BECOMING THE ARCHETYPE - I Am
October 25, 2012, 11 years ago
(Solid State Records)
Atlanta’s progressive metalcore band BECOMING THE ARCHETYPE is pushing musical boundaries by going against the grain of what standard, modern metal is supposed to sound like on its fifth full-length release, I Am. Old school prog meets ferocious death metal with a crushing wall of sound. BTA takes the best parts of THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, MESHUGGAH, CATTLE DECAPITATION and PROTEST THE HERO and molds it into its own explosive, genre-bending sound; it’s heavy, technical-yet-melodic. New vocalist Chris McCane’s brutal, deep growled bellows mixed with guitarist Seth Hecox’s melodic screams (Travis Ryan of Cattle Decapitation anyone?) is a powerful concoction. Lyrically, the band spin tales of mythological spirituality, most notably on tunes ‘The Sun Eater,’ ‘The Time Bender’ and ‘The Ocean Walker.’ This is where people might be under the assumption that BTA is strictly a Christian metal band, but I think that label doesn’t do justice for the band. Produced by Shane Frisby (BURY YOUR DEAD, THE GHOST INSIDE), it’s huge, warm and aggressive sound takes BTA into a new direction. On I Am, there’s plenty of variety (and plenty of breaaaaaaakdowns!) and well-placed melodies, making BTA a band to keep your eyes (and ears) on.
