4Artist: Becoming The Archetype
Title: I Am
Label: Solid State Records
Release Date: September 18, 2012
Reviewer: Taylor C.
Tracklisting:
- The Ocean Walker
- The Time Bender
- The Eyes of the Storm
- The Sky Bearer
- The Machine Killer
- The War Ender
- The Weapon Breaker
- The Planet Maker
- The Sun Eater
- I Am
I have always had a massive respect for Becoming The Archetype. Their albums, EPs, and singles have always delivered high-quality progressive metal—metal that not only covers many corners of the musical spectrum, but also manages to maintain their own original sound. They build upwards and outwards, never releasing the same thing twice and never boring their listeners. The same goes for their newest work, I Am. This album, like all of BTA’s work, loosely builds on their past releases, but still stands alone as an individual monument to the band’s name.
Despite their recent member changes (including the loss of Brent Duckett and front man, Jason Wisdom), BTA has quickly regrouped with three new recruits and returned rejuvenated and ready to rock. Codey Watkins is the new man kicking it on bass, Chris Heaton is on drums, and Chris McCane stomps to the microphone to replace Wisdom’s lion-like roars. Both providing additional vocals, lead guitarist Daniel Gailey returns from his debut on Celestial Completion, and original member Seth Heccox is still taking names on rhythm guitar and keys. Together, all of these guys have created a new album and, basically, a new band.
Lyrically, this release is the dictionary definition of epic. Bringing an archaic and mythological atmosphere to the concept of God, I Am is a concept album told from the first-person perspective of one character. The album title is, in one sense, reflective of the spiritual aspect of the band’s message (“I Am” serving as a prefix to the track names and referring to God’s name in Exodus 3), but also, in another sense, rebranding the BTA name (the cover claiming that “I Am Becoming The Archetype”). The album artwork itself depicts this concept of identity through a grungy portrait of Clifton, the BTA mascot.
…But on to the music.
The 37 minute narrative opens with “The Ocean Walker,” one of the more progressive tracks that fluctuates in speed and tone, and uses a bleak and watery atmosphere that was introduced in Celestial Completion. It’s through a number of similar resources that many of the songs reflect their title’s theme. “The Time Bender,” for instance, uses more vocal distortions, frenzied guitar solos, complicated riffs, and a technicality that we haven’t seen since the band’s single, “Necrotizing Fasciitis”—all of which takes the listener on a chaotic and colorful journey through what feels like a well-oiled time machine. Likewise, “The Eyes of the Storm” is a whirlwind of riffs, breakdowns and tolling bells; “The Sky Bearer” has a melancholic and airy ambiance; “The War Ender” begins with a vicious energy and ends abruptly; and “The Planet Maker” uses the spacey sounds of Dichotomy, occasionally hitting earth with some dirty riffs before riding the clean vocals and guitar solos back into the stars. Every track is a well-crafted journey that tells its own story before steering to the next song, eventually leading the listener to the finale, “I Am” (the album’s concluding masterpiece).
As far as negativity goes, long-time listeners will no doubt call attention to the band’s use of “metalcore” breakdowns. Breakdowns are nothing new for BTA, but in past releases they were usually shoved in the background and masked by the rest of the music. On I Am, they’re louder and given more solo time; however, there’s no mindless chugging here. Like a kid getting cake after eating all his vegetables, BTA earns their breakdowns by building the tension with insanely technical guitar solos, rock-solid riffs, emotionally-wrought vocals, and memorable melodies. Basically, when the breakdowns arrive, you’ll be charged up and ready to headbang along.
Personally, the only thing I dislike about this album is “The Machine Killer.” With instrumentals under BTA’s belt like “Night’s Sorrow,” “Nocturne,” “St. Anne’s Lullaby,” and “Music of the Spheres,” this song comes as a big disappointment. The mellow keys and electronics are reminiscent of the Celestial Progression EP, but, after a few listens, it grows dull and begs to be skipped. Without it, this album would be a perfect 5.
Overall: From the second I Am starts spinning, it’s easy to see that Becoming The Archetype’s new lineup hasn’t hurt them at all; if anything, it’s introduced a new energy, a new hunger, and a new set of teeth to continue chomping at the modern-metal machine. There’s not much experimentation in this release, but that in and of itself is experimental for a band like BTA. To put it simply, this album is solid metal: full of skull-crushing riffs, technical guitar solos, innovative lyrics, and well-warranted breakdowns. The most progressive thing about I Am is how it wages war within the perimeters of death metal and metalcore without sinking to deathcore (all while keeping up that BTA vibe that everyone is familiar with). This entertaining album will doubtlessly attract a hoard of new fans, but it should also suit the old fans when they get an earful of the heavy complexity that pulses through I Am. This is some of the best metal I’ve heard all year.
RIYL: A Hill To Die Upon, Aletheian, As I Lay Dying, As They Sleep, Between The Buried And Me, Dream Theater, Extol, Hope For The Dying, Living Sacrifice, Pantokrator, Soul Embraced, The Burial, The Famine, The Showdown, Wretched, 7 Horns 7 Eyes
Buy/Preorder the album on iTunes or at the Solid State Store.
Becoming The Archetype - I Am,Click here to list all the reviews by Taylor C.
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So ready for this album!
^^ Word. 2 week pre-release= its gud 2 b on ivm staf, lol. I wil let yal know wat i think wen i get my copy tho.
Wait a sec, I’m on IVM staff… I don’t have this album… I feel sad now. Lol.
I don’t have it either :(
So I got my copy 1 day erly (not 2 weeks erly like sum luky people around here, lol), but im guna hafta agree wit the review+ scor. Solid album+ an improvement ova cc imo, and thats sayin alot considerin the line up changes+ the fact that cc was a gud album in its own rite. The only beef I hav wit “The Machine Killer” is the placement of the trak. I think it wuda been beta as trak 9 or 10, personaly.
Is that a dead Jason Wisdom on the cover???
It’s Clifton Beardskull, BTA’s mascot
Haha! That would be rather morbid, but kinda funny, Mike Roth! :P
But no…..
Good Review
Nice review! I really liked what you said about the breakdowns. “… BTA earns their breakdowns by building the tension with insanely technical guitar solos, rock-solid riffs, emotionally-wrought vocals, and memorable melodies. Basically, when the breakdowns arrive, you’ll be charged up and ready to headbang along.”
Well said.
It sounds like it going to be a really good album,can’t wait. Bring on September 18th word.!!!
I didnt like this, not enough progression, payed it too safe, I know the band is capable of so much more.
They are, but as they said, they intentionally took this approach.
http://cardboardmagazine.wordpress.com/2012/09/05/exclusive-interview-becoming-the-archetype/
The magazine that I work for put up this interview with Becoming the Archetype at Lifelight Festival in South Dakota, if anyone is interested. :)
Recommended if you like Dream Theater… Yessss :D
Listened to this album today and it blew my mind completely. Definitely their best work yet, hopefully more to come.
This is a really good album. A bit surprising that it’s not as progressive as their past work, but it’s BTA, you know their next album won’t sound just like I Am. I love that about them. :) Hopefully this album gains them the fans and respect they have deserved since their debut though.
I heard the machine killer song and I love it. I dont know why all reviews give that song a bad review personally its great. Solid album.
If anyone’s interested, former vocalist Jason Wisdom has recently joined the reviewing staff at thenewreview.net. He’s got a review of the new As I Lay Dying album!!
Awesomesauce.
They should have him reviewing this BTA record too. That would be interesting. And far too awkward for him.
I do agree with Luke Foster.. also all the songs kind off blend together in my opinion..
They all have that “meedly-meedly-meedly-meedly-meeeee!!” sound.
Kinda repetitive after a while…
I’ve had an odd relationship with BTA. Sometimes I love their music…and then at other times I feel like it’s monotonous. The only album that has really stood out to me is Celestial Completiton. I’ll probably pick this album up though. Looking forward to listening to it.
I hate to say this, but this is probably the first time that I don’t buy a BTA cd. I’ll give it a few more listens before I make my mind up for sure though.
Just get it…. It may be missing Wisdom and the more strange-melodic side of things, but there’s still enough in this new lineup that’s BTA worthy.
Good stuff.
If you’re a fan of “Metal” in general, get it. The Cd is actually a great mixture of their stuff. Down on the ‘Progressive’, but it’s still there. I think it really is their heaviest album, it’s pretty brutal. Also, buy it because you’ll be able to look back and see their catalog, another great album with a little diversity.
The album really is sick!
It’ll grow on you. I like it more with each listen. I liked it the first time I heard though. Felt it got better with each listen!
Just bought this bad boy. So good.
After spinning it a few times on Spotify, I’m not feeling this one. Not sure if its the vocals, the instruments, or what, but definitely not going to get this one. Hopefully it’ll save a copy for one who actually likes it.
^^ Must b yur ears. I can refer u 2 sum ear doctas if u want, lol.
I was waiting for that, lol. And I knew it was going to be Phil, somehow.
Apparently Jared’s not alone: http://jesusfreakhideout.com/cdreviews/IAmBecomingTheArchetype.asp.
That JFH review gave it 3 and a half stars. Hardly a bad review.
I think I would probably give it a 3.5 as well (though I realize IVM doesn’t do halves). I enjoy most aspects of the album; the guitar work, the vocals (both screams and cleans), and especially the Christ centered lyrics, but it just wasn’t progressive enough for me. My biggest concern with this album is replay value. Though the album is good in it’s own right, when compared to past BTA albums this one doesn’t have any of those crazy stand out moments that really draw me back to it. I’ll give it a few more spins though and see if it grows on me a little more.
As a side note, you might want to be careful Phil, otherwise people might start calling you Phil meanyhed, lol. :P
I’ve been consistently disagreeing with JFH’s opinions recently.
thruchristalone777,
Lol, gud 1 dewd. I hart u, lol.
^ Awwww it’s so cute when Phil gets all nice and sappy :)
^^ Lol, word. I hart u 2 dewd, lol.
Haha
So hard to rate this one…. So many good metal releases so far this year.