Becoming the Archetype
Encyclopedia
Becoming the Archetype is a Christian
progressive death metal band signed to Solid State Records
and Century Media Records
(Europe) formed in 1999 in Dacula, Georgia
. They have released four albums on Solid State Records. Dichotomy
, released in November 2008, sold around 2,300 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to Nielsen Soundscan
. The CD debuted at No. 18 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200. The band is part of the New Wave of American Heavy Metal
.
self-titled album. In December 2004, the band signed with Solid State and released their first nation-wide album, Terminate Damnation
, named after a song by Christian death metal band Mortification
, produced by Tue Madsen
. The album blended elements of progressive metal
, death metal
and metalcore
.
In 2006 The band's long time lead guitarist, and one of the primary songwriters Jon Star decided to leave the band for personal reasons, but on good terms.
Terminate Damnation is being released on vinyl by Broken Circle Records with a limited pressing of 500 in early May.
with lead guitar replacement, Alex Kenis from progressive death metal group, Aletheian
. In July 2006, original guitarist Sean Cunningham
left the band for his last semester in college
and to pursue a full-time career. Determined to press on, in the fall of 2006, the band went back into the studio with producer
Andreas Magnusson (The Agony Scene
, Scarlet, The Black Dahlia Murder, Calico System
, Twelve Tribes
); The Physics of Fire
, was released May 2007. The band promoted the album on "The Trilogy of Hairs" (Bring Your Own Beard, Peel Your Wig Back, Born With a Mustache) tour. The beardskull artwork for the Bring Your Own Beard has been dubbed "Clifton", and is BTA's mascot, according to Jason Wisdom. Also, Brent Duckett took an indefinite break from the band in late 2007 for personal reasons.
. In November 2008, the band released Dichotomy. The album's concept was inspired by the Space Trilogy
by C.S. Lewis and uses the same themes of biology vs technology, and man vs machine. The sixth song on the album, "Ransom" is, for instance, named after the main character of the trilogy.
On October 31, 2008, Brent "Duck" Duckett returned. The band was featured in the 2008 Nov/Dec issue of HM Magazine and tour support also followed. In October 2009, the band released a new single titled "Necrotizing Fasciitis". The single was packaged with a Necrotizing Fasciitis-themed shirt. "Clifton", the Beardskull, returned on the single's artwork.
In 2010, Becoming the Archetype's lead guitarist, Jon Star, left the band, and was replaced with guitarist Daniel Gailey.
is Becoming the Archetype's fourth studio album. They released a single on February 14, 2011, called The Magnetic Sky, in order to promote the album. The record includes many new concepts including parts with sitars and trombones. It was recorded in Glow in the Dark studios in Atlanta, Georgia
with Matt Goldman from October through November 2010 and was released on March 29, 2011. Beginning on Friday, March 18, 2011, Becoming The Archetype released one new song from Celestial Completion per day until the album's release as a part of the "12 days of BTA." The video for The Magnetic Sky premiered at MetalSucks.net on March 29.
of humanity; the band's name reflects this belief. In 2008 interview with The Full Armor of God Broadcast, Jason Wisdom summed up the band's philosophy stating "If we are not making a difference for the Lord, then we are just out there making noise!"
Singles
Christian metal
Christian metal, also known as white metal, is a form of heavy metal music usually defined by its message in a song's lyrics as well as the band's dedication to Christianity...
progressive death metal band signed to Solid State Records
Solid State Records
Solid State Records is a Christian record label, a division of Tooth & Nail Records. Unlike Tooth & Nail, Solid State signs hardcore and metal bands. Like Tooth & Nail, Solid State is primarily a Christian label. However, they have signed several bands that don't label themselves as Christian,...
and Century Media Records
Century Media Records
Century Media Records is an Independent record label with offices in the United States, Germany, Australia, France, Italy, Sweden, Finland, and the United Kingdom.- Background :...
(Europe) formed in 1999 in Dacula, Georgia
Dacula, Georgia
As of 2010 Dacula had a population of 4,442. the median age was 35.2. There were 1,472 households with 92.0% of housing units occupied. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 76.6% white , 11.3% black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.4% Asian Indian, 2.8% other...
. They have released four albums on Solid State Records. Dichotomy
Dichotomy (album)
Dichotomy is the third studio album by metal band Becoming the Archetype. The album features guest appearances by Devin Townsend, Ryan Clark, a soprano named Suzanne Richter, and Aslan.The Album is based heavily on C.S...
, released in November 2008, sold around 2,300 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to Nielsen Soundscan
Nielsen SoundScan
Nielsen SoundScan is an information and sales tracking system created by Mike Fine and Mike Shalett. Soundscan is the official method of tracking sales of music and music video products throughout the United States and Canada...
. The CD debuted at No. 18 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200. The band is part of the New Wave of American Heavy Metal
New Wave of American Heavy Metal
The New Wave of American Heavy Metal is a movement in that originated in the United States during the early to mid 1990s and has expanded most in the recent 2000s. Some of the bands considered part of the movement had formed as early as the late 1980s, but did not become influential or reach...
.
Terminate Damnation (2004–2006)
Before joining Solid State Records, the band was called The Remnant and released an independentIndependent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
self-titled album. In December 2004, the band signed with Solid State and released their first nation-wide album, Terminate Damnation
Terminate Damnation
Terminate Damnation is the debut album by Christian progressive death metal band Becoming the Archetype. The title of the album was taken from the song Terminate Damnation from the Mortification album, Scrolls of the Megilloth....
, named after a song by Christian death metal band Mortification
Mortification
Mortification can refer to:*Mortification , theological doctrine*Mortification of the flesh, religious practice of corporal mortification...
, produced by Tue Madsen
Tue Madsen
Tue Madsen is a Danish music producer and sound engineer, who is well known in metal genre for his work with bands like The Haunted, Mnemic, Hatesphere, Ektomorf, Cataract, Exmortem, and Born from Pain. His first work as a producer was the album Embraced by the Absolute by Autumn Leaves in 1997...
. The album blended elements of progressive metal
Progressive metal
Progressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal originating in the United Kingdom and North America in the late 1980s...
, death metal
Death metal
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, minor keys or atonality, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes....
and metalcore
Metalcore
Metalcore is a subgenre of heavy metal combining various elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk. The name is a portmanteau of the names of the two genres. The term took on its current meaning in the mid-1990s, describing bands such as Earth Crisis, Deadguy and Integrity...
.
In 2006 The band's long time lead guitarist, and one of the primary songwriters Jon Star decided to leave the band for personal reasons, but on good terms.
Terminate Damnation is being released on vinyl by Broken Circle Records with a limited pressing of 500 in early May.
The Physics of Fire (2006–2008)
The band's first tour of 2006 was a 24-date run in Europe with The Chariot and Shaped by FateShaped by Fate
Shaped By Fate are a 5 piece metalcore band from South Wales , formed in late 2001 and lauded as "the future of British Metalcore" by Kerrang! magazine which described the band's music as "some of the tastiest, heaviest, most shredding metal this island's seen in a long time".-History:Shaped By...
with lead guitar replacement, Alex Kenis from progressive death metal group, Aletheian
Aletheian
Aletheian are a progressive / melodic death metal Christian band that was formed in Lebanon, Pennsylvania in 1997 under the name "Crutch". They changed their name to "Aletheian" prior to the 2003 album Apolutrosis. Guitarist Alex Kenis joined Becoming the Archetype in 2007 and recorded the album...
. In July 2006, original guitarist Sean Cunningham
Sean Cunningham (musician)
Sean Cunningham is an American musician, singer-songwriter, recording artist, and former lead singer of New Zealand Rock band Atlas formed with Ben, , and most known for its debut album, Reasons for Voyaging .-Early life and education:Born and raised in Kentucky, where he attended the Crosby...
left the band for his last semester in college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
and to pursue a full-time career. Determined to press on, in the fall of 2006, the band went back into the studio with producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
Andreas Magnusson (The Agony Scene
The Agony Scene
The Agony Scene was a metalcore/deathcore band from Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. On October 8, 2008, frontman Mike Williams confirmed that the band had broken up in the spring of that year...
, Scarlet, The Black Dahlia Murder, Calico System
Calico System
Calico System was a metalcore band from St. Louis, Missouri. Eulogy Recordings was the label that Calico System were signed to as of Tuesday, July 17, 2007, when Calico System disbanded. via blog, they stated "CALICO SYSTEM IS BREAKING UP".-History:...
, Twelve Tribes
Twelve Tribes (band)
Twelve Tribes was a metalcore band, from Dayton, Ohio, USA. Originally established in 1998, the group is currently signed to the independent record label Ferret Music...
); The Physics of Fire
The Physics of Fire
The Physics of Fire is the second album by the Progressive death metal band Becoming the Archetype. The album features a departure from the band's previous metalcore sound and shifts to a more progressive death metal sound. While the metalcore influences are still there, they are not as prominent...
, was released May 2007. The band promoted the album on "The Trilogy of Hairs" (Bring Your Own Beard, Peel Your Wig Back, Born With a Mustache) tour. The beardskull artwork for the Bring Your Own Beard has been dubbed "Clifton", and is BTA's mascot, according to Jason Wisdom. Also, Brent Duckett took an indefinite break from the band in late 2007 for personal reasons.
Dichotomy (2008–2010)
In 2008, there were some important personnel changes. Alex Kenis left and was replaced by the band's former lead guitarist, Jon Star. In the spring of 2008 The band wrote the material for its 3rd studio album and recorded the project with stand-in drummer Brandon Lopez in Summer '08 with producer Devin TownsendDevin Townsend
Devin Garret Townsend is a Canadian musician and record producer. He was the founder, songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist in extreme metal band Strapping Young Lad from 1994 to 2007 and has had an extensive career as a solo artist....
. In November 2008, the band released Dichotomy. The album's concept was inspired by the Space Trilogy
Space Trilogy
The Space Trilogy, Cosmic Trilogy or Ransom Trilogy is a trilogy of science fiction novels by C. S. Lewis, famous for his later series The Chronicles of Narnia. A philologist named Elwin Ransom is the hero of the first two novels and an important character in the third.The books in the trilogy...
by C.S. Lewis and uses the same themes of biology vs technology, and man vs machine. The sixth song on the album, "Ransom" is, for instance, named after the main character of the trilogy.
On October 31, 2008, Brent "Duck" Duckett returned. The band was featured in the 2008 Nov/Dec issue of HM Magazine and tour support also followed. In October 2009, the band released a new single titled "Necrotizing Fasciitis". The single was packaged with a Necrotizing Fasciitis-themed shirt. "Clifton", the Beardskull, returned on the single's artwork.
In 2010, Becoming the Archetype's lead guitarist, Jon Star, left the band, and was replaced with guitarist Daniel Gailey.
Celestial Completion (2011–present)
Celestial CompletionCelestial Completion
Celestial Completion is the fourth studio album by the American heavy metal band Becoming the Archetype. The album was released on March 29, 2011 through Solid State Records....
is Becoming the Archetype's fourth studio album. They released a single on February 14, 2011, called The Magnetic Sky, in order to promote the album. The record includes many new concepts including parts with sitars and trombones. It was recorded in Glow in the Dark studios in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
with Matt Goldman from October through November 2010 and was released on March 29, 2011. Beginning on Friday, March 18, 2011, Becoming The Archetype released one new song from Celestial Completion per day until the album's release as a part of the "12 days of BTA." The video for The Magnetic Sky premiered at MetalSucks.net on March 29.
Etymology
The members are professed Christians, and the band take their name from Genesis 1:26: "God said, 'Let us make man in our image.'" Since Jesus Christ was the only person to ever be sinless, He was the archetypeArchetype
An archetype is a universally understood symbol or term or pattern of behavior, a prototype upon which others are copied, patterned, or emulated...
of humanity; the band's name reflects this belief. In 2008 interview with The Full Armor of God Broadcast, Jason Wisdom summed up the band's philosophy stating "If we are not making a difference for the Lord, then we are just out there making noise!"
Current members
- Chris McCane - lead vocals
- Brent "Duck" Duckett – drums (1999–2008, 2008–2011)
- Abishai Collingsworth - fill in drums (2011-Present)
- Seth "Count Seth" Hecox – guitar, keyboards, clean vocals (2004–present)
- Daniel Gailey – guitar, vocals (2010–present)
Former members
- Jason WisdomJason WisdomJason Wisdom is the lead vocalist and bass guitarist for the Christian Progressive death metal band Becoming the Archetype signed to Solid State Records and Century Media Records formed in 1999 in Dacula, Georgia. Though he was born and raised in a Christian home, he states that he was never...
– lead vocals, bass (1999–2011) - Jon Star – lead guitar (1999–2006, 2008–2010)
- Sean Cunningham – guitar (1999–2006)
- Wes Gaither – bass (2000–2003)
- Jacob Franklin – guitar (2001–2004)
- Alex Kenis – lead guitar, vocals (2006–2008)
- Brandon Lopez – drums (2008)
As The Remnant
- The RemnantThe Remnant (album)The Remnant is the first full length album by Christian metal band The Remnant before they changed their name to Becoming the Archetype for legal reasons...
(2003, Full-length, self-released) - Death, Destruction, and Mayhem (2004, demo)
As Becoming the Archetype
Albums| Year | Title | Label | Chart peaks | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
US Heat Top Heatseekers Top Heatseekers refers to either of two separate "Breaking and Entering" music charts issued weekly by Billboard Magazine: the Heatseekers Albums chart or the Heatseekers Songs chart. They were introduced by Billboard in 1993 with the purpose of highlighting the sales by new and developing musical... |
US Christ | |||
| 2005 | Terminate Damnation Terminate Damnation Terminate Damnation is the debut album by Christian progressive death metal band Becoming the Archetype. The title of the album was taken from the song Terminate Damnation from the Mortification album, Scrolls of the Megilloth.... |
Solid State Records | — | — | — |
| 2007 | The Physics of Fire The Physics of Fire The Physics of Fire is the second album by the Progressive death metal band Becoming the Archetype. The album features a departure from the band's previous metalcore sound and shifts to a more progressive death metal sound. While the metalcore influences are still there, they are not as prominent... |
— | 13 | 19 | |
| 2008 | Dichotomy Dichotomy (album) Dichotomy is the third studio album by metal band Becoming the Archetype. The album features guest appearances by Devin Townsend, Ryan Clark, a soprano named Suzanne Richter, and Aslan.The Album is based heavily on C.S... |
— | 19 | 41 | |
| 2011 | Celestial Completion Celestial Completion Celestial Completion is the fourth studio album by the American heavy metal band Becoming the Archetype. The album was released on March 29, 2011 through Solid State Records.... |
— | 7 | 18 | |
Singles
- "Necrotizing Fasciitis" (non-album digital single, 2009, Solid State)
Music videos
- "Endure" (The Physics Of Fire) – 2007
- "The Magnetic Sky" (Celestial Completion) – 2011
- "Breathing Light" (Celestial Completion) – 2011
External links
- Official site
- Becoming the Archetype at Encyclopaedia MetallumEncyclopaedia MetallumEncyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives is a website which lists bands from various forms of heavy metal music...
- Solid State Records