photo credit: weworemasks

North Carolina’s Between the Buried and Me are one of the more decorated metal bands of this generation. With six albums, an EP and a covers album, the band has managed to build up quite a following throughout the states. So much, that they were able to run a full US tour playing only their newest, most ambitious and longest album to date, The Parallax II: Future Sequence.

Along for the ride were LA’s The Faceless, The Safety Fire and The Contortionist, the latter of which were of the most piqued interest headed into the show. Hit the jump for the recap.

-grizzly


photo credit: weworemasks

The Safety Fire got things underway quickly, and the direct support, The Faceless had quite a following, but of all the support acts, I’m sure that fans would be running away with The Contortionist. The Indiana quintet was definitely among kindred spirits after being added to this tour, with their math-inspired, noodle-heavy brand of metal that ran their 2012 album, Intrinsic.

The biggest blunder of the night was only allowing these guys 25 minutes and four songs to really strut their stuff, because they came out with plenty of elusive energy and the technical prowess that would impress this tour’s headliner. They blazed through performances of “Holomovement” and “Anatomy Anamolies.” Their more ambient parts went over well with me especially, providing a much needed repreive from the night’s metallic festivities.

photo credit: weworemasks

I’ll admit, I had my doubts about seeing a BTBAM set consisting of only their new album. Despite it being one of my favorite releases of their’s, it was a bit strange that an album only 11 months old was getting the “10th anniversary treatment,” but I went in with an open mind. These guys did not disappoint. From the opening singalong in “Goodbye to Everything,” BTBAM, along with their astrology-inspired visuals and lighting, took us on a journey as they flowed seamlessly through the uplifting “Astral Body,” and “Extremophile Elite.”

While the House of Blues in Houston has definitely seen bigger crowds, what was actually in attendance were diehard BTBAM’ers. Spotted were several NASA-inspired, full body jumpsuits, donned with the band’s logo. Fans sung along to every part, including the parts so heavy that it’s hardly audible. It mattered not. Tommy Rogers commands the stage with plenty of tenacity, and guitarist Paul Waggoner is a must-watch for any fan of a technical metal guitar player. All of the members were experts of their craft, never slowing down, making a mistake or even breaking a sweat. Fans of heavy music need not miss this tour. You’ll be doing yourself and the concept of musicianship a huge disservice.

photo credit: weworemasks

[SETLIST]

The Contortionist

Holomovement
Geocentric Confusion
Anatomy Anomalies
Cortical

Between the Buried and Me

The Parallax: Future Sequence (in its entirety)
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White Walls