it, but the song sounds even more complete, even more of a whole, and just simply better.

When that's over, a splendid cover of Sepultura's "Territory" kicks the listener's ass, with its crunching guitars, blistering drum work, and a gutteral growl any singer would appreciate. If you like the old version, you're bound to like this one, so I expect to see all you Sepultura fans in line with this at the record store.

Just when you thought you'd heard it all from this band, "Change," originally by Blind Melon (I would have preferred "No Rain," but this works), is gracefully and beautifully presented for your enjoyment. And enjoy it you should, because there's almost nothing better than listening to this song, under the influence of something fun, while watching the sun come up, from your broken down Cadillac, while smoking a cigarette. Seriously.

As for Faith No More's "Malpractice," I guarantee you Mike Patton is sitting somewhere rocking out to this moody rendition.

I've never understood Depeche Mode, but I can tell you that the band's cover of "Little 15" sounds a lot like them. I don't care much for it, but that doesn't stop me from appreciating the work and musicianship that went into it. They like them, and that's their thing. Fans of the original will like theirs too.

On a more disappointing note, "Cemetary Gates" sounds nowhere near as good as Pantera's original. Perhaps it's the acoustic-sounding guitars for the intro. Perhaps it's the fact that the vocals need to be turned waaaay up. Perhaps it's just that Tommy apparently refused to try and hit the high notes at the end, even though it's obvious from the rest of the disc that he's capable of it. However, the song works for the most part, with most of the guitar work matching that of the original, and at times exceeding it. It's a shame that they couldn't nail the rest of it, because it's the one song I was looking the most forward to.

That track is officially the last of the album, but a hidden song turns out to be the band's terrific cover of "Colorblind" by Counting Crows (apparently, the band's biggest influence).

One of the better cover albums to come out in awhile, The Anatomy Of may take some getting used to if you're not a fan of Between the Buried and Me or the original artists. However, if you even like one of the originals, I strongly advise that you sit down and hear it off this disc. Aside from the big let-down on the final track, this is an amazing effort from one of the scene's best newer bands. I'll leave you now with nine words. I would kill to see this album performed live. Perhaps "Cemetary Gates" would turn out better. Shit, that was more than nine.

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Posted by AarniJoakim on 2007-04-14 17:11:55

I found the album pretty boring. I cannot understand why this album had to be produced this way. The guitars, drums and vocals did sound flat and lacking to my ears.
While listening to this cd I also noticed that the playing really was devoid of emotion and any real feeling.

Posted by sierra on 2006-10-29 11:16:25

what happened from the silent circus to this cd?....i miss the old btbam

Posted by milsedyouth_50 on 2006-07-09 18:20:28
My Score:

i thought this album was THE SHIT! i thought they sounded awesome in all the songs..its actually better if you havent heard the originals...it'll offer an hour and 10 minutes of great music to you..i really like 'the day i tried to live' great song and im sure all the artists that they remade the songs from would be happy to hear them remade.

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, July 3, 2006 at 4:43 PM (EDT)

love btbam

Posted by Angel_Dust on 2006-06-30 20:59:20
My Score:

Metalcore bands covering - or shall I say, butchering - classic songs are as common as chlamydia. Atreyu's covered Bon Jovi, Evergreen Terrace has an entire album of covers, and countless bands have "payed tribute" to Dimebag Darrel by playing "Walk", to which I'm sure he's rolling over in his grave now. Obviously, I'm not a huge fan of covers, but there are a few bands that I think are more than capable of pulling off succesful covers. With more talent than most bands out there right now, Between the Buried and Me is one of them. Even still, I was skeptical of this album. But man, this is one fun album.

Every song is played very faithfully to the original with very few risks taken (aside from most of them being downtuned), and Tommy Rogers proves to be a pretty versitle vocalist (the next Mike Patton? maybe not...). I mean, they actually got me to like a Motley Crue song!! Metallica's classic "Blackened" is played to pure, metal perfection - I even have some friends that say they like it better than the original! King Crimson and Pink Floyd are covered with prog precision, with "Us and Them" in particular played so faithful to the original it's scary. And yes, they cover a Pantera song - but it's not walk! The vocals on "Cemetary Gates" are a little bit off, but musically it's one probably the best Pantera cover I've heard.

There are a few missteps: the vocals on Blind Melon's excellent "Change" are not very good (then again, no one will ever sound like Shannon Hoon), and ironically enough, the two worst songs on here are of hardcore bands Sepultura and Earth Crisis.

My favorite tracks are "Kickstart My Heart", "Geek U.S.A" (the dropped-tuning makes it sound super heavy, and Roger's pulls off Corgan's nasally deliver quite well), and the Faith No More cover of "Malpractice" (this band could possible become the next FNM). Now, I can't rate the album any higher because none of this material is their own, but this is one of the most fun records so far this year. It also proves that they don't take themselves to seriously, which many people have accused them of. This is great lip-service to their influences, and as close to perfect as an album of covers can be.

Posted by coldwaffles on 2006-06-27 21:40:46
My Score:

i bought this album today, and its not bad at all, but not worth this rant. I'd give it a 8, but not suck it off like this.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, June 27, 2006 at 4:10 AM (EDT)

nor, lagwagon are shit

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, June 26, 2006 at 10:31 AM (EDT)

this album was lackluster at best and that's coming from a BTBAM fan
the nice thing about covers is that the band usually puts thier own spin on another bands song
BTBAM just played the songs cord for cord note for note
which is really boring
if i want to hear cemetary gates as it was recorded i'd go listen to a pantera album

Posted by GreenVandal on 2006-06-26 00:23:45
My Score:

I like how Crazy Toledo just pointed out that this review was a little too fan-boyish for him. Soak that in.

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, June 25, 2006 at 10:45 PM (EDT)

"No, Tommy is no Freddie, but damn, he can sing, and damn, he can sing like Freddie."

Did this idiot really compare the singer's voice to Freddie Mercury's? I don't care whether they covered the song or not, NO ONE sings like Freddie Mercury.

He compared Tommy to Freddie when he was talking about the cover of the song Freddie originally sang.

Read the review. Not the Comments.

CrazyToledo is officially a cockbag.

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, June 25, 2006 at 7:16 PM (EDT)

Alaska and BTBAM are the shit

Posted by Defeated on 2006-06-25 15:34:04

Acutally I Believe There Was On (A Cover Album) On Eulogy Thanks To Evergreen Terrace

Posted by benz on 2006-06-25 15:04:27

Where can I hear this without paying for it? Just release an internet only free cover album next time, dudes.

Posted by Dante3000 on 2006-06-25 13:52:30

Uh, sorry kids, your attempts at jokes to tear this band down are horribly cliche and far from funny. But I enjoy the thought and the effort, at least you're being constructive with your life. Not everyone can make a song about pizza and be considered mind blowing, sorry.
Oh, and BTBAM strikes back. BOO-Yah!
-Dante

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, June 25, 2006 at 1:12 PM (EDT)

a cover album? only on victory..

Posted by HeresLookinAtYou on 2006-06-25 03:48:31
My Score:

it's fanboyish but it's really well written. cant deny that.

score is for the review - I have yet to hear the album, but I did get to listen to the Sepultra cover live

Posted by Marlon on 2006-06-24 18:51:04

What do you have against Hank Jones?

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, June 24, 2006 at 5:56 PM (EDT)

Posted by crazytoledo on 2006-06-24 16:38:50

Considering it's his first review here and his user name is a song by the band he reviewed, I knew it was going to be fan boy-ish before I even read the review.

Posted by chipsahoycookie on 2006-06-24 15:34:46
My Score:

weaksauce

Posted by coldwaffles on 2006-06-24 14:46:56

I usually hate metalcore, but these guys are pretty good.

That said, this review comes off as medicinewheel giving BTBAM a blow job.

Posted by eleanora on 2006-06-24 12:02:12

Yup, it's an album of covers. But I'm going to move past that point. BTBAM does some incredible work on this cd, and while it isn't perfect, I definitely enjoyed it. Now I'm going to go to Breakdowns and Backflips fest...see you kids there.

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, June 24, 2006 at 10:04 AM (EDT)

"I wish I could do some of the shit these guys do musicially!!"

You Can! - Here is some instructions:

Step 1. Drop your BC Rich guitars down to D tuning
Step 2. Play shitty open chord riffs
Step 3. Pay $1,000,000 for a team of 35 studio techs to produce the most compressed, wall of shit drum sounds ever
Step 4. Pay $2,500,000 to hire Slipknot's producer tp get the shittiest, most compressed screamy vocals ever, even though your singer has to deep-throat the mic and use all kinds of effects to reproduce it live.
Step 5. Put in some clean, quiet parts with minor chords to show off your 'versatility'
Step 6. Make sure all of your CDs have the most digital, inorganic sounds possible to the point where HAL from 2001 would get a headache from listening to your shit
Step 7. Pretend that you and your band weren't cumming in your drawers over the Cure about 2 years ago. Swear that you "don't even know who the Get Up Kids are".

There you go.

HAHAHAHAHA

Someone give this man a medal.

Best thing I've read all day.

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, June 24, 2006 at 3:48 AM (EDT)
My Score:

smashing pumpkins?
Blind Melon?
Metallica?
Another metal mtv asshole Band...man the men from victory should put down their raybeez sticker,if they choose to sell this mtv metal shit

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, June 24, 2006 at 3:31 AM (EDT)
My Score:

Most overrated band of the past year covering some of the most overrated bands of the past 30 years.

Posted by brixtongunman on 2006-06-24 00:29:36

This band has a lot of talent as muscians and no talent as song writers.

great riffs don't do you any good if you don't know how to use them.

Posted by dazed on 2006-06-23 21:43:29

This band never sounded like they were playing songs, I had to see them live one time and while it's nice both guitarists and the (5-string woodtone playing) bassist can play the exact same tuneless parts that rarely repeat a riff I'd hardly consider it listenable if it didn't have shitty "ambient" parts. This is probably this band's high point, playing other people's songs, but I wouldn't particularly want to hear it. There are worse metalcore bands out there but it's all eminently avoidable.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, June 23, 2006 at 8:56 PM (EDT)

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, June 23, 2006 at 8:46 PM (EDT)

Jesus fucking christ. Here is the problem with this metalcore shit: when they do a cover record, they cover PINK FUCKING FLOYD AND BLIND MELON. This is why all these nu-metal/core bands are hereby purged from ever associating themselves with the term "Hardcore". A real fucking hardcore band would cover poison idea, riistetyt, negative approach, fucking olho seco or someone like that. Not blind melon. Not the goddamn Smashing Pumpkins. No wonder everytime I meet some "totally into hardcore" person at a show and start talking about records, they have no fucking clue.

-Ken (yes I'm an elitist asshole, but I'm fucking right and you know it.)

Posted by GreenVandal on 2006-06-23 19:51:14
My Score:

hahahaha, this is fucking ridiculous! Why dont you fucking metalcore assholes go start your own website and stop trying to tell us all about these "great bands" that actually admit they are influenced by Motley Crue! Every week someone posts a 10 or an 8 for another mediocre metal album that doesnt even deserve more then a 5 and then everyone makes fun of it (save for Crazytoledo and other various idiots who are usually anonymous).

Posted by Scruffy on 2006-06-23 19:39:30

WHich new Cursive? The single that doesn't come out until July, or the album that doesn't come out until August? Things don't go up until their release dates.
And if you reviewed the b-sides album, there's already a review and it came out a while ago. They're notr putting up older reviews as often anymore. I know I've got a Farside one sitting in the wings.

Posted by steveman on 2006-06-23 19:09:44

All of these songs (the originals) should be on Guitar Hero 2.

And my review for the new Cursive album should be on punknews already.

Posted by steveman on 2006-06-23 19:08:21

This is a pretty entertaining cd. I find the Metallica cover to be the weakest. I actually like the Pantera one quite a bit.

And yes the Queen cover kicks ass.

It's decent for a cover album. Not as amazing as fanboys want you to think.

Posted by wadeboggs on 2006-06-23 18:17:36
My Score:

Best Heavy Cover record ever!!

Fucking amazing!!

I wish I could do some of the shit these guys do musicially!!

Posted by Scruffy on 2006-06-23 18:02:13

And, for the peanut gallery, both parts of the previous comment were to different people.

Posted by Scruffy on 2006-06-23 18:01:47

"that statement there sums up this website to a tee."
No, it doesn't. At all. That's his opinion, and it's probably not a popular one. Stop trying to sound like the bitter, smarter kid, because you just sound like a douchebag.

Will, you're retarded. There, that makes three times.

Posted by medicinewheel on 2006-06-23 17:45:34
My Score:

Fuckin'eh. I was high when I wrote this review. Haha, everyone is right, waaay too fanboy. I'll admit, I do love the band, and the album, and I would still give it 8 stars, but wow, this review sucked. I'll try better next time. Haha.

Posted by crazytoledo on 2006-06-23 16:24:16

Did this idiot really compare the singer's voice to Freddie Mercury's? I don't care whether they covered the song or not, NO ONE sings like Freddie Mercury.

He compared Tommy to Freddie when he was talking about the cover of the song Freddie originally sang.

Read the review. Not the Comments.

Posted by Dante3000 on 2006-06-23 16:00:49

It's no Giles, that's for sure.
-Dante

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, June 23, 2006 at 3:42 PM (EDT)

Did this idiot really compare the singer's voice to Freddie Mercury's? I don't care whether they covered the song or not, NO ONE sings like Freddie Mercury.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, June 23, 2006 at 2:23 PM (EDT)

"No, Tommy is no Freddie, but damn, he can sing, and damn, he can sing like Freddie."

No he can't.

Posted by mcgregor107 on 2006-06-23 14:07:38

"You're obviously gayer than Jay Mariotti"

hahahahh.. that guy is such a douche.. i hated him whilst guest staring on any PTI episode and i hate him even more right now..

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, June 23, 2006 at 12:51 PM (EDT)

this review must have been tough to type with one hand, since the other one was clearly being used to jerk himself off. fanboy reviews are the new pink, which was the new black. just. plain. gay.

-the pink taco

Posted by skolarx on 2006-06-23 11:07:52
My Score:

i agree on most of the review. everything was really spot on, and my only real complaint was they didn't take any chances, just played the songs straight on. also something isn't quite right on the cemetary gates cover, haven't been able to put my finger on it though, might be the vocals. the song that blew me away was the queen cover, who knew btbam could actually sing

Posted by WilliamMarinovic on 2006-06-23 11:05:32

Well, despite the "retardedness" of my comment, Toledo (weird, second time in a week I've been called that on these boards- don't know which is dumber, this or "gay"), it says something about a band when Motley Crue and Counting Crows are some of their biggest influences (among other bands that would make me imagine that they are middle school aged stoners hiding in mom's basement). Seriously, butt rock is not good or cool. I can't relate at all to where you're coming from because when I first got into punk, I liked it because it was the opposite of all of that.

Posted by sirens on 2006-06-23 09:52:47

these assholes should never have touched Blackened. The nerve of some people.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, June 23, 2006 at 9:01 AM (EDT)

between the buried and the me makes you want to re-listen to motley crue? that statement there sums up this website to a tee.
-TOBB

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, June 23, 2006 at 3:37 AM (EDT)

That review does not make me want to listen to this at all. Way too fanboy. It just makes everything too unbelievable.

...evildeadalive

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, June 23, 2006 at 3:18 AM (EDT)

man, this review is horrid. its like asking a mom to talk about how good her son is at tee-ball.

Posted by crazytoledo on 2006-06-23 03:12:20

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, June 23, 2006 at 2:57 AM (EDT)

You're obviously gayer than Jay Mariotti.

Woody Paige made my day on Around the Horn talking about the issue.

Woody said 'I have no problem with homosexuals, I go to WNBA games'

Priceless.

Posted by theOneTrueBill on 2006-06-23 03:06:51

Forgot to log in Ozzie. And Mariotti is a piece of shit. I honestly do hate that man's guts. I feel like it's my duty as a White Sox fan and a Tribune reader to get that out there.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, June 23, 2006 at 2:57 AM (EDT)

You're obviously gayer than Jay Mariotti.

Posted by theOneTrueBill on 2006-06-23 02:54:18

"Between the Buried and Me sucked just about as much as I expected them to. They had some tolerable parts, like when there wasn't double bass drums and the guy wasn't singing, but this being a shitty metalcore band, it eliminated 95% of their time on stage."

That sums up how I feel about this band.

Posted by JLJL on 2006-06-23 02:49:59

What shitty influences. Motley crue? what a fucking joke. There's not one band i care for on that list.

Posted by crazytoledo on 2006-06-23 02:08:11

Posted by williammarinovic on 2006-06-23 01:57:03

Eek. It's hard for me to hate a band when I just feel sorry for them for having such shitty influences. It's like they never had a chance!

Wow, you know that's a pretty retarded statement. How can you honestly look at the 14 bands they cover and say they all suck? A lot of these bands, even if you don't care for them, are extremely talented.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, June 23, 2006 at 2:02 AM (EDT)
My Score:

I was a little dissapointed, because I'm a big fan of this band and I didn't think it was as good as I wanted and believed it would be. But I did enjoy the Queen song and a couple others. I thought "Blackened" was the best. And I was really looking forward to "Cemetary Gates" more than any song, and it severely underwhelmed me.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, June 23, 2006 at 2:01 AM (EDT)

Cover albums are usually pretty painful, but these guys are exceptional musicians and turn in some pretty solid stuff.

Posted by williammarinovic on 2006-06-23 01:57:03

Eek. It's hard for me to hate a band when I just feel sorry for them for having such shitty influences. It's like they never had a chance!

Posted by crazytoledo on 2006-06-23 01:41:14
My Score:

Medicine Wheel... Thats a song from 'Alaska'

And I love this CD.It's really good.

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