Track Listing

1. Mountain of Souls
2. Dichotomy
3. Artificial Immortality
4. Self Existent
5. St. Anne's Lullaby
6. Ransom
7. Evil Unseen
8. How Great Thou Art
9. Deep Heaven
10. End of the Age

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #38445 in Music
• Released on: 2008-11-24
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .21 pounds

Customer Reviews

Best BTA yet.
First off Amazon has the title listed as 3 and it's actually Dichotomy so that's weird though it is their third album. That said the biggest thing here is that Devin Townsend produces this and if you are current in the modern death metal scene you've probably stumbled across his name. His main outlet, I would say, was a band called Strapping Young Lad but he's played in a few bands and produced others.
So for the album at hand. I was a little leery that Devin might try to move them in a more SYL direction but in actuality that didn't happen much. There are a few things that reflect his style but he leaves the core sound of BTA in place and gives them what feels like more focus. The songs are cleaner, more muscular all the things that BTA was on the verge of doing have been reached here. In a lot of ways, especially the drumming, it seems less manic then the past two albums which works well with the sound BTA projects. Don't get me wrong, they are still a fast, harsh death band with some core just with less dross on the edges. They are now in the class of elite modern death metal bands yet may not ever be as known as others due to lyrical content. Maintaining the focus on God and that in a positive way may keep many listeners away which is too bad because this is some strong music if you like this style. In my top 5 of the year for sure.

Wow!
Becoming the Archetype was a band that I had to 'get into'. I first purchased Terminate Damnation due to word of mouth and wasn't too impressed on the first spin. It took awhile to grow on me as most really worth while bands tend to do, but when I finally 'got it', I couldn't stop listening! The musical spirit filled adventure this band takes you on is like no other!

The Physics of Fire is no different, but I am not writing a review for that record. Dichotomy, There are no words that can do this record justice... or at least just mine. From the first second to the last this record will pull you in and leave you begging for more, as a matter of fact I really do want more, this record only has 10 tracks and one of which is a short acoustic instrumental. If only they could have included two or three more tracks I would truly be satisfied.

One last thing:
I am one that does not pay attention to lyrics whatsoever, but the lyrics on this record are faith based, truly heart felt and inspirational. I am a Christian but have never felt this way through gospel music (BORING!), or any other type of christian music, but the lyrics on this record have truly moved me.

EXCELLENCE
This is a CD that I keep coming back to. It has a very mature, theatrical sound. The vocals really hit hard with a deep guttural strength, as well as the lyrics having the balance between being uplifting and yet painful in their honesty. I love track 6's haunting harpsichord intro, and track 9's synth-pop sound turned booming growl. The bass is deep and the guitars artistic. This is a new, honed style from a band that just keeps getting better.