Becoming The Archetype
Children of the Great Extinction


3.0
good

Review

by pizzamachine USER (635 Reviews)
August 31st, 2022 | 70 replies


Release Date: 2022 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Set phasers on standard!

My immediate thought was, “I’ve heard this before”. Indeed, this metalcore/death metal album is not captivatingly fresh, and remains mostly in the average metalcore territory. The breakdowns are nothing outstanding, the growls interest but are run of the mill, and yet I enjoyed the music within. I must explain this phenomenon. Admittedly, I enjoy generic music now and then, and there’s just enough modern production on this metalcore cake to please the hungry masses. However, like a typical birthday cake, the sweetness of the icing can’t make up for the store-bought, mundane flavour. Still, I like cake anyway.

This is an appealing metalcore album that comes with wonderful teeth polish, but weak mint flavouring. The production fills in some gaps of non-imagination, but you can only butter up standard riffs for so long before cracks are revealed. The production is silky smooth, but the riffs and growls go down so smooth that they don’t punch hard - they only lightly tickle. It’s probably a strange complaint to focus on but I’ll be honest, I zoned out the music when I played it in the car. There was less head banging involved and more cringing at how Becoming The Archetype refused to set a rigorous pace. Essentially, the riffs were nifty but their chaos level was low with a lack of decent hooks. There was some standout guitar work, but forgettable riffs are as prolific as the gems, and the gems are few and far between - there’s some nice shredding in the first track, but otherwise riffs are so basic it practically sounds like nu-metal at times.

There’s some decent riffs in here but compared to other metalcore bands absolutely crushing heads in the ring I fail to see what Becoming The Archetype bring to the game. I will say the clean vocals were squeaky clean - the auto-tune was generous to say the least. The singing was indeed decent, at times quite good, but overwhelmingly electronic sounding from the auto-tune at points, and overall standard metalcore vocals sounding like old school Demon Hunter. The album is just good enough, it gave me a new metalcore album to enjoy for a bit, but tracks are so formulaic with predictable riffs and very similar growls it gets old fast. I seriously doubt this album will be remembered much farther in the future, but for now, it’s a nifty distraction from day-to-day life. Average riffs are still riffs, and this is at least a well played album with stable songwriting, and well produced modern metal. It could’ve been better but it’s not bad by any means.



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user ratings (73)
3.4
great


Comments:Add a Comment 
Pikazilla
August 31st 2022


31204 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

Rando fact: Jason was a reviewer on a now-defunct music website I used to frequent back in 2012. I remember him awarding The 2nd Law a perfect score.

Emim
August 31st 2022


36077 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

I may be a bit biased, as they're probably my favorite band, but I think you're underselling it a bit. My actual ranking is really in the 3.9-4.1 range, fanboyism aside. I appreciated that they didn't jump on current trends and delivered an album that really feels like the same band that wrote Dichotomy and Celestial Completion. I thought the cleans fit pretty well with the sound, and are the best version of clean vox they've had to date. Jason sounds as good as ever and knocked it out with the lyrics too.



Critically, I did initially find some tracks to be a bit samey and the high points don't hit as hard as they do on Dichotomy. Not having a dedicated lead guitar is noticeable on certain tracks and the keyboard is absent a bit too much. After Celestial Completion I think this was a bit too safe in the songwriting department but after a 10+ year hiatus I think a safe, solid album might be for the better



In any case, I'm glad it finally has a review and I might offer a contrary viewpoint sometime soon after I give it some time to settle.

Emim
August 31st 2022


36077 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

Ok, now that rating is too low 😡

Lucman
August 31st 2022


5537 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

It's a good album, I'm just not enthusiastic about this style of music anymore. Solid return for them, though.

Robert048
August 31st 2022


43 Comments


I miss thenewreview.net. That's the website you're talking about, Pikazilla.

ToSmokMuzyki
August 31st 2022


12451 Comments


what a pretty cover

guessing this sux tho

FreakMachine
August 31st 2022


1913 Comments


This is a really decent review Pizza, and it's also making me realize what Gnocchi was tryna tell me the other day about comparing things to other stuff to demonstrate a point. Have a pos good sir!

Pikazilla
August 31st 2022


31204 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

"I miss thenewreview.net. That's the website you're talking about, Pikazilla."



Indeed. The facebook group died some years later too : (

Orb
August 31st 2022


9493 Comments


Cant wait to slap a 2.5 on this bad boi

Emim
August 31st 2022


36077 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

Y'all suck

mkmusic1995
Contributing Reviewer
August 31st 2022


2028 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

I really enjoyed this record. I preferred the more proggy/tech death moments over the straight metalcore songs but I'm pleased with the total outcome. Greatly written review as well. pos'd

FreakMachine
August 31st 2022


1913 Comments


Please don’t ever compare me to Skele, thanks. [2]

Emim
August 31st 2022


36077 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

I'd prefer he not besmirch this thread with his presence.

Emim
August 31st 2022


36077 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

13 hours, not Michael Bay's best work.

MalConstant
September 1st 2022


290 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Much better than 'I Am'. Probably the best melodic metalcore album to come out all year.

Koris
Staff Reviewer
September 1st 2022


21969 Comments


If semicolon usage is a crime, then I'm gonna get the death penalty :3

Emim
September 2nd 2022


36077 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

Semicolons are like "whom"; they're never right.

Emim
September 2nd 2022


36077 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

;¬;

Minortimbo12
September 2nd 2022


1648 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Great review. Album is really impresive. Pos'd

Minortimbo12
September 2nd 2022


1648 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

or should i say

Album is really impressive. Great review; pos'd



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