COLORS

The album starts off with Foam Born, a slow piano piece that could almost be a final track instead of an opener. It's quite beautiful by itself, but this album is just getting started.

As soon as The Decade of Statues starts, you're immediately aware you're listening to one of the most brutal metal bands out there. The riffing and growling are relentless. As the album progresses, it goes from aggressive metalcore to soft, beautiful melodies and harmonies with such amazing transitioning. This is where you can really see the maturity of BTBAM. The transitions from section to section are practically flawless.

By the midpoint of the album, starting with the last few minutes of Sun of Nothing, the brutal metalcore becomes more of a supporting role to the soaring prog melodies. This eventually continues into Ants of the sky, the longest and possibly best track on the album. This track feels as if the entire album was built around it. This track flies from genre to genre so much it's difficult to describe, you just have to experience it. There's even a country banjo ho-down that amazingly doesn't seem even slightly out of place.

The rest of the album continues this barrage of genres through prequel to the sequel and Viridian, a wonderful bass centric song where Dan Briggs really showcases some spectacular bass playing.

The album ends with a track entitled White Walls. This is another major highlight of this album. From the beautiful guitar solos to the slow building (get..out...of...this...closed...off...circle) into a powerful climax and outro solo that truly captures the skill and musicianship of these men. Paul Waggoner's sweeps at the end of this track are a treat to behold. The track ends with a very simple piano solo that feels like an ending as much as any ending ever has.

Overall this album is spectacular. The second half moreso than the first, but staggeringly good in it's entirety as well. My only complaint with this album is more a complaint against the band. The metalcore, although used in a great way for the most part, is slightly overused. These guys have a hardcore background, so I understand where the influence comes from, but the only non-perfect parts of this album are metalcore parts. For a lot of people, I think the first few listens, especially of the first half of the album, would turn them off this album completely. It really takes a bunch of listens to figure out the trillion and a half time signature changes. Stick with it, believe me it's worth it. This album is a masterpiece and belongs in any prog metal collection.

Album highlights: Second half of Sun of Nothing Ants of the Sky White Walls

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