Released 17 years ago this October
The Great Misdirect
Between the Buried and Me · 2009
119 min · 14 tracks · progressive metal
A complex tapestry of metalcore and progressive elements woven with intricate melodies and unexpected time signature shifts.
Top tracks — play these first
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Obfuscation — This track showcases the band's signature blend of technical prowess and emotional weight, featuring dynamic shifts between aggression and melody that encapsulate the album's complexity.
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Swim to the Moon — As the album's epic centerpiece, this nearly eighteen-minute journey explores varied thematic and musical landscapes, highlighting the band's innovative approach to songwriting.
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Disease, Injury, Madness — With its haunting atmosphere and intricate structuring, this track delves into darker themes while maintaining an engaging rhythmic flow that reflects the band's artistic evolution.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases intricate compositions and dynamic contrasts, solidifying its place in progressive metal.
What we noticed
- Each track typically exceeds six minutes, allowing for extended instrumental sections and complex arrangements.
- Vocals alternate between melodic singing and aggressive screaming, creating a dynamic contrast throughout the record.
- Composition 25% of the score
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8/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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8/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
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
- wave-like pacing dynamics
- intricate sonic explorations
Where this album fits
- Career context
- The Great Misdirect is Between the Buried and Me's fifth studio album, released at a critical point in their career following the acclaimed Colors. By 2009, they had established themselves as pioneers within the progressive metal scene, known for their ambitious compositions and genre-blending style, which this album further exemplifies.
- Stylistic neighbors
- The Contortionist· Animals as Leaders· Periphery
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
Disc 1
- 1 Mirrors 3:37
- 2 Obfuscation 9:15
- 3 Disease, Injury, Madness 11:02
- 4 Fossil Genera – A Feed From Cloud Mountain 12:10
- 5 Desert of Song 5:33
- 6 Swim to the Moon 17:53
Disc 2
- 1 The Making of the Great Misdirect
- 2 Gear Walkthrough
Disc 3
- 1 Mirrors 3:37
- 2 Obfuscation 9:15
- 3 Disease, Injury, Madness 11:03
- 4 Fossil Genera – A Feed From Cloud Mountain 12:10
- 5 Desert of Song 5:33
- 6 Swim to the Moon 17:53
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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