
Feature Photo: Stéphane Gallay from Laconnex, Switzerland, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Between the Buried and Me was formed in Raleigh, North Carolina, in 2000. The group was created by vocalist and keyboardist Tommy Giles Rogers Jr. and guitarist Paul Waggoner after the breakup of their previous band, Prayer for Cleansing. They set out to create music that fused the intensity of metalcore with the complexity of progressive rock, jazz, and avant-garde influences. The name of the band was inspired by a lyric from a Counting Crows song, which perfectly reflected their artistic sensibility, one that would constantly defy genre classification while pursuing deep emotional and musical expression.
The band’s self-titled debut album, Between the Buried and Me, was released in 2002 on Lifeforce Records. It introduced listeners to the band’s remarkable range and musical ambition, combining ferocious screams, melodic passages, and intricate musicianship. Their sound immediately set them apart from the typical metalcore acts of the early 2000s. The album’s reception within the underground metal community was strong enough to earn them a deal with Victory Records, which released their next two albums and helped them reach a wider audience.
Their second album, The Silent Circus, released in 2003, was a major leap forward in both songwriting and production. Songs like “Ad a Dglgmut” and “Mordecai” showcased a fearless band unafraid to experiment with abrupt tempo changes, clean vocals, and elements of jazz and rock. The record was met with critical acclaim and quickly became a fan favorite. The success of The Silent Circus also led to extensive touring, giving the band a chance to solidify their reputation as a powerful and technically gifted live act.
By the time Alaska arrived in 2005, Between the Buried and Me had evolved significantly. The album marked the debut of a more stable and cohesive lineup featuring bassist Dan Briggs, drummer Blake Richardson, and guitarist Dustie Waring, all of whom remain in the band today alongside Rogers and Waggoner. Alaska featured intricate compositions and longer, more progressive structures that hinted at the grand concepts to come. It was followed by Colors in 2007, which is widely considered one of the defining albums of the band’s career. Colors was not only a critical success but also a landmark release for the genre, featuring songs such as “Ants of the Sky” and “White Walls,” both of which exemplified the band’s balance between chaos and beauty. The album is often regarded as one of the greatest progressive metal records ever made.
Following Colors, the band continued to expand its artistic scope with The Great Misdirect in 2009. This album took the band’s experimental approach even further, incorporating elements of classic rock, fusion, and psychedelic influences. Songs like “Obfuscation” and “Swim to the Moon” featured extended arrangements and showcased the band’s exceptional musicianship. By this point, Between the Buried and Me had established themselves as one of the most respected and original bands in metal.
In 2012, the band signed with Metal Blade Records and released The Parallax II: Future Sequence, which served as a sequel to their earlier EP, The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues. This ambitious concept album explored themes of identity, space, and human consciousness. It was praised by critics and fans alike for its depth, both lyrically and musically. The record included standout tracks like “Telos” and “Astral Body” and was supported by extensive touring across the globe.
Their next album, Coma Ecliptic, released in 2015, continued their tradition of conceptual storytelling, this time revolving around a man’s journey through his past lives while trapped in a coma. The album’s cinematic approach and intricate production demonstrated the band’s willingness to evolve without losing their identity. In 2018, Between the Buried and Me released Automata I and Automata II, two companion albums exploring the themes of reality, dreams, and the human condition in a fragmented, serialized format. Together, they represented another high point in their already remarkable catalog.
In 2021, the band released Colors II, a direct sequel to their 2007 masterpiece. The album was a tribute to both their legacy and their loyal fan base, showing that even after two decades, Between the Buried and Me still possessed the creativity and technical mastery that had defined them from the beginning. Songs like “Revolution in Limbo” and “Fix the Error” captured the same sense of grandeur and unpredictability that had made the original Colors so beloved.
Over the years, Between the Buried and Me has earned numerous accolades and built a reputation for consistency, creativity, and integrity. They have been nominated for Progressive Music Awards, earned critical praise from publications like Metal Hammer and Revolver, and remain a staple of the global metal scene. Their live performances, characterized by precision and passion, have attracted fans across generations.
Outside of their work as a band, members have also been active in side projects and musical collaborations, further demonstrating their range as artists. Tommy Rogers has released solo material under the name Thomas Giles, while Dan Briggs has been involved with progressive acts such as Trioscapes and Nova Collective. These projects highlight their musical curiosity and dedication to pushing artistic boundaries.
Between the Buried and Me’s legacy lies in their unwavering commitment to innovation and artistic honesty. From their beginnings in North Carolina to becoming one of the most respected names in progressive metal, they have shown that ambition and authenticity can coexist within heavy music. Their discography continues to inspire musicians and fans alike, proving that great art often thrives in defiance of convention.
Complete List Of Between The Buried And Me Songs From A to Z
- Absent Thereafter – The Blue Nowhere – 2025
- Ad a dglgmut – The Silent Circus – 2003
- Aesthetic – The Silent Circus – 2003
- Alaska – Alaska – 2005
- All Bodies – Alaska – 2005
- Ants of the Sky – Colors – 2007
- Arsonist – Between the Buried and Me – 2002
- Aspirations – Between the Buried and Me – 2002
- Astral Body – The Parallax II: Future Sequence – 2012
- Augment of Rebirth – The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues – 2011
- Autodidact – Alaska – 2005
- Autumn (instrumental) – The Parallax II: Future Sequence – 2012
- Backwards Marathon – Alaska – 2005
- Bad Habits – Colors II – 2021
- Beautifully Human – The Blue Nowhere – 2025
- Bicycle Race (Queen cover) – The Anatomy Of – 2006
- Black Box, The – The Parallax II: Future Sequence – 2012
- Blackened (Metallica cover) – The Anatomy Of – 2006
- Blot – Automata I – 2018
- Blue Nowhere, The – The Blue Nowhere – 2025
- Bloom – The Parallax II: Future Sequence – 2012
- Breathe In, Breathe Out (instrumental) – Alaska – 2005
- Camilla Rhodes – The Silent Circus – 2003
- Cemetery Gates (Pantera cover) – The Anatomy Of – 2006
- Change (Blind Melon cover) – The Anatomy Of – 2006
- Colorblind (Counting Crows cover) – The Anatomy Of – 2006
- Coma Machine, The – Coma Ecliptic – 2015
- Condemned to the Gallows – Automata I – 2018
- Croakies and Boatshoes – Alaska – 2005
- Day I Tried to Live, The (Soundgarden cover) – The Anatomy Of – 2006
- Decade of Statues, The (Foam Born B) – Colors – 2007
- Desert of Song – The Great Misdirect – 2009
- Destructo Spin – The Silent Circus – 2003
- Dim Ignition – Coma Ecliptic – 2015
- Disease, Injury, Madness – The Great Misdirect – 2009
- Door #3 – The Blue Nowhere – 2025
- Double Helix of Extinction, The – Colors II – 2021
- Ectopic Stroll, The – Coma Ecliptic – 2015
- Extremophile Elite – The Parallax II: Future Sequence – 2012
- Famine Wolf – Coma Ecliptic – 2015
- Fire for a Dry Mouth – Between the Buried and Me – 2002
- Fix the Error – Colors II – 2021
- Foam Born (A) The Backtrack – Colors – 2007
- Forced March (Earth Crisis cover) – The Anatomy Of – 2006
- Fossil Genera – A Feed from Cloud Mountain – The Great Misdirect – 2009
- Future Is Behind Us, The – Colors II – 2021
- Geek U.S.A. (Smashing Pumpkins cover) – The Anatomy Of – 2006
- Glide – Automata II – 2018
- God Terror – The Blue Nowhere – 2025
- Gold Distance (instrumental) – Automata I – 2018
- Goodbye to Everything – The Parallax II: Future Sequence – 2012
- Goodbye to Everything Reprise – The Parallax II: Future Sequence – 2012
- Grid, The – Automata II – 2018
- House Organ – Automata I – 2018
- Human Is Hell (Another One with Love) – Colors II – 2021
- Informal Gluttony – Colors – 2007
- Kickstart My Heart (Mötley Crüe cover) – The Anatomy Of – 2006
- King Redeem/Queen Serene – Coma Ecliptic – 2015
- Laser Speed (instrumental) – Alaska – 2005
- Lay Your Ghosts to Rest – The Parallax II: Future Sequence – 2012
- Life in Velvet – Coma Ecliptic – 2015
- Little 15 (Depeche Mode cover) – The Anatomy Of – 2006
- Lost Perfection A) Coulrophobia/B) Anablephobia – The Silent Circus – 2003
- Lunar Wilderness – The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues – 2011
- Malpractice (Faith No More cover) – The Anatomy Of – 2006
- Man Land, The (Hidden Track) – The Silent Circus – 2003
- Medicine Wheel (instrumental) – Alaska – 2005
- Melting City – The Parallax II: Future Sequence – 2012
- Memory Palace – Coma Ecliptic – 2015
- Millions – Automata I – 2018
- Mirador Uncoil – The Blue Nowhere – 2025
- Mirrors – The Great Misdirect – 2009
- Monochrome – Colors II – 2021
- Mordecai – The Silent Circus – 2003
- More of Myself to Kill – Between the Buried and Me – 2002
- Naked by the Computer – Between the Buried and Me – 2002
- Need for Repetition, The – The Silent Circus – 2003
- Never Seen / Future Shock – Colors II – 2021
- Node – Coma Ecliptic – 2015
- Obfuscation – The Great Misdirect – 2009
- Option Oblivion – Coma Ecliptic – 2015
- Overture (Bonus Track) – The Blue Nowhere – 2025
- Parallax – The Parallax II: Future Sequence – 2012
- Pause – The Blue Nowhere – 2025
- Prehistory – Colors II – 2021
- Prequel to the Sequel – Colors – 2007
- Primer, The – Alaska – 2005
- Proverbial Bellow, The – Automata II – 2018
- Psychomanteum – The Blue Nowhere – 2025
- Rapid Calm – Coma Ecliptic – 2015
- Reaction – The Silent Circus – 2003
- Revolution in Limbo – Colors II – 2021
- Roboturner – Alaska – 2005
- Selkies: The Endless Obsession – Alaska – 2005
- Sfumato (instrumental) – Colors II – 2021
- Shevanel Cut a Flip – Between the Buried and Me – 2002
- Shevanel Take 2 – The Silent Circus – 2003
- Silent Flight Parliament – The Parallax II: Future Sequence – 2012
- Slow Paranoia – The Blue Nowhere – 2025
- Specular Reflection – The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues – 2011
- Stare into the Abyss – Colors II – 2021
- Sun of Nothing – Colors – 2007
- Swim to the Moon – The Great Misdirect – 2009
- Telos – The Parallax II: Future Sequence – 2012
- Territory (Sepultura cover) – The Anatomy Of – 2006
- Things We Tell Ourselves in the Dark – The Blue Nowhere – 2025
- Three of a Perfect Pair (King Crimson cover) – The Anatomy Of – 2006
- Turbulent – Colors II – 2021
- Turn on the Darkness – Coma Ecliptic – 2015
- Us and Them (Pink Floyd cover) – The Anatomy Of – 2006
- Use of a Weapon – Between the Buried and Me – 2002
- Viridian (instrumental) – Colors – 2007
- Voice of Trespass – Automata II – 2018
- What We Have Become – Between the Buried and Me – 2002
- White Walls – Colors – 2007
- Yellow Eyes – Automata I – 2018
Albums
Between the Buried and Me (2002): 8 songs
The Silent Circus (2003): 10 songs
Alaska (2005): 11 songs
The Anatomy Of (2006): 14 songs
Colors (2007): 8 songs
The Great Misdirect (2009): 6 songs
The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues (2011): 3 songs
The Parallax II: Future Sequence (2012): 12 songs
Coma Ecliptic (2015): 11 songs
Automata I (2018): 6 songs
Automata II (2018): 4 songs
Colors II (2021): 12 songs
The Blue Nowhere (2025): 11 songs
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