ALASKA

You may not consider yourself someone who likes "intense" (heavy) music. Between the Buried and Me's Alsaska is intense--I'd venture to say some of the most intense music I've ever heard. However, I think it's accessable for those who don't generally like ultra- intense music. Why? The songs are well written--dispite being brutal. The songs have enough variation to keep you from getting numb. When the music gets complex, it offers so much that you'll pick out more detail even on the 50th listen. There are also moments of sheer musical beauty that cause you to forget it is the same band who was pummelling you with jaggedly complex bursts of flourishes and death growls a few minutes ago. This also prooves that these guys didn't simply learn a few metal cliches--their musicianship and songwriting is outstanding. At the moment when you think you're about to become numb, something changes the feel and it stays fresh.

Most songs find them showing their chops in group interaction (listen to the end of Autodiadct). Realize as well that despite the way it comes across, Tommy Rogers' (vocals) lyrical content doesn't center around hatred or rage. Lyrically, there's actually a lot of positive outlook on this album. Some of the things I tend to dislike about metal are refreshingly absent: self-indulgent shredding, obligatory galloping rhythms, negativity- exclusive lyrics, a fashion and overal attitude that is obsessed with being intimidating apart from the music (just look at their group pic for crying out loud). What's left is extreme intensity offset by moments of aural beauty, mature musicianship, intelligent/respectable lyrics, and songs that beg to for repeated listens.

If you're not a fan of extreme metal, listen to Selkies: The Endless Obsession. If you find yourself strangely fascinated with the diversity of moods in the song, you will like the rest-- it just takes a little time listening to. This band got me back into metal. This is as intense as it gets--and that's got to sound interesting even to someone who doesn't listen to a ton of metal.