Between the Buried and ME & The Acacia Strain
March 18, 2024
Opera House, Toronto, ON
Canadian Beats Passport
Progressive metal titans Between the Buried and Me rocked the Opera House in Toronto on March 18, 2024. This ambitious tour is playing each city twice in a row. What’s the catch? During night 1, they are playing their 2007 album Colors in full. On the second show, they are playing their 2021 album Colors II in its entirety. Both Colors and Colors II are renowned for their best work and showcase how Between the Buried and Me (BTBAM, for short) has remained at the top of their genre. For support, deathcore juggernauts The Acacia Strain have tagged along with a similar gimmick. The album Step Into the Light is performed on the first night while Failure Will Follow is played on the second night.
The show I attended was the first night of the Toronto double-header. As a result, I saw BTBAM play the Colors album and The Acacia Strain played Step Into the Light.
The Acacia Strain was a fantastic opener/co-headliner for this tour. Their caveman style of brutality was an excellent contrast to the progressive and more agile sound of BTBAM. Their setlist was highly energetic and warmed up the crowd immediately. Hearing Step Into the Light live shows how well these songs are crafted. They are short, heavy, and get straight to the point. The live mix was immaculate and the vibe was captured perfectly. Step Into the Light is rather short; clocking in at 23 minutes. The rest of the setlist consisted of songs from their earlier albums 3750 and Coma Witch. The setlist flowed very well and was an absolute treat. I can’t recommend this band enough.
I have seen BTBAM live many times throughout the years, but this was my first time seeing Colors in full. Being a fan favourite, they typically play some of these songs live. Seeing in its entirety reminds me of how much of an experience this album is. It really goes places. The songs are rather long and jump genres multiple times. There are moments that are quiet but eventually divulge into epic and chaotic sections. These moments are what make Colors so interesting after multiple repeat listens. There is a sense of momentum and variety that adds layers of depth and intrigue. A lot of these songs have incoherent song structures but scattered throughout are anthems that feel large and encourage the audience to sing along. The crowd was loving every moment. There was plenty of moshing, jumping, and crowd surfing throughout. If you are a fan of BTBAM, I highly recommend you catch them on a night when you can experience Colors. Don’t get me wrong, Colors II is a wonderful piece of art but it hasn’t had the chance to become a classic yet.
If you are a fan of either band, it is a no-brainer. Both The Acacia Strain and Between the Buried and Me are kings of their respective genres and continue to influence future generations to come. This tour will allow those to see the experience for themselves and get to witness a piece of heavy music history. The Colors Experience tour is still underway. Catch a show if you can, you won’t regret it.