Riff Analysis 057 - Between the Buried and Me "Lay Your Ghosts to Rest" sonata form

Happy 10th anniversary, baby.
(I am talking to the album.)
My master's thesis: www.academia.e...
Conference paper based on part of the master's thesis: • Circular Telos: Hearin...
The earlier riff analysis video: • Riff Analysis 002-BTBA...
Learned everything from the official tab book, which is great and you can buy here: www.lulu.com/s...
Most of the sonata theory terminology is from either Hepokoski and Darcy or Caplin, which are the two big authoritative texts on the subject.
Patreon, where you can support the channel, get exclusive videos, your name in the credits, all the diagrams I make for these, and input for my rapid fire riff videos: www.patreon.com/metalmusictheory
My music: www.bandcamp.com/floridekstasis
Recent comp with my music on it: machinemusic.n...
My website, which has all my videos and academic work nicely organized: www.calderhannan.com

[@DJTheMetalheadMercenary]

Maaaan it's crazy that its been a decade already, this whole album (much like anything BTBAM has done) is phenomenal. Excellent work dude!!

[@trowftd]

getting videos on parallax 2 from this channel for a whole month is like waking up on Christmas morning every day of December

[@NicolaiFre]

"Why can't all these chords just be friends" is a quote I will use to justify the weird chord changes in my own music. Thanks for a another great video, looking forward to Parallax-month!

[@tyelerhiggins300]

I love that you embrace the camera awkwardness. Top notch.

[@stcmattb]

Broo.. the way you have the track come in at 5:02, after listening to Mozart for 5 minutes, is just PERFECT. Love these videos, and love this album!

[@vaporreads5095]

Im gonna confess that I know jack shit about music theory and can barely understand your explanations, but I still find it interesting and watched the entire thing. Kudos for covering one of the best BTBAM songs.

[@LouisR56]

You have no idea how much of a gift this P2 month is for me. It is my favorite album ever, and changed a lot my perception of music.

[@solacedagony1234]

That guitar solo is insane, nice work playing through it. I spent a couple months trying it and I'm pretty sure I'll never play it clean. Edit: Also super happy you pointed out that fast riff at the start. That was one of my favorite riffs in the song to play.

[@AtiTheHedgehog]

Can't believe I'm only now finding out about your channel. Great video, and huge props for nailing my favourite guitar solo of all time.

[@CheddarGetter]

Reddit sent me. This video has been hyped up a lot for me. So lets see how it goes, im stoked!

[@yousefbhacker8160]

Dude, I just discovered your channel, and I'm so happy it exists.

[@christophpichler523]

Fantastic start of your BTBAM session. Loved your excellent, honest playtrough.

[@BlackFriday242]

My favorite album of all time by my favorite band of all time. Utterly amazing.

[@erik2602]

It's insane how much information you picked up in this. I am also a theory nerd, but never noticed this is (pretty much) a sonata. Never even thought about it. I will rewatch this a couple of times at least to digest all the details. Also, you rekindled my love for classical music, which I haven't listened to enough these last few years. I'm amazed you actually found such a clear and quantifyable connection between prog metal and classical music, and broke it down so clearly. Thank you for this.

[@farese1629]

Super interesting video. Gave me a whole new appreciation for one of my favorite songs!

[@boarderking133]

Favorite part is that amazing drop/breakdown towards the end of telos

[@AdamLagerqvist]

That shit is insane!! Favorite part of the album.

[@ianschweer8751]

Do you think btbam members watch this video, take a drink of sundrip (or their oat milk cappuccinos) and go "damn dude we just thought it was sick"? (I really like this video btw)

[@TylerJMacDonald]

hell yeah, this will be a good month, looking forward to the rest! 🤘

[@christopherrobinson3242]

Your original BTBAM video is what got me into your channel. I’m so excited for the rest of these videos!

[@azoore]

best news ive heard all week. that shirt is killer.

[@Jfetlife]

My favorite BTBAM album. I feel like too many people stopped at colors, but they just kept getting better. Nice work on the solo and thanks for including a slowed down version too!

[@adaptercrash]

That's old I emailed it to them I figured it out all onmy own they didn't make it up they aren't the clever

[@BehappyBhairava]

2nd binge of this playlist.... such amazingly handy and nicely genre specific/niche specific too.. More more more mr metal music theory

[@kevindangelo1091]

Your cover is amazing. I'm blown away by your commitment to something you are so clearly passionate about

[@jean-christophedancause5587]

This is insane! :O I am glad that there is this type of content on youtube, good job! Between are now my favorite and most influencial band by far, and it happens that this is the song that got me into the rabbit hole! Their creativity and intensity is unmatched!

[@MJ-it5bm]

Always loved watching your Parallax 2/LYGTR breakdowns but also, finally we have the big *s t r e t c h* edit: FUCKIN sick cover dude

[@aerob1033]

I have a current list of ten 5-star albums, two of which are by BTBAM, and Parallax II is one of those two. So, I will indeed be watching all of your videos about this. Great channel!

[@Facundoviscarra34]

Next month analysis: Math Metal Double Rhapsody (Cor Bamb "The Oppressor")🙏 See ya in the next video!

[@trowabarton222]

Yes! This is going to be a great month! This album is definetly in my top 5 albums of all time. Also, your shirt is sweet.

[@OriginalGaucho]

Great video. Yes, Parallax 2 is their greatest album!

[@boarderking133]

Weird way to spell great misdirect

[@karigucio]

oh wow the end video music

[@EvaPilotPedro]

During the intro chugs, the synth in the background is the ending to astral body but an octave higher

[@deceptaloid]

These videos makes me want to play music more, and for that I thank you.

[@Penz0id]

I love that btbam tee, wish I had snagged one

[@frigidlegumes]

I think there's an argument to be made that "adapting" sonata form into a different genre allows for some interesting play with/bending of rules. Like the section which in the sonata interpretation functions as "Theme II", in a more pop-oriented interpretation would function as a "chorus." Since our ears are arguably more attuned to a pop mode of listening, we are more inclined to expect a verbatim repetition of that section rather than a transposed repetition, which would probably sound more abrasive. It could also throw the already pretty demanding vocal melody into an awkward range for Tommy (although his range is kinda ridiculous tbh)

[@metalmusictheory5401]

Yeah! Also bet Paul wouldn't have wanted to write and learn a transposed version of that solo. Though I'm not sure it would be that noticeable if it were transposed when it came back, unless you have perfect pitch or were paying close attention. Less noticeable than the "I Will Always Love You" type of last chorus modulation, at least

[@thephotonepoch9759]

Hey man. You need to take your analysis and formalize it and submit for publishing. There are a few metal analysis papers that are cited constantly and the quality of your assessments are fantasic. This one in particular is very novel and touches into the academic perspective of music.

[@metalmusictheory5401]

I've got a couple things published in journals, my website has everything listed!

[@thephotonepoch9759]

@@metalmusictheory5401 found em after posting lol. Great job man, wish I had your material when I went through school. Might have been able to justify a masters around prog metal comparing it to turn of the century classical composers.

[@erfanshafighnia8259]

wonderful playing

[@frankunodostres473]

brilliant as usual

[@erik2602]

Yess, more BTBAM (and also more Dream Theater, Opeth, Haken and Liquid Tension Experiment please :) )

[@lamniformes]

I'm excited to see you tackle the rest of the record because your first video (and this one!) have helped me come around to this song. Have you ever checked out "A Diamond For Disease" by Arsis? I saw some conjecture online about that song also having a sonata form but my ears a decade out from music undergrad haven't been able to confirm it.

[@ravenecho2410]

been a fan of btbam since silent circus and alaska colors, loved their hypersleep dialogues (didn't realize how "dream theatre"-esque until i got way older 😅)

[@EdenPorterMusic]

finally someone who knows how to pronounce mozart

[@johnangel9116]

Says he needs to "coast on old ideas"; learns 10 minute btbam song one thing that comes to mind after while watching is the dev and recap blend together. as you point out, the 1st theme is varied in meter and character when we hear it the second time and i'd argue not performing a recapitulatory function. it's only when the rotation continues and we get the transition and 2nd theme that the first one is really confirmed as the beginning of the recap. maybe Briggs was listening to lots of Liszt at the time? anyway, this is John from SF in case your quote at the beginning wasn't obvious lol. looking forward to the rest of parallax 2 month!

[@daveb2057]

Awesome video. Always thought of the album as a whole as a parallel to classical music with the coninual flow from song to song, ending with most songs being reprised in the finale, but never thought about how that comparison fit within each song. Also I need to know the source of the credits song.

[@benilak]

Just noticed the shirt. Is that official btbam merch or did you make it? Edit: more comments. I don’t think your justification for the Theme 2 revisit being in the dominant key is a stretch, although my interpretation’s a bit different. To my ears, this theme starts in C#, modulates to F#m, and then comes back to C#. Two keys. So instead of Theme 2 being played in one key first and then the dominant key later on in true sonata form (according to you at least, idk I’m not classically trained or really trained at all) - instead we just explore both of those keys both times around, which could be seen as an homage to or variation of the sonata form. Overall awesome analysis!

[@PrimoSchnevi]

Dope. Also fuck - its 10 years old...? That feels like part of the "newer" btbam cataloque still

[@paveantelic7876]

Great video as usual. Your bandcamp link doesnt work tho!!

[@guidoretro]

I have some really weird and unusual drumming for you: Chaos luciferi - Fa che noi possiamo vivere ancora, I can't get my head around it, check it out, it's on YT

[@TheJulik2]

ok but where did you get that shirt cause is fucking awesome

[@drewbairdummel]

FUUUUUUUUUCK YEAAAAAHHHHHHHH

[@keflexx]

nexttime: dysrytmia

[@boarderking133]

Noice

[@Henriktranoy]

I noticed that there is no link for the tab book yet, are you expecting to get an affiliation link? If so, I can wait a bit before I buy! Cheers!

[@metalmusictheory5401]

Oh no that's just an oversight, fixed it! Thanks!

[@Henriktranoy]

@@metalmusictheory5401 haha, ok! Thanks, and awesome vid! Looking forwards to the next!

[@xbigd1988x]

Will you adopt me. P.s. I hate my youtube handle but don't know how to change it so don't judge me by my middle school AOL name ha

[@xbigd1988x]

Also I peep Infinite Jest there on the shelf. Big DFW fan myself

[@rolandreyes2636]

𝓹𝓻𝓸𝓶𝓸𝓼𝓶 😅