Search - Becoming the Archetype :: Terminate Damnation

Welcome.

Nicholas Adam Chupka | Derwood, MD | 10/28/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Four and a half stars



So you want to become the archetype. Take a look at the back of the CD. See the guys who look like Avenged Sevenfold's trifling and trendy younger brothers? Still want to become the archetype? And what of this Solid State records business? Alright, let's just throw the CD in...



(55 minutes later...)



Holy metal mayhem Batman!



I read such great reviews for this album, there was just no way I could pass it up for the price of $9.99, despite my reservations concerning the label and the back cover. I was SURE this must be another mediocre metalcore band.



Not so my friends. This is metal on many fronts. The album opens with a Transylvanian synth passage before launching into a blast of fury. For a few seconds, you will hesitate, and think all your preconceptions will prove true, but then the dual guitar attack will veer off into a run reminscient of Necrophagist's or Children of Bodom's ability.



Throughout the album, you will hear echoes of Meshuggah, In Flames, Opeth, and many other metal bands, but this band is not simply a clone. And do not be fooled into thinking In Flames "owns" these guys. Nothing they have put out recently matches the intensity of this album, and even at its peak, In Flames never showed this kind of technical musicianship, even if they did write better songs.



No, one thing you can expect to love about this album is the talent of the band members. Changes in speed, time signature switches, furious blastbeats, tempered rhythms, earth shattering guitar solos, and progressive, complex riffing make Terminate Damnation a truly memorable listen.



I must add, too, how much I enjoy the acoustic classical passages, which are more disconnected from the songs than the fluidly integrated passages indicative of a band like Opeth. It is obvious these guys are masters of their trades, and true students of their music.



Rounding out the diversity of this treasure is a stab at epic songwriting, "Elegy". I find it interesting how the lyrics for this song match those of so many other death metal bands: "Death reigns over the earth, oppressing justice and truth, nations plagued by despair are collapsing hopelessly into themselves", and yet, this band approaches these feelings from a Christian viewpoint, while most other death metal bands...well...don't. I don't really have a point to go with that, just that it's interesting.



Anyway, this song is mostly a piece of perfection. The first leg of the track contains some sick death metal progressions (and some dud moments too), before retreating into a depressingly poignant piano passage. The last movement of the track, aptly titled "Triumph", adds that invigorating Denouement one can expect to hear at the end of any quality, epic track.



Despite the obvious mounds of garbage hitting the metal shelves these days, the sheer number of bands and the age of the internet have still guaranteed us a constant inlfux of great metal bands. Becoming the Archetype has convinced me it plans on being one of those bands that will forge ahead and blaze the true path of metal. Any metal fan would be nuts not to follow along."

Holy Awesome Metal

Aaron R. Headley | killeen, TX | 04/06/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I really dislike those ignorant jerks (to put it in polite and unbannable terms) who continually say oh these guys are christians therefore they are not metal. shut up. who cares what they sing about really. if they want to be christians let them, its called freedom of religion.



its funny these people. Go to a Deicide review. on there these same people i mentioned above will be complaining about the christians talking about deicide's lyrical content, saying "its just music lighten up". yeah, i say HYPOCRITE to you folks. ha ha!



and to just ignore and forget this band just because of their lyrical content is a horrible mistake. these guys are very talented musicians that make brutally heavy music, but at the same time sounding unique and original, not like half the bands comning out nowadays.



this album did take a little getting used to. you know, when you first hear an album and your like "ehh its okay" and then later down the road your like "AWESOME!!!' thats what this album was like.



my favorite songs are probably ex nihlio, elegy and the epigone. trivial paradoxym is a really weird and heavy song that just seems to go all over the place, and one man parade is an awesome straight forward rocker. the second half of elegy is just beautiful with the piano to guitar to the brutal end. they are coming out with a new album in may, looking forward to it.



its kind of hard to put these guys into a catagory. they dont really sound like anyone else. but its kind of progressive sounding like opeth and at times melodic like dark tranquility.



Yes this is a christian band. their lyricals are very meaningful and touching, so if you are a devout christian that happens to like metal this is a great band for you. and if your not christian, they still are a unique and talented band that deserves to be heard."

Thank God for BTA

I Lay Sleepless in My Grave | 07/05/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album off of Solid State records is simply amazing! The vocals are low and poetic at the same time. And to FCVoxBoi: why did you say they can't scream those kind of words? They can scream whatever they want, and they sound good doing it. It is a welcome change from all the gore-based lyrics of Gorerotted, Cannibal Corpse, or Gorgoroth. So lay off of trying to tell people what they can or can't scream. They sound great. Anyway, for newcomers, this album is a great place to start with positive lyrics and good heavy music. Plus, it would be a good thing to do to support BTA because they are a new band trying to get their promising careers started. Get acquainted with metal and support this band at the same time. Pick it up ASAP!"