Thomas Giles Rogers, a Pioneer of Music and Thought

     Metal is probably one of the more misunderstood genres of music. It doesn't appeal to the masses, but that is not its goal. It is a playground, a building of music into something unique, free from the constraints of many of the mainstream standards, but this doesn't mean that as a genre it doesn't come under some heavy fire of both those who oppose it and those who embrace it.

    Thomas Giles Rogers Jr. (pictured right), most known for being the vocalist for Between the Buried and Me, is no stranger to this very fact. Being the front man for a widely diverse and unique progressive metal band, in a genre where its own community is more critical of itself and the music it encompasses than any other genre out there, has set him and his band up for adversity like many others with a similar mindset. It is his diversity and intelligence in such a complacent and critical music scene that has been not only an influence on music, but on me as a writer as well.

    Creating art in the form of music is not an easy task to begin with, and making it something unique and appealing in a music scene filled with bands trying to be trendy or popular. Unlike many of these bands, Tommy disregards the standards set by the general music population and writes not necessarily what listeners want to hear about, but what he thinks or feels, and what he thinks or feels tend to be very deep and complex. It is because of this that makes him a true artist, creating things no one has ever heard before about things many have never thought about. From the idea of the brain being a labyrinth, to the psychological insanity of insomnia, to flaws of government or of the human mind, no topic is beyond his grasp. The way in which he explains such complex ideas through lyrics is even more creative than the ideas themselves, which is why as a writer myself I find Tommy to be such an influence on not only my writing style but my way of thought.

"Beyond the satellites:
Sweet candy populous... a worry free entrance into the world's history
Never underestimate... never think beyond their thoughts.
The satellites have been tapped and Cloud Mountain will carry on the commands of our ancestors

Indeed we work from here. We have for centuries... hearing every breath... watching every disease
(You must accept this truth)

Below the satellites:
The leaders are driving to the farthest retreat. Sit back, relax, enjoy the ride.
They have been speaking for years.
Every night while you're asleep they have been discussing what the future holds for us all.
The outer space takeover. Worlds collide in a dreary pre-determined idea brought by our fellow night owls.
Their stories have been mocked... their ideas have been crushed... but after last night they control every idea we think from here on out.

A GOVERNMENT OVERTHROWN... "

     His lyrics make no attempt at being literal or direct about the point being made because that would be to easy, both to write and to teach the listener. One does not learn something told to them, they learn something from what is shown them, in its reality and natural ambiguity. This is why Tommy's music inspires new thought, because it leaves the thought and analysis to you, and it is because of this why his music has influenced my writing style and way of thought as well.

     But Tommy Rogers is not a one trick pony, and that be one of the most influential things about him. Not only is he an innovator in the heavily criticized  music genre of metal, but he has spread through many other diverse genres such as indie, electronic, experimental, or jazz. Creating bands such as Jacob Rogers (which also functions as a clothing line Giles is also a part of), or his solo projects Giles and Thomas Giles, he's done it all it seems, and with a total of 11 albums released by the age of 30 to back it up, it can be sure that he will do a lot more in the years to come. Every side project shows a new side of his musical prowess, but nothing he does could be considered old hat. Time and time again he shows that he is making music for the art of it and for himself, experimenting with new sounds and styles, and melding them together to create music which the world has never heard. His intelligence musically, philosophically, and psychologically has paved the way for many diverse musical ways of thought, and this is why he is so influential not only to me, but to music in general.