Becoming The Archetype - Terminate Damnation

Published Sunday 4th June 2006
Becoming The Archetype - Terminate Damnation
Becoming The Archetype - Terminate Damnation

STYLE: Hard Music
RATING 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
OUR PRODUCT CODE: 14208-10995
LABEL: Solid State TND73987
FORMAT: CD Album
ITEMS: 1
RELEASE DATE: 2005-10-01
RRP: £12.99

Reviewed by Greg Sammons

Woah! This is an epic piece of metal mastery! Stick all possible elements of powerful and passionate metal into the melting pot and you come out with an amazing piece of technical and progressive, yet intense and brutal, metal. And to think this is their debut! I haven't heard a better debut on Solid State since Demon Hunter: aptly it was that band's Ryan Clark who spotted Becoming The Archetype and brought them to Solid State/Tooth & Nail. Sure they have some great fast and powerful tracks that last the typical length, but it's the five-minute-plus tracks that really take your breath away - particularly "The Epigone", "Ex Nihilo" and the 11-minute long "Elegy"! The technical brilliance on these tracks, and the album as a whole, simply takes your breath away - especially when the pay off from a three-four minute foray in progressive wizardry is a bone crunching breakdown that satisfies the strongest of cravings! I think specifically of "The Epigone"; with its dramatic opening, its guitar meanderings matched by guttural vocals and then, wait for it, here it comes, "THERE IS NO OPPOSITION" shrieked in repetition, followed by the fattest breakdown you'll ever need. The closest comparison I can muster is perhaps Opeth or an early Extol - certainly the Scandinavian sound seems stronger than the American one. Lyrically this album deals with simple yet powerful themes, leaving a clear message of hope, love and war. But you almost don't care what they're singing about because the music is powerful enough as it is!

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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Reader Comments

Posted by Jonathan in Luton, United Kingdom @ 01:56 on Sep 10 2006

Amazing, amazing band.
Take the time to really listen to the lyrics (or if you're lazy google them) as some of the poetry is beautiful.
A band really blessed with talent.
Top notch!



Posted by David in Newcastle, UK @ 15:52 on Aug 20 2006

Ma mum bought this album to try and get me into sum christian music all ive ever heard is the stuff like tim hughs an i cudnt stand it these people are amazing greg is an epic peice of metal mastery GET THESE GUYS ON THE MAIN STAGE AT DOWNLOAD!



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