So it turns out I like metal. My musical taste has been slowly growing in the direction of harder music. There has always been a place in my heart for harder music, but it was often suppressed for some reason. Since I didn't have a reason I decided to open my mind and explore the harder side of things. It started with The Used and Story of the Year. I liked the combination of screaming and catchy pop rock music that I was used to. Then I started playing music with Tim, Kiko, and Dan in a hardcore band. At the time I just really wanted to play music no matter what it was. Soon I acquired a respect and growing interest for hardcore music. It went beyond just screaming set to catchy and simple music. Within the genre of hardcore and metal there is so much room for creativity and experimenting. I recently purchased a CD by a band named Between the Buried and Me and it is a perfect example of this. The CD is called Colors, contains eight tracks, and is just over an hour long. Each song flows right into the next in an amazing way so it feels like one long performance which embarks on an epic adventure of intricate instrument work, crazy time changes, and rolling hills of intense growls and soothing tunes. The first track starts off nice and easy with piano and verby vocals. Soon there is a choir of harmony and then into string enhanced speed metal. Track two is filled with pinch harmonics, which I love, as well as a good array of snappy time changes. There is also a guitar part that reminds me of Super Mario. Then into track three we find this awesome tom driven Arabian scale guitar riff. I have no idea how they did it, but track three and four are linked with in insane drum fill. Track four ingeniously brakes down into a sweet, smooth jam. Then back up to speed when track four and five are linked with an incredible guitar flail. Track five has this marching pirate feel. It then brakes down into a laid back bluesy jam before going into a hillbilly jig, then back to the pirate theme. Track six is all about dueling guitars. It also has an accordion part and has a great dynamic between the tones of the two vocalists. Track seven is smooth sailing with really present guitar tones that sound like the guitarists are playing right next to you. Plus the bass player is off the hizzy. Then track eight kicks off with fist pumping chugging. Only to go into insane time changes and some brief math metal moments. Towards the end there is some guitar soloing that puts Dragonforce to shame. The track and thus the CD poetically finshes with a peaceful piano line.
Seriously, if you appreciate or like music at all you have to listen to this CD from start to finish. And if you don't, you will after you hear this. It is also really good skiing soundtrack.
