Becoming the Archetype
The Physics of Fire

This isn't hardcore, this isn't screamo, this isn't trend...This is Becoming the Archetype!

SolidState Records, May 2007
Style: Progressive Death Metal
Website: www.becomingthearchetype.com
Rating: 4.5/5

Becoming The Archetype is back to pulverize the senses of metal fanatics worldwide and to, as the saying goes, "Bang The Head That Does Not Bang." After two long years on the road promoting their jaw-dropping debut, Terminate Damnation, the Atlanta based progressive death metal band has crafted what will prove to be their defining work: the blistering sophomore album, "The Physics of Fire."

There are not too many albums that I just can't wait to get my hands on. Every since the first time I heard and met these guys I have been a big fan. The sincerity, passion and hard work is evident in everything they do. When I caught wind months ago that the work had begun on their sophomore release, I could not wait to hear their new tracks. BTA went separate ways with two members and added Aletheian guitarist/ songwriter Alex Kenis, making them now a 4 piece band.  The Physics of Fire is an absolutely amazing directional shift with a progressive death metal overtone with added maturity that will put the rock salute up for any Becoming the Archetype fan. "Epoch of War" begins the music with an 18th century feel as Count Seth adds in some amazing keyboards. The first track then breaks into progressive metal guitars all while holding an amazing calming melodic overtone. Then out of no where the scene changes and then Duck and Wisdom kick you in the face with an absolute brutal onslaught of extremely hard bass lines and enough double kick drum to make your heart stop beating.  It is an obvious maturity that has taken the artistic quality of progressive metal to this now 4 member band. "Immolation" is the next track and it brings in the death metal overtone with the same brutal double kick drum approach. The cd continues to get better with every listen as the complexity mixed within the brutality in tracks like "Autopsy" become more and more clear. There is more diversity on this album that I would have ever imagined. During the track "The Monolith" there are progressive ballads mixed in the death overtones. It is such an extreme mix of soloing guitars and the added melodic vocals. "Construct and Collapse" sounds like a brutal metal remix of something from a Phantom of the Opera performance. An introduction with an old organ and then an extreme onslaught of metal like a hand grenade going off in your face. The album continues to get better every time you listen, I promise. The maturity is highlighted within the progression in the individual tracks and there is also that same progression throughout the disc.  The album ends with an almost 9 minute epic battle of progressive metal vs. death metal. "The Balance of Eternity" is a track that could not have been better selected to end the album.

The vocals seem to hinge on this same melodic vs. metal trend. Led by the intense growls of Jason Wisdom, Alex Kenis now adds a soothing vocal presence to the mix. This amazing duo pulls the progressive metal influence effectively in and out of each track. I was shocked and surprised by the clarity and talent of the clean singing. I loved BTA's first album but this takes them to the next level.  It takes them to a level like no one else in the death metal scene today.  This isn't hardcore, this isn't screamo, this isn't trend...this is Becoming the Archetype! Bands beware...there is now a new standard being set!

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