Between The Buried And Me Automata II

Automata II is the conclusion of Between the Buried and Me's multi-volume concept recording whose narrative revolves around a protagonist whose dreams are stolen and presented as entertainment via broadcast by a nefarious union between state and commerce. The first part appeared in March 2018 to almost exclusively positive reviews as writing, performance, and production were all top-notch. From the jump, it's troubling that this four-song, 31-minute sequel is even shorter than its predecessor, which clocked in at a shade over 35 minutes; both recordings could easily have fit on a single disc. What's more, this set is even shorter than the 2011 EP The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues, making it more of a head scratcher as an "album." (Let's face it, BTBAM fans are used to long records.)Despite this questionable packaging, the music matches the quality of its predecessor. Opener "The Proverbial Bellow" commences with the full band chugging in syncopated rhythms, guitarists Paul Waggoner an