Between The Buried And Me look to have fully set out stake their claim on brutality with their latest release, "The Silent Circus". A wanton collision of grind, metalcore and prog-rock with little to no caution exercised, the band have created a juggernaut of a record that adheres only to the bands own impulsive desires. Similar to the likes of The Red Chord, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Converge and Opeth, the bands music is indulgent and murderous, yet possesses a sense of higher intelligence that is colorfully hinted at through breakdowns and creative song structuring.

For the bulk of this release the group churn out sludgy blasts of metalcore meets grind that pack enough density to crush an average metal fan. Occasional flashes of technical wizardry do rear their head throughout certain breakdowns and bridges, yet for the most part the experience is little more than violently claustrophobic. Around halfway through the disc the band change face however and begin to toy with clean heartfelt singing and spacey ambiance and acoustic guitars that almost bring to mind shades of The Postman Syndrome, instantly catching the listener off guard.

Such moments as the latter help one to realize the scope of what the group are trying to accomplish with "The Silent Circus". Where most would just continue to bash out a disjointed collection of aurally expressed hostility, Between The Buried And Me are instead trying to experiment and expand above that. But while such excursions do help to give the band identity and showcase their musical ability, they also tend to feel a bit frail, as though the group are still testing the waters and trying to find their true selves. In turn Between The Buried And Me have created an album that feels surprisingly honest and organic, tying together their emotions in an almost human way. But like humans, there are many imperfections which rear their head over time and as such "The Silent Circus" might be a bit too much to be properly digested by those attuned to the outright malevolence this genre thrives on.