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Colors II is the tenth studio album by American progressive metalcore band Between the Buried and Me. It was released on August 20, 2021 through Sumerian Records, their second release with the label, after the two-part album Automata I and II. It serves as a direct follow-up to their 2007 album Colors.[1][2]
| Colors II | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | August 20, 2021 | |||
| Recorded | 2020 | |||
| Studio | The Basement Studios, Winston-Salem, North Carolina | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 78:40 | |||
| Label | Sumerian | |||
| Producer | Jamie King, Between the Buried and Me | |||
| Between the Buried and Me chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Colors II | ||||
| ||||
Background edit
In regards of the conception of the album, vocalist Tommy Giles Rogers, Jr. explained:[3]
Especially with 2020, we really wanted to give it all we could and show the world we’re still here. That’s part of the reason we named it Colors II. We were in a similar spot when we did the first Colors. Back then, we had just gotten done with Ozzfest. We were wondering, 'Where do we belong in this music scene?' We still struggle with that. At both of these moments in our career, we decided to just be ourselves and write the best album we can. We came out guns blazing, and I feel like it’s some of our most creative material in a long time.
Guitarist Paul Waggoner added:
Colors was very much our attempt at a do-or-die statement. We had to establish our identity and be who we really wanted to be in order to have a career. This time around, our industry was shut down for a year. Once tours were canceled due to the pandemic, we were like, 'We've got to write a record, and it's got to be good'. We had to do something next level.
Concept edit
About the concept, Rogers commented:
Musically, it flows like a sequel to Colors, but it wasn’t just another version of that album. On the original, I was analyzing myself and analyzing humanity. With last year, I was in a perfect position to do that. I wrote lyrics in the same way, but they felt new. It was more of a real-world concept by virtue of making a continuation. Music’s purpose is to help. That's a big theme of this album. Once our songs are done, they belong to our listeners. Maybe this will help them move forward creatively or in life.
And about the track "Fix the Error", he shared:
The intention was to write a metal song with a big gospel vibe. It turned into this monster. It's a small story on the record about this guy who lives in a big apocalyptic city. He retires from his job, but he wants to take down this huge corporation. The song is a celebration of taking down corruption and saying, 'Fuck you', to the man. It's about as punk as we’ll ever get.
Release and promotion edit
The first single "Fix the Error" was released on June 25, 2021. An animated music video was released for the song on July 7, 2021, animated by Tony Celano.[4] The second single "Revolution in Limbo" was released on July 23, 2021.[5] A music video for "The Future Is Behind Us" was released on August 20, 2021, the same date as the album release.[6]
Critical reception edit
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 68/100[7] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Blabbermouth.net | 8/10[8] |
| Exclaim! | 7/10[9] |
| Kerrang! | 4/5[10] |
| Metal Hammer |   [11] |
| Metal Injection | 9.5/10[12] |
The album received generally positive reviews from music critics upon its release. On review aggregator Metacritic, the album holds a score of 68 out of 100 based on four reviews.[7]
Kerrang! gave the album 4 out of 5 with writer James Hickie stating: "Unsurprisingly, at 80 minutes long, and with exhaustive closing track 'Human Is Hell (Another One with Love)' taking up 15 of those, it's entirely too much music to wrestle with on cursory listens, and requires serious dedication, though that's no bad thing in an age when streaming has fundamentally altered the attention span. As a result, the uninitiated are likely to be overwhelmed by such a glut of material, particularly when it takes so many stylistic detours and about-turns. It's worth the endeavour, though, because there's some sublime music here, deep and diverse, which has plenty to offer nerds and newbies alike."[10]
Metal Hammer gave the album a positive review, stating: "In being so loyal to the structure of what's come before, Colors II doesn't reinvent progressive metal like its predecessor, but by all other metrics, it lives up to its lineage. It's the only album to ever recapture Colors' brand of restlessness, reaffirming that BTBAM are once-in-a-lifetime masterminds."[11]
Accolades edit
| Publication | Accolade | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Consequence | Top 30 Metal & Hard Rock Albums | 23[13]
|
| Loudwire | The 45 Best Rock + Metal Albums of 2021 | 18[14]
|
| Metal Hammer | Top 10 Prog Metal Albums of 2021 | 5[15]
|
| PopMatters | The 75 Best Albums of 2021 | 58[16]
|
| PopMatters | The 10 Best Progressive Rock/Metal Albums of 2021 | 1[17]
|
| Prog | Top 20 Albums of 2021 | 18[18]
|
| Loudwire | The 35 Best Metal Songs of 2021 ("Fix the Error") | 21[19]
|
Track listing edit
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Monochrome" | 3:14 |
| 2. | "The Double Helix of Extinction" | 6:16 |
| 3. | "Revolution in Limbo" | 9:12 |
| 4. | "Fix the Error" | 5:00 |
| 5. | "Never Seen / Future Shock" | 11:41 |
| 6. | "Stare into the Abyss" | 3:53 |
| 7. | "Prehistory" | 3:07 |
| 8. | "Bad Habits" | 8:43 |
| 9. | "The Future Is Behind Us" | 5:22 |
| 10. | "Turbulent" | 5:56 |
| 11. | "Sfumato" (Instrumental) | 1:09 |
| 12. | "Human Is Hell (Another One with Love)" | 15:07 |
| Total length: | 78:40 | |
Personnel edit
Credits for Colors II adapted from liner notes.[20]
Between the Buried and Me
- Tommy Giles Rogers Jr. – vocals, keyboards
- Paul Waggoner – lead guitar
- Dustie Waring – rhythm guitar
- Dan Briggs – bass, keyboards
- Blake Richardson – drums, harsh vocals on "Revolution in Limbo"
Additional musicians
- Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater) – first drum solo on "Fix the Error"
- Navene Koperweis (Entheos) – second drum solo on "Fix the Error"
- Ken Schalk (ex-Candiria) – third drum solo on "Fix the Error"
Production
- Jamie King – production, engineering
- Jens Bogren – mixing
- Richardo Borges – mixing
- Tony Lindgren – mastering
- Corey Meyers – photography, layout, design
- Jason Prushko – engineering
- Thomas Cuce – engineering
- Aaron Strelecki – photography
Charts edit
| Chart (2021) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[21] | 62 |
| Scottish Albums (OCC)[22] | 75 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[23] | 54 |
| UK Independent Albums (OCC)[24] | 24 |
| UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[25] | 10 |
References edit
- ^ "Between The Buried And Me To Release "Colors II" In August". Theprp.com. June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
- ^ "BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME Announces 'Colors II' Album". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. June 25, 2021. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
- ^ Owen, Matt (June 26, 2021). "Between The Buried And Me announce new album Colors II, recruit Mike Portnoy for thunderous lead single, Fix the Error". Guitar World. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
- ^ Wiggins, Keavin (June 26, 2021). "Between The Buried And Me 'Fix The Error' With New Single". antiMUSIC. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
- ^ DiVita, Joe (July 23, 2021). "Between the Buried and Me's 'Revolution in Limbo' Sets High Expectations for 'Colors II'". Loudwire. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
- ^ "Between the Buried and Me Drop Video for "The Future Is Behind Us"". MetalSucks. 20 August 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
- ^ a b "Colors II by Between the Buried and Me Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
- ^ Roche, Jason (August 16, 2021). "CD Reviews - Colors Ii Between The Buried And Me". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
- ^ Heilman, Max (August 18, 2021). "Between the Buried and Me's 'Colors II' Is a Love Letter To Their Crowning Achievement". Exclaim!. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
- ^ a b Hickie, James (August 19, 2021). "Album review: Between The Buried And Me - Colors II". Kerrang!. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
- ^ a b Mills, Matt (August 17, 2021). "Between The Buried And Me's Colors II: reaffirming the band as once-in-a-lifetime masterminds". Metal Hammer. Louder Sound. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
- ^ Blum, Jordan (August 17, 2021). "Album Review: BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME Colors II". Metal Injection. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
- ^ "Top 30 Metal & Hard Rock Albums". Consequence. December 15, 2021. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
- ^ "The 45 Best Rock + Metal Albums of 2021". Loudwire. December 10, 2021. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
- ^ Metal Hammer (December 12, 2021). "Top 10 prog metal Albums of 2021". loudersound.com. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
- ^ "The 75 Best Albums of 2021". PopMatters. December 9, 2021. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
- ^ Jordan, Blum; Spiess, Andrew (30 November 2021). "The 10 Best Progressive Rock/Metal Albums of 2021". PopMatters. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
- ^ "The Anchoress's The Art Of Losing voted Prog Magazine writers' Album Of The Year". Prog. November 27, 2021. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
- ^ Al-Sharif, Rabab; DiVita, Joe; Hartmann, Graham; Richardson, Jake; Trapp, Philip; Summan, Yasmine (December 6, 2021). "The 35 Best Metal Songs of 2021". Loudwire. Townsquare Media. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
- ^ (2021). "Colors II liner notes". In Colors II [CD booklet]. Sumerian.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Between the Buried and Me – Colors II" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Between the Buried and Me – Colors II". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
- ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
- ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 16, 2021.