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.

The album artwork was painted by Dan Seagrave, who has been commissioned to draw many metal album covers.

Artist/Band Information

Becoming the Archetype is a Christian progressive death metalhttp band signed to Solid State Records and Century Media Records (Europe) formed in 1999 in Dacula, Georgia. They have released three 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. BlabberJesus.net

History

Terminate Damnation (2004–2007)

Before joining Solid State Records, the band was called The Remnant and released an independent 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.http

In early 2006, the band announced that long-time guitarist Jon Star would be leaving the band to pursue a career in recording. He was replaced with Alex Kenis, who is also a member of the death metal band Aletheian. In April/May, the band was featured on the Hell Freezes Over Tour with Aletheian, Inked in Blood, and Society's Finest; in June, the band joined Demon Hunter, Zao, August Burns Red, and Spoken on the month-long Undying Tour, which ended at Cornerstone Festival. The band then toured with Himsa and later joined Arsis and Demiricous in the late summer through early fall.

The band's first tour of 2007 was a 24-date run in Europe with The Chariot and Shaped by Fate.

The Physics of Fire (2007–2008)

In July 2007, longtime-guitarist Sean Cunningham left the band for his last semester in college and to pursue a full-time career. In the fall, 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 BTA's mascot by Jason Wisdom.

Dichotomy (2008 onward)

In 2008, there were some important personnel changes. Alex Kenis left and was replaced by one of the band's former guitarists, Jon Star. On October 31, 2008, Brent "Duck" Duckett returned to Becoming the Archetype, and the band was featured in the 2008 Nov/Dec issue of HM Magazine. In November 2008, the band released their 3rd studio album, Dichotomy, produced by Devin Townsend. Dichotomy'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.http

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, returns on the single's artwork.

Fourth Studio Album

In 2010, Becoming the Archetype's lead guitarist, Jon Star, left the band. Jon was then replaced with guitarist Daniel Gailey. Becoming the Archetype is planning on recording a new album later this year. Their fourth studio album will be in the vein of their third studio album, Dichotomy, and will probably be recorded in Georgia.

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 archetype 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!"

Band members

Current members

* Jason Wisdom – lead vocals, bass guitar (1999-Present)

* Daniel Gailey – guitar (2010-present)

* Brent "Duck" Duckett – drums (1999–2008, 2008-Present)

* Seth "Count Seth" Hecox – guitar, keyboards (2004-Present)

Former members

* Sean Cunningham – guitar (1999–2007)

* Wes Gaither – bass guitar (2000–2003)

* Jacob Franklin – guitar (2001–2004)

* Alex Kenis – guitar, vocals (2006–2008)

* Brandon Lopez – drums (2008)

* Jon Star - guitar (1999–2006, 2008-2010)

Discography

As Nonexistent Failure

* In Loving Memory of Everything... I Never Had (2002, demo)

As The Remnant

* The Remnant (2003, Full-length, self-released)

* Death, Destruction, and Mayhem (2004, demo)

As Becoming the Archetype

Albums

Singles

* Necrotizing Fasciitis (Non-Album Digital Single, 2009, Solid State) "Go get Necrotizing Fasciitis! Embrace the Plague!" Official BtA blog @ MySpace

Music Videos

* Endure (The Physics Of Fire) -2007

References

Category:American death metal musical groups

Category:American Christian metal musical groups

Category:Heavy metal musical groups from Georgia (U.S. state)

Category:American metalcore musical groups

Category:Musical groups established in 1999

Category:American progressive metal musical groups

Category:Solid State Records artists

Category:American technical death metal musical groups

Category:Century Media Records artists

de:Becoming the Archetype

fr:Becoming the Archetype

it:Becoming the Archetype

pt:Becoming the Archetype