Math metal manifesto

I’ve had somewhat mixed feelings towards the extremely technical side of progressive metal known as math metal. Complexity for complexity’s sake has never been a big selling point for me. North Carolina’s Between Buried and Me was sold to me as a band that doesn’t unnecessarily make things too hard for the listeners, granted that it’s not easy-listening music either.

The beginning was rather promising, Pink Floyd‘s Shine on You Crazy Diamond made for a perfect intro music for the band, as if to set the mood to come. Or at least one of the moods, for one could go through a handful of different mindsets during the gig. First, some brutal technical scorching, followed by spacey, Pink Floyd-esque guitars. Then, switch gears again and off they go.

In the harsh white reverse light, it seemed at first that the only things moving on stage were the vocalist/keyboardist Tommy Rogers, who seemed on the verge of starting to proclaim some great truth, and the bass player’s elbow. Then, after a while, one could make out the guitarist Paul Waggoner‘s fingers furiously speeding along the fretboard, and drummer Blake Richardson‘s whirling sticks.

As things progressed, the dancing polyrhytms smoothly knitted together and created sound weave that though complex, was still enjoyable to listen. Not to mention watch. Ever seen a circle pit move at 110 mph, and then stop like everybody hit the wall, and start jamming to something that suspiciously sounded like a banjo solo?

Text: Jari Rytkönen
Photo: Sampsa Geijer