What makes Alaska by Between the Buried and Me notable?

Alaska received widespread critical acclaim, appearing on numerous year-end lists and elevating the band's profile significantly within the metal community. Its ambitious structure and genre-blending style have influenced many subsequent metalcore and progressive acts, highlighting its importance in shaping modern heavy music. Released in 2005, Alaska marked Between the Buried and Me's fourth studio album, following their acclaimed effort, The Silent Circus. This record showcased the band's evolution into more complex arrangements and lyrical themes, solidifying their presence in the progressive metal scene.

Alaska works well if you're into dynamic emotional journeys, long, immersive listening sessions and gradual builds and payoffs.

How many songs are on Alaska?

Alaska has 11 tracks, running approximately 53 minutes.

Alaska

Between the Buried and Me · 2005

53 min · 11 tracks · progressive metal

A chaotic blend of progressive metal and hardcore, where intricate melodies collide with aggressive rhythms and thought-provoking lyrics.

Spotify Apple Music

YouTube Music YouTube Deezer Bandcamp SoundCloud

Own it: Amazon eBay

Top tracks — play these first

→
Selkies: The Endless Obsession — This track exemplifies the band's ability to fuse melodic elements with intense metalcore, featuring dynamic shifts that showcase both technical skill and emotional depth.
→
Roboturner — Here, the band explores complex time signatures and layered instrumentation, creating a relentless energy that captures their innovative approach to songwriting.
→
All Bodies — Opening the album, this track sets a high-energy tone with its intricate riffs and powerful vocals, establishing the thematic concerns that resonate throughout Alaska.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

68 /100

Alpine

Higher than 93% of albums we've rated

The album showcases complex compositions and a blend of styles, making it a notable entry in progressive metal.

What we noticed

The album features frequent tempo shifts, with tracks alternating between intricate melodic sections and aggressive breakdowns.
Several songs exceed the six-minute mark, allowing for extended instrumental passages that explore complex arrangements.
The lyrics often tackle abstract themes, with vocal delivery ranging from melodic singing to harsh screams, reflecting the emotional intensity of the music.

Composition 25% of the score: 8/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
Durability 25% of the score: 8/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

dynamic emotional journeys
long, immersive listening sessions
gradual builds and payoffs
layered, dense sonic textures

Where this album fits

Career context: Released in 2005, Alaska marked Between the Buried and Me's fourth studio album, following their acclaimed effort, The Silent Circus. This record showcased the band's evolution into more complex arrangements and lyrical themes, solidifying their presence in the progressive metal scene.
Stylistic neighbors: The Contortionist· Animals as Leaders· Periphery