I Am

Back when they got started, BtA had some interesting new stuff to offer the world of heavy metal. They were technical death metal for one. And that they're Christian and doing that music scene was different. And so was Jasen Wisdom's very unique, experimentalesque vocals. Now, on their latest, only lead guitarist Seth "Count Seth" Hecox is the fossil of the group. Everyone else has replaced everyone else (everyone with a reason), and the new singer, Chris McKane, simply doesn't sound like his vocals are right for the group. Let alone with the image he presents. When BtA started, they also did some very interesting things with the sounds they made, including having 2-in-1 guitar solo on one particular song on their debut album. On that album and their previous before this one, they had either one song or consecutive collection of songs with some Latin thrown in for good measure. In this album, a concept album dealing with the characteristics of God through His own eyes, there's really none of the groundbreaking steps they took in the past to make this very different from the general metal scene, sadly to say. Not to mention it seemed that Dan Seagrave probably got a little lazy with the artwork and done some tweaking from his artwork on TDWP's Dead Throne album. Hopefully, on their next turn, they'll get back to the risky, over-the-top, groundbeaking style that made them renown in the first place, because they don't fit when they try to sound like general death metal.

Not the worst prog-death-metal/metalcore album I've heard, but far from the best that BTA has done. The new singer is also merely okay. Jason Wisdom has a depth to his voice that is lacking here. It may improve over time. This album has some good hooks and is a "logical" progression from Celestial Completion, but it's missing that full prog feel that the prior works have in spades. Again, decent album, but not the introduction you'd want if you've never heard BTA before. (Either of their first three are better for that)

I like it, I like it a lot. This group is talented on, dare I say it, so many levels. I don't regret this purchase in any way.Praise Jehovah and give thanks for His only Begotten Son Jesus Christ who's name literally means Jehovah is salvation, also meditate on what the Bible says about Jesus - "For [the death] that he died, he died with reference to sin once for all time".

is the review I agree with most. I found this band from Dichotomy and I still run through that album from start to finish, repeating 10 or 12 times before I need to hear something else for a little while.After hearing about all the lineup changes, this band has no original members in it and really is not Becoming The Archetype anymore. You can hear that fact in every single aspect of this album. The clean vocals are really disheartening, sounding a little nasally and as though he can not decide if he wants the gutteral growling or As I Lay Dying type clean vocals. The album is bass muddled, which overpowers all other spectrums. Previous albums have had an aspect of creativity and progression that is unorthodox but still catchy and likable, and as the other review said this album has gone almost completely metalcore. It is heavy only because it is fashionable.The former lead singer stated that he left the band because it was not about the love of music anymore and you can hear this loud and clear in this album. I will give them the benefit of doubt that maybe the label was pressing them hard for a finished product and this is the result.Past BTA albums have been something that I can take pride in listening to, but this album turned me away a little bit. I am already looking to the next album to see if some of the critiques have been taken to heart.

Becoming the Archetype has been around for a while, this being their 5th CD. They've gone through quite a few band members as well, but these things have a great effect on this CD. I Am is a metal masterpiece. Just excellently crafted the whole way around. This CD should be a top priority for anyone into the metal genre. They lyrics are great, the music is just fantastic. You really can't get any better than this.

Awesome band! Not only can they sing, they can scream and even play some awesome ballads. The most important part is they are a fatih based band, so all thier music revolves around thier faith in the Lord. This is one of my favorite bands

I'll keep this short and sweet!The Great:The sound on this album is awesome and I love the direction the band is going.Production quality and lead guitars are wonderful!The not-so-good:1. The new vocalist sounds fine except you can't understand most of the words he's saying unlike the previous vocals which were similar but clearer.2. GUITAR SOLOS MIA - There are a few moments in this album like in track 4 that BEG for longer guitar solos. The lead guitar begs to be given solos and they are sorely missed.I think and hope that as the new lineup has more time together, they will produce a killer next album. Add some polish to the new vocals and some longer killer guitar solos, plus sprinkle on a little more personality in the songs, and it will be EPIC!

Excellent album. I will not bore you by going song by song. From start to finish, the every breakdown and thrash session is magnificent! This album will bring in new BTA listeners and easily sate veteran listeners. In a nutshell, if you like metal, buy this CD.