The album opener “All Bodies” is an apt microcosm for the whole album. After a minute or so of chugging riffage, the floodgates burst open to reveal a stunningly epic chorus complete with a sing-along section and a mind-blowing section in which the guitarist goes crazy with arpeggios. The band chugs along for a few more minutes, incorporating elements from black metal, grindcore, metalcore and more before the chorus comes back to smack you upside the head. To check out the band’s heavier side, listen to the song “Alaska,” a song that also has a cool video. An example of the melodic heights reached by the band can be seen in “Selkies: The Endless Obsession,” which includes a section that features acoustic guitars and the clean vocals of vocalist Tommy Rogers. His clean vocals are sung in a high register and can be best compared to the vocals of The Mars Volta.

If one were to criticize BTBAM, the easiest place to start would be the songwriting. At times the band seems to get a little too schizophrenic and unpredictable. The transitions between sections often sound forced and unnatural. In my eyes this is the only flaw that prevents Alaska from receiving a perfect score. Some may also question the metal credentials of BTBAM, and I can see why. The band is on emo-friendly Victory Records and I did see a shirt of theirs on sale at Hot Topic last time I was at the mall. However, lumping them in with the mallcore/metalcore scene does them an injustice. Calling BTBAM metalcore is just like calling Opeth Death Metal; it doesn’t tell the whole story. The band can sound like Cephalic Carnage, Queen, In Flames and The Mars Volta—all in the same song. When it comes to forward-thinking metal bands, BTBAM have to be mentioned at the top of the list. For its diversity, catchiness and technicality, I give Alaska my highest recommendation.

written by Scott Huffard

Playing time: 53.54