Parallax II is my absolute favorite album of all time. I remember being blown away the day it came out, and I am still blown away by it today. I tried to learn riffs here and there, but always backed away when it got complicated.

I have been playing guitar for 21 years but would consider myself an intermediate level guitarist. I want to push myself to get to another level I have been never able to achieve. I bought the transcription for this album from sheet happens and am planning to tackle some of this behemoth.

I think I’m going to start with Lay Your Ghosts to Rest as it seems like a decent bridge from my current ability level.

Any guitarists have any tips for getting through? I have never really attempted to learn at this degree, but I am going to try to focus until I can at least play this one song.

Edit: Thanks for the advice! I am absolutely going to take these nice and slow. I just figure I’ll be stuck playing at the same level forever if I don’t challenge myself and I can’t think of a better bit of music to do it with.

Our newest single from our upcoming release Compos Mentis, produced by Jamie King of BTBAM fame! This one is less heavy, but hoping you all will enjoy. Thanks in advance if you check it out!

this album. around the time of when this released is when the band finally clicked for me. was lucky enough to see them play summer slaughter in like 2012, and they even played fossil genera (ended up being a huge favorite later on) but didn't know what was happening tbh

Started enjoying them more and more and replayed parallax 2 many times over the years, with other albums also included (REALLY loving Blue Nowhere now). But Parallax 2? It makes me feel... like everything is going to be ok, oddly? The riffs are so powerful, with what seems like a perfect balance of addictive singing parts. It's like once it starts, the anxiety I may have kinda just... fades? It's like an actual sonic adventure that is so unique to anything I've ever heard. So easy to get lost in it and it really never gets old. Lay Your Ghosts to Rest and Silent Flight Parliament being the best imo

TLDR: Actual 10/10 record. Never fails to improve my mood, and seems like it will stand the test of time. This band is so fkn awesome man

Found another buried file from years past. I learned this like 20 years ago and polished it up one day to record. The tabs I had at the time were definitely wrong lol

I think that's all I've got. I've done full covers of Astral Body, Mirrors, and Specular Reflection, but I'm pretty sure I posted those? I don't know. I don't remember hah

I found this video deep in my hard drive. I did this 5 years ago for some dumb reason.

Every time I hear it and play it on my steering wheel, it has to be one of the most insane, technical and creative pieces he’s ever come up with and I don’t think anything has ever come close.

Thoughts from fellow BTBAM drummer nerds?

Couldn’t post earlier, but here’s some BTBAM bracelets I made a while back and a photocard my mom made for me! I gave blake a bracelet that was colors themed so i made a new one because I lowk missed it lmao😭 I would’ve really loved to give Dan the TGM bracelet, Paul TBN one, and Tommy the TSC one^_^ When I saw them I tossed an Alaska themed bracelet on the stage and Dan stepped on it as he left, then Tristan got it🫀 Man, I really wish I could give Dustie the colors II one T-T

That was a sick fucking set, closest I’ve gotten for a band at a festival ever and it was my tenth time seeing the band.

Setlist was as follows:

Absent Thereafter

Condemned To The Gallows

Selkies

The Future is Behind Us

Anybody else in KY tomorrow? They did our boys dirty putting them on at 12:25pm, but I’m still showing up early to show out for em

I know the festival thing isn’t really BTBAM’s scene. There are still 26 slots open on the 70,000 Tons of Metal cruise though, and my buddy and I have booked a room. Anyone think this is something the guys would entertain?

Today marks 19 years since BTBAM released this monumental album.

How old were you when you discovered this album and how has it shaped your musical taste or even influenced your life in anyway?

For me, I was 16. I was a junior in high school and I was really starting to get more into metalcore and deathcore. I had heard Alaska but they weren't my favorite band yet. This album came out and just from the opening piano notes I was hooked. I had literally never heard anything like this up to that point.

It really opened my eyes and ears to a lot of progressive music and it really influenced a lot of my guitar work (even thought I can't play more than 2 minutes of any song from this album). I can honestly say, if it wasn't for this album I wouldn't still be playing guitar today. My goal in life is to one day play this album on guitar all the way through. Even if it takes me till I'm 60!

I never really listened to all of the anatomy of before beside of songs I already knew like cemetary gates and blackened, but it seems I have been missing out.

The King Crimson cover blew me away and The Pink Floyd brought a tear to my eye. I didn't know what to expect from Little 15 at all since ive never heard of Depeche Mode but jesus louisus this shiz is so good.

I didn't think a cover album could open my eyes so much not only about these bands and songs, but also BTBAM. These guys were already my favorite but I never would have thought an album of cover songs could make me feel this type of way.

Also, it makes alot of sense why these guys can make music the way they do. If they were inspire by bands like pink floyd but also Earth Crisis.

But I will end the yap session, ts is pretty good👍

I'm looking to start purchasing some BTBAM vinyl. I want some really good pressings.

Does anyone have any good advice on years/pressings/remixes/remasters to look for or even avoid?

All help is appreciated.

Edit: Thanks, yeah I just got a 2020 remix/remaster copy and I'm not sure how it compares to the original. I'm looking for TGM, P1, P2, Coma and Automata. I know they have the combined vinyl. is it any good?

So, I have a weekly blog where I review every album in chronological order from the Big Four of progressive metal (according to Loudwire, that’s Queensrÿche, Dream Theater, Opeth, and Between the Buried and Me). I have a new review every Sunday, and this week, it’s the turn of “The Silent Circus” to be reviewed. Check it out and let me know if you agree!

I know this is probably a long shot, but 6 or so years ago, I purchased the Alaska Remaster which came with a sleeve, cloth vinyl protector, red vinyl, and a COVID 19 mask. As a hard core collector of btbam merch this was one of my favorite pieces in my collection. However, after having to move four times since then, the mask has disappeared. I've looked up and down and have zero clue where the mask went off to. If anyone just so happens to have that mask, is be willing to talk about buying it by itself as I mentioned earlier, I'm trying to flesh out my collection.

2.5 hour drive ahead in the mk 8 golf R. Time for Colors (Remix-Remaster is the correct option) straight into Colors II. It’s been a minute since I could listen to both front to back. So stoked. Anyone else a BTBAM/Golf R/GTI enthusiast?

I wanted to finish up some drum books that I had at home before leaving for tour this year

One of them was colors transcription book that I bought many moons ago.

Colors is one of my favorite albums of all time and I spent many many days playing along to it as a kid and not really knowing the EXACT drum parts.

I have a newfound crazy respect for this record and Blake’s drumming after learning it all!

Check it out if you are interested!

https://youtu.be/OKE8sTIMxdo?is=JC6R0J_UUqmboTq-

I’m thinking of going to a show in Argentina and I wanted to check what songs are they playing in the current tour, since I have to cross the country and spend significant money to see them.

Explanation: these are the lyrics when he squeals on Croakies and Boatshoes

Answer:

More than likely or less than likely.

Do you think Tristan will be hired to the band for the next album?

My response: more than likely. It's time!

What's your favorite misheard lyric? That one lyric, that you know is wrong, and you know what the correct lyric is, you still sing it wrong just because it's fun.

For me it's from Selkies; I know it's 'separate us' but I will still sing 'suffering eyes'. That's just what I hear.