These metal nerds may enjoy long discussions about science and philosophy over making it rain or smashing hotel rooms, but when it comes to deep, dark and cerebral metal there is none fresher than Becoming The Archetype. Clifton, BTA’s bearded skull mascot, and the boys have once again rallied together to hammer out 11 tracks of face melting metal mayhem that will leave your body bruised, your mind sweating and your appetite for something epic awakened, if not exhausted. With the release of Celestial Completion on Solidstate Records, Becoming The Archetype has once again raised the bar for authentic, brutal and invigoratingly heavy music. BTA’s signature sound weaves a beauty into the brutality accompanied by a complexity of tonal components that few bands of the dark genres are willing to attempt.

There’s picking up a guitar, there’s jamming as a band then there are the dynamics of layers within music, harmonies, subtleties and various tweaks that take something from good to epic. As a student of music and a band that has made a mark in pushing your sound, what are some of the intricacies of the writing process that the casual fan may not be aware of?
Seth Hecox – Guitar/Keys: We put a ton of thought into each song and really work to refine it. Songwriting is a bit lost in the heavy music scene and we’re focusing on that a lot lately. It’s not as easy as it seemed at first. But it helps that we have so many instruments at our disposal. And as if we didn’t have enough already, we brought in horns, violin, sitar and female operatic vocals!

When do you know if you’ve gone too far and the band has ventured into the territory of too processed, too produced, too epic or too technical?
SH: That’s a difficult one. The best defense against any error is to be aware of it and constantly judge yourself to see where you stand so you know when you’re approaching an overkill. I will also say that being extreme in almost any way is usually acceptable in small doses. The problem is when you get too extreme in one facet for an entire album. Then you really risk being one-dimensional.

You’ve had some success with instigating social trends (ie beard-core) and the scene is primed for a shift in creative expression that it can again beat to death a thousand different ways – do you think BTA will be the instigator of a new trend of Metal-nerds?
SH: Haha, I sure hope so! You know, I think a lot of our fans and general metal fans were secretly nerds already, just like we were. We figured we’d come out of the nerd closet and reveal ourselves and people are quickly identifying with that. Being the Kings of Nerd Metal is a nice title and we’ll wear the crown as kindly as we can.

With the release of Celestial Celebration, what are some of the messages or themes you hope listeners will grasp?
SH: Well you’ve already picked up on one. Some favorite band hobbies are reading, playing card-based Role Playing Games and watching Big Bang Theory and sci fi movies. Those activities made their way into the album musically and lyrically. We’re also all about having fun and not dwelling on the negative. Those themes are also evident in both the music and lyrics of Celestial Completion. Who needs more drama and worry and negativity in their lives? Isn’t life already full of enough regret and sadness and frustration? We think so. That’s why we’re giving our listeners a release from that both with the CD and our live shows.

Seagrave and Invisible Creature put a killer package together for the album, what is meaning behind the cover?
SH: Yeah, Dan really did a great job didn’t he? Basically, the painting on the cover is a picture of the overall concept of the album. Celestial Completion is about the great things that happen at the end of the world. When this world dissolves or even when your personal world crumbles, there is a moment of promise. There is a revealing of yourself that doesn’t happen otherwise. That transcendence and completion is what we’re longing for and it may look terrible in the physical world, but it can be beautiful spiritually and mentally and emotionally.

You all are still working a variety of jobs while continuing to push forward with the music, have you learned any new secrets to monetizing the music or are you still in the developmental stages of becoming profitable musicians?
SH: We have secrets but you’ll never get them from us! Never! If every band knew how to make literally dozens of dollars like we do, everybody would be scrambling to be in a band, wouldn’t they? And that just wouldn’t do. No, not at all.

Some of the treats that are accompanying this album include an RPG based music video, metal-ska cameo by Five Iron Frenzy, Nerds of Metal promos, and a whole host of tricks–how have you been able to keep a fresh approach to faith and music?
SH: Faith is always relevant. Because it’s bigger than us, it never grows dull to those that jump in and submerge themselves. Most things in this world grow stale rather quickly because they’re so small! So meaningless, really. Yet we love to worship them. Amazing, isn’t it? But spirituality and faith are larger and more eternal than we can understand and for that reason, they continue to be vibrant in your life after countless experiences and discussions. And music is a powerful doorway to spiritual truths. I think about those things and marvel that I get to participate!

“How Great Thou Art” was an inspiration to many who believe the worship songs in the heavenly realms are more BTA than Gaither, how seriously are you considering a hardcore/metal worship album?
SH: Haha, we’ve considered it quite a lot, actually. But it’s just something that has to happen naturally. If we force it, it’s gonna come out all wrong. We’d love to do an EP of hymns, but we only wanna do it if it’s gonna be hi quality juju, ya know?

Have any other bands mentioned they would collaborate with you on this effort?
SH: Not yet, but I bet we’d find some willing partners. Suggestions?

You mention this last trip to South Africa as having left a particular impression on you as a band, what were some of the most meaningful experiences you had while on tour there?
SH: Well, standing on African soil is pretty powerful in itself. Aside from that, the tour was handled in such a way that we were able to join in with a community of ministry that already existed there. It’s something special to be able to join in and work side by side with others that have the same goal, especially when they’re on the other side of the globe.

Jason seems to have been blessed with the natural metal voice, has the voice developed over the years of was it truly a gift that just bellowed from day 1 at the mic?
SH: Reports at the hospital indicate that Jason was born fully bearded and screaming like a banshee. It’s certainly a marvel of modern birthology, to be sure.

There is a lot up in the air right now as far as the NFL negotiations go between players and owners, what is the BTA and Solidstate Records relationship like right now – have you recently renewed your contract with them or is that coming up soon?
SH: We don’t anticipate a lockout for the 2011-2012 season of BTA. The player’s union has found some common ground with the front office of T&N and a long-lasting and fruitful relationship is anticipated. Unless they extend the season to 18 games…

Becoming The Archetype is (Metal – Georgia): Seth – guitar, keys; Duck – drums; Jason – bass, lead vocals; Alex – guitar, vocals. Latest full length release Celestial Completion on Solidstate Records dropped March 2011. Keep up to date with band at the BTA Website (www.celestialcompletion.com)

Hurdcore.com is open to new partnerships to promote local music. Contact us to discuss opportunities for album reviews, event promotion or content management – hurdcore@gmail.com (be specific in subject line). Keep rocking local, friend us on myspace and join us facebook.

I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. – Jesus

This is an encore blitz of questions with Becoming The Archetype Drummer Duck, see the full interview from May of 2010 HERE. Becoming The Archetype’s lays the metal down in epic fashion on their latest album Dichotomy from Solidstate Records.

Any song that gives you the most trouble live?
Duck We have a new guitar player so we have actually gotten back to the nitty gritty of even the classics so they seem much easier now. There is a new song that has been getting me lately though.

If I had an extra $1000, the first piece of equipment that I would purchase for the band is…
Duck I couldn’t even begin to tell you, food or gas gift cards.

Trend that you have noticed that you will never join?
Duck Crab Core

Currently reading Blue Like Jazz (again), listening to Between the Buried and Me/ Drake and Jay-Z and watching Lost, Friday Night Lights, Dexter.

Any crazy pre-performance rituals?
Duck Usually I eat too much and then try to stretch untill I feel better, or I work on a beat I can’t play.

When you are a diva/rockstar the three things that you will demand be in your dressing room are?
Duck Air Conditioning, Work out equipment, Guinness

Band you have shared the stage with that blew you away? Duck Extol, Demon Hunter

Top 5 songs in your personal ipod right now?
Duck This too shall be made right -Derek Webb, (album) The Great Misdirect – Between The Buried And Me, Sunshine the Werewolf – Dillinger Escape Plan, 99 Problems – Jay-Z, I’m Goin Big – Drake

Best and worst experience at a show?
Duck Man That is the toughest question yet. Best……great crowd, great energy. This could happen anywhere. Also, host homes. Those sometimes will make up for a bad show. Bad experience could also break a night. Equipment breaking or terrible injury probably wins out but I can’t really be specific.

Becoming The Archetype > Metal/Hardcore > Georgia > Solidstate Records
BTA’s third full length album with Solidstate, Dichotomy is available now wherever most records are sold – see BTA on Solidstate or BTA Myspace for more info and tour dates.

Becoming The Archetype is: Jason – Vocals/Bass; Count Seth – Guitar/Keys; Duck – Drums; Alex – Guitar. (see hurdcore.com interview w/ Count Seth of BTA)

For more information on local music, band interviews, concert updates and promotional content. Local bands, artists, concerts, venues, tours and events from rock, hip-hop, metal, pop, punk, hardcore, acoustic, indie, organic, progressive, funk, rap and more. Stay tuned to hurdcore.com, friend us on myspace and join us facebook Hurdcore is open to partnerships to promote local arts, music and entertainment as well as advertising opportunities – hurdcore@gmail.com – be specific in “subject” line.

Singing dreams may start in the shower, but once you’ve stepped out of the security of home and suited up for the stage, how do you keep your dreams from washing down the drain? All over the world there are bands who are emerging from behind the roll up door, to light up stages upon their local scenes, possibly even touring through their home states and if fortunate enough to embark upon national or international ventures. For love of music, for conviction of a cause or simply to chase the Benjamins, whether these artists are mega stars, start ups or somewhere in the middle, they share in the same challenge to keep the fire burning internally and bridge a connection with potential fans. The music landscape has become a hyrid of evolution utilizing the best of both traditional music powers in combination with user friendly technologies such as social networking and variations of pro tools. How does a band who stands in both worlds, a band who is neither an internet phenom nor a corporate chemistry experiment, continue to push itself to harvest the best of its internal creativity and build upon the foundation of support from a seasoned label? The members of Georgia based metal band Becoming The Archetype continue to helm a battleship of brutality that combines conviction with talent, grassroots craze with an international following as well as an epic metal sound with melodic progressions. With sticks ready for battle, BTA drummer Duck took some time to share his perspective on life, music and chasing the dream. Whether you are a fan or an artist in the grind, words from a veteran of the scene can encourage and challenge, especially from a man who wants to, “help you unfold your dang arms.”

As you look back on your discography, do you enjoy each release as its own monster or do you hear more of a progression towards what you’d like Becoming The Archetype to be?
Duck I would have to say yes to both. I like each album for what it is, but I love to hear how we have developed as song writers as well as entertainers.

To my ears, Becoming The Archetype has been on a steady ascent towards more of an epic sounding metal, there is a depth to your music that boasts both maturity that honors your roots and a perpetual growth that is challenges your genre. Who have been some of your influences that have shaped your approach to music?
Duck Individually we all listen to all kinds of things. This means we bring every kind of sound and colour to the table. We enjoy country, hip-hop, jazz, classical, and metal. As far as the epic metal, we are influenced by: Extol, Opeth, Dream Theater, Living Sacrifice.

Do you remember the first metal album you ever listened to?
Duck I think it was Embodyment: “Embrace the Eternal”, I just couldn’t get it out of my head. Either that or Living Sacrifice: “Reborn”.

Do you remember the moment when you decided you had to get the metal out of your system and the only solution was performing?
Duck I always knew I needed to perform, but metal came in around 2000.

Without a doubt in my mind your song “Ransom” was my favorite song from 2009 – from the haunting opening keys to the climactic chorus, “My hands have taught me terrible things, His hands have set me free!” I’m always enthralled with the depth of conviction that comes across in your lyrics especially when paired with your creative brutality.

Have you reached a place as a band where you can get the instruments to transfer all of the components you are attempting to express –where do you feel Becoming The Archetype is at in terms of mastering the communication process through music?
Duck I think that for the most part we have. Music has a way of expressing what we cannot say with words. If anything we have said many things already with our music that we do not have the vocabulary to express.

Last time we spoke, Count Seth was rather prolific in stating,

“Music is a portal to something deep within yourself. Other things can take you to those places, but for many people, music is the strongest connection to that place in their heart where the mind can’t enter. When you hear a certain riff, your heart feel like it gets pushed over two inches in your chest and there is no explaining it. That is what you try to do with a song. If your music doesn’t have that effect on a substantial amount of people, you’re doing something wrong.” (see hurdcore.com interview w/ Count Seth of BTA)

How have you seen your music connect with fans – are you at a point where you carry enough swag with you that connection is almost automatic or do you still have to work to get the crowd moving?
Duck That is a good question. The answer is a “yes” and “no”. At our shows there are always those who would not care how well we played and they would be blown away, in a manner of speaking of course. And there are those fans who are always positioned to go either way. I feel like I am that way too. I like the challenge of having to win people over. But, that assumes that they can be won. The world is fast becoming a place of cynicism. It is our language and currency. It is almost the norm for people to pay to go to shows only to go and fold their arms. I also admit to being that way. I hope that with our material, especially our new stuff where we can help people get back to when they thought things were cool. Or maybe they will just have fun. I am not sure how well that covered all of that question but it was certainly on my heart. We want to help you unfold your dang arms.

In the vein of observing the connection between artist and fan through music, I have a question that is perhaps pseudo-psychological…I recently finished Warren Wiersbe’s “50 People Every Christian Should Know” where he observes that Great Awakening preacher Jonathan Edwards, “Would first aim for the heart and move the affections before trying to instruct the mind.” I don’t believe Edwards nor Wiersbe argue for the power of formula over the Spirit, yet a principle is observed. Whether you group heart/affections or you treat this as heart, affections and mind distinctly, there is a perceived formula for connection with people:

HEART –> AFFECTIONS –> MIND.
In observing artists connecting to/with fans through music, would you say the channel is as simply normative as something like:
BEAT (music) –> ENERGY (performance) –> CONTENT (lyrics)?
Duck That is a very intricately worded question! Simply put, people are drawn to authenticity. So, if our spirit and heart are obvious and authentic; people are more willing to see and hear our words and thoughts. We have been captivated by grace and His kindness leads us to repentance. The fans for the most part are like a mob sometimes and when a fraud is spotted they quickly expel them. This taken to mind and heart; we should aim to be the best at all things that we do and do them with all of our hearts. They will see our good works and give Glory to whom it is due.

From what I understand, you have all taken more of a hands-on approach to editing and production, what is the writing and recording process like for Becoming The Archetype? Which comes first the music or the lyrics?
Duck The music certainly comes first. Sometimes the lyrics are not even all of the way complete before we are most of the way done recording the album. I think it is the setting of the studio that really lets us open up. The writing process is different for almost every song. For the most part however, one of us will come up with some riffs or a song skeleton. That person will bring it to practice or record it. We will all listen together and try whatever they envisioned and then elaborate from there. Sometimes it goes differently.

I know you have been playing at least one new riff at shows, where are you at in terms of preparing to head to the studio with new material?
Duck As of right now we have the skeletons of approx. 11 songs. A skeleton consists of a few riffs with some variation and some suggested transitions. We typically run through all of the ideas in pairs and then add one member at a time. It is a lot of fun but admittedly very exhausting.

Dudes! South African Tour in September 2010 sounds incredibly exciting. This will not be your first trip overseas but will be your first tour in that continent, what do you know about the state of metal in South Africa?
Duck As far as I know thy have a scene down there. Our message boards and sales reports tell us that they want us soon. We want them back. I really do not have much information on their scene but I know there are some pretty good bands coming out of there.

Metal can be pretty cut throat in America, have you found that fans are more or less receptive to Becoming The Archetype in places like Europe?
Duck Everyone in Europe has been amazing. I think they jump at the opportunity to come see us there because they don’t take us for granted. We are not just over there all the time.

What have been some of your favorite spots to play overseas?
Duck I love playing in Norway, Germany, Denmark, I really love them all.

Who have been your favorite mates overseas?
Duck We have so many friends over there it is so hard to think of who to name. Tobe our European tour manager, all of the guys from Sub-scene Norway. So many good memories flooding my brain right now.

Coming from local band to blazing trails with the Solid State crew and storming across the globe, how has the music scene changed over the last few years?
Duck It has changed through the sway of the internet. When we started it was a big thing but you still had to play whenever you could. Now, some of these bands are coming out of the woodwork it seems by virtue of Facebook and Myspace and other social networking sites.

How do you stay fresh in your approach to music?
Duck We stay fresh in our approach by branching out. We love to dive into other genres. We also try to lear other music and play with other people. It keeps us from getting musical cramps.

Do you remember your first show, your first tour, your first studio session?
Duck I remember our first and last everything. Our first show was a battle of the bands in which we were booed and mooned. Our first “tour” was mostly Virginia. That is a long story. And, our first real studio was with a guy named “Steve”. He was awesome and I realized then that I loved recording.

You are based out of Georgia, what were the early days for BTA like?
Duck The early days of the band consisted of collecting ourselves every Sunday at my house to practice and write. We practiced whether we needed it or not. I think that was god for our work ethic. We also played any show we could get onto, including some really awkward moments with Youth groups and New Years parties.

How has being a part of Solid State benefited what you want to accomplish as a band?
Duck Being on Solid State was what I wanted to do since I figured out what it was. That is the honest truth. It was a dream come true. They have let us do anything we wanted with the songs that we wrote and albums we have prepared. They have paid for us to record with some of the best in the business and bailed us out numerous times from the side of the road. They also give us killer distribution and promotion. What more could you want?

What were some of the highlights in 2009 for Becoming The Archetype?
Duck Playing the festival circuit is the highlight of almost every year for myself and the band collective. But, I would say that since we got to go to Europe that had to top it. That tour flat wore us out but, I would do it again in a second.

What are you looking forward to most in 2010?
Duck We look forward to this super busy summer. We are touring with some upstanding fellas. We are also heading to South Africa which has blown my mind a few times to think about.

You’ve been very straight forward in your lyrics and clear about your faith as a band. What do you do personally to keep your faith fresh, especially when on the road?
Duck Well, I read the scriptures daily and keep accountable with someone at home. I use the “Little Book of Hours” and the Lectionary to guide my studies. I also listen to podcasts and teachings from my favorite thinkers, as well as try to spend adequate time in silence.

Do you do anything corporately as a band to keep each other on point?
Duck To keep on point we like to play sports with each other and other bands. We also like to attend movies pretty regularly. Sometimes if a member is making bad decisions we lock them in the trailer with another member in the dark and they fight it out. You know the usual stuff.

As it relates to faith, who have been some of your greatest times of fellowship with other Christian bands?
Duck Some bands that have effected us are Showbread, the Overseer, Extol, Mortal Treason. There are also so many others. We have been blessed to have some really amazing tour mates over the years and sometimes even the bad stuff teaches us allot if we are in the right posture.

Is it ever a struggle to get tunnel vision and only grow as musicians? How important is it to develop as an individual, and what do you do to ensure you aren’t just defined by your music?
Duck I don’t think so. Honestly, it is easy to put your instrument down for a bit when you get home from a trip. But, your life is not something you can step out of in a realistic sense. Being an individual is what makes a band good. We each have a totally different approach to almost everything. Those differences file everything that we do down into the unit known as BTA. We each live our own lives and have interests and social circles that the others don’t fit into. I believe that is extremely healthy

Becoming The Archetype > Metal/Hardcore > Georgia > Solidstate Records
BTA’s third full length album with Solidstate, Dichotomy is available now wherever most records are sold – see BTA on Solidstate or BTA Myspace for more info and tour dates.

Becoming The Archetype is: Jason – Vocals/Bass; Count Seth – Guitar/Keys; Duck – Drums; Alex – Guitar.

For more information on local music, band interviews, concert updates and promotional content. Local bands, artists, concerts, venues, tours and events from rock, hip-hop, metal, pop, punk, hardcore, acoustic, indie, organic, progressive, funk, rap and more. Stay tuned to hurdcore.com, friend us on myspace and join us facebook Hurdcore is open to partnerships to promote local arts, music and entertainment as well as advertising opportunities – hurdcore@gmail.com – be specific in “subject” line.

Solid State Records, the special forces wing of parent label Tooth & Nail Records, based out of Seattle, Washington, has long been a prominent force in the production and distribution of quality hardcore/metal. If you are hungry for some metal that is ever progressive in it’s development and deeply rooted in a Christ-centered worldview, you will not want to miss Becoming The Archetype. Our thanks to Count Seth for taking the time to discuss music, faith and the relationship between the two.

HC As a band, you obviously put a lot of time into your compositions, lyrics and even titles. Can you tell us a little bit of the meaning behind Dichotomy?
BTA Dichotomy explores human nature in terms of biological vs. spiritual, natural vs. technological and mental vs physical. We believe man is very complex and an understanding of who you are is the foundation of knowing anything about the universe in which we live and breathe.

HC Where are you currently grabbing your inspiration from as far as writing music and lyrics?
BTA Lyrically, there are a lot of ideas drawn from C.S. Lewis’s space trilogy and Stephen King’s Dark Tower Series. Musically these days, we’re drawing from Opeth, Mastodon, In Flames, Dark Tranquility, Extol and Pink Floyd the most heavily. Everything one experiences goes into the mix of making that person who he/she is. I’d like to think that the love we experience from our families and churches influenced our writing as well as the aggression we feel toward sin and its effects on human life.

HC From a fans perspective, each album seems to get progressively better, it is apparent that you guys put a lot of time into perfecting your craft and working to push the envelope of metal rather than finding a comfortable niche and milking it. Where does this drive to push and reconstruct come from, has it been a conscious decision on your part?
BTA Well, I’ll tell you, I’m a bit of a Beatles enthusiast. Any student of The Beatles knows that after the stopped touring, their songwriting amped up in a huge way and allowed them to do things no band has done since in terms of melody and experiment. In only eight years, the Beatles released 13 albums and over 220 songs which most people can’t find much negative to say about. This shows that touring constantly, as bands are pressed to do now, cuts down on the time spent honing the craft of songwriting. If I had to point at any one thing lacking in the current heavy music world, it’d be good songwriting. There’s no lack of amazing guitarists or vocalists. No lack of great production or heaviness. But people seem to have forgotten that a song needs to be constructed and thought out well. We are seeking to do that the best we can. So yes, it has been a conscious decision on our part. We are spending inordinate amounts of time shaping and refining songs so that they aren’t a hodge podge thrown together in a few practices: they are the product of hours of intelligent thought with multiple songwriters shaping them into something we all feel is very powerful.

HC Your albums have a clear Christian message and I’ve witnessed myself the sincere faith that you carry with you on the road. How would you describe your efforts in this regard as a band? Would you describe yourselves as missionaries?
BTA We are certainly missionaries. The Great Commission, as Christ gave it just before His ascension, left no room to not take the good news of the gospel with us as we go everywhere. We do that in a multitude of ways, but one unique way on this last album was to set the lyrics of “How Great Thou Art” to our music. That was exhilarating.

HC For those who are praying for you and encouraging you efforts to share truth, what have you observed as far as the receptiveness to your message amongst other bands and fans who come to your shows?
BTA Receptiveness isn’t the problem. No one wants to call anyone out or judge in this climate, so we’re never hated for our message. It mainly just falls on passive ears. We want people to know the truth that we are sinners, but as willing as we are to sin, Christ is more willing to forgive. The continual spring of sin in us may be deep, but the spring of Christ’s love and forgiveness is greater. That is an urgent message, because without that truth in your life, existence is harsh. Not many treat it that way. We have a prayer team set up and that has become a great community of believers praying for us and each other. Anyone that wants to join it can email btaprayerteam@gmail.com or add us as a friend at myspace.com/btaprayerteam

HC For those who have a desire to see the “scene” kids e
experience the love and truth that is only found in Christ, what have you learned as key factors in understanding and reaching out to youth within this field?
BTA I believe there is no key factor in showing love and grace to the world. If the gospel were that easy, Christ would’ve said, here’s what you need to do when you tell people about me: say “blah, blah, blah” or whatever. But He didn’t because there is no secret. There is only living a life of truth and love and community. Patience is a virtue and those who follow it will find it strengthening their ability to connect with people who need the gospel of grace.

HC You’ve been around now for a few years, have an impressive discography for fans to enjoy, would you say that you are still in the struggling-artist camp or have you reached some area of comfort in being able to support yourselves solely as musicians?
BTA Well, we are in a decent spot right now, mainly because we’re not killing ourselves on the road, having vans break down every month. When those things happen, they put so much of a strain on the band that the band runs a serious risk of being pulled apart. My advice to younger bands: get a job and fund your band instead of relying on it. Ian MacKaye says the same thing. Stop hoping your band will make you money. There is an over-saturation of bands out there eating up the profit that can be made. This is good for the scene because it weeds out bands who aren’t made of tough stuff.

HC What have been some of the most important lessons that you have learned through your journey as musicians?
BTA Mainly that music is a portal to something deep within yourself. Other things can take you to those places, but for many people, music is the strongest connection to that place in their heart where the mind can’t enter. When you hear a certain riff, your heart feel like it gets pushed over two inches in your chest and there is no explaining it. That is what you try to do with a song. If your music doesn’t have that effect on a substantial amount of people, you’re doing something wrong.

HC When you first arrived on the scene, or when you first were introduced via Solid State Records, there seemed to be a unique relationship with Ryan Clark of Demon Hunter that apparently continues to this day. How has Ryan been a part of your band and what has that relationship meant to you?
BTA Very observant! You’re either a great fan or you’ve done your homework. Kudos! Ryan Clark has been somewhat of a father figure to us in the music industry. He discovered us at Cornerstone ’04 and signed us to Solid State. He gives us advice on everything from artwork to producers to touring seasons. If it weren’t for him, we’d probably have been the Remnant for a couple more years then broken up and pursued other things in life. We still have a great relationship with him and I’m always talking to him and we’re kindred spirits on different coasts.

HC Are there any favorite/funny/scary memories from your current (or past) tour(s) that you’d like to share?
BTA Haha, well, some of them aren’t appropriate to be printed, but one time is still fresh. While recording our last album, a bear crawled into Devin Townsend’s truck cab, trying to get at the trash he had piled in the back. None of us knew it and when we walked out the front door, there is the black bear peering out at us over the dash. Devin started to shout and try to get him out and the thing just shimmied and pushed it’s way through the two foot slit where the window was rolled down. There’s something transcendental about watching a bear squeeze through a truck window as fast as he can. Of course, we sat in bear hair on that trip to the store and Devin still has that slice of his steering wheel missing from the bear’s claw.

HC What have been some of your favorite tour stops so far? What new foods have you discovered (scary or good)?
BTA Birmingham, AL is always great. There are so many good promoters we’ve developed relationships with over the years. Clinton, NJ has become another favorite as well as Palm Bay, FL. I eat anything and sometimes that does bite me in the rear end. I once tried some kind of strange curry at a friend’s house and I soon realized the joke was on me. The curry was made with anything hot that can be imagined and as soon as I closed my lips around the curry, I almost threw up. Amazingly, I swallowed the stuff, but that was a mistake. My throat instantly felt like gravel, I couldn’t see because my eyes flooded all their tears at once and my body about went limp. Man, that was rough. I wasn’t right again for almost an hour!

HC Any words of encouragement for aspiring bands?
BTA Quit. Haha, kinda joking but seriously, there are more fulfilling things to do with your life. Why do you think so many bands break up after just a couple years on the road? It takes a certain sort of person to be content touring all the time and I don’t mean a necessarily good sort of person. We are still playing 50-80 shows a year, so we get a decent break. But for up and coming bands, that’s not an option. Another thing if I may: we’re writing a song called “Necrotizing Fasciitis” which we’re shooting to get out this summer. Keep your ears and eyes peeled for it because it’ll be something different than what we normally do.

Becoming The Archetype‘s latest album Dichotomy was just released, check the BTA Myspace for songs, show and news. See also our review/introduction to Dichotomy HERE as posted earlier this year.

Becoming The Archetype (BTA) from their outset have set a high bar for what we will call technical-brutality. With this third offering, Dichotomy, they have added the elements of the enigmatic (a taste of Danny Elfman goes hardcore) and again taken their music to another realm of eardrum battering fantastic-ness.

The men of Becoming The Archetype have fashioned a medium that is solid in its execution and a beacon in the sincerity of its message. If you took your grandma to a worship service led by Becoming The Archetype, either the headbanger within would erupt or she would pass out, especially when she hears the BTA rendition of the classic How Great Thou Art.

Hardcore and worship is something that is close to my heart, understand that BTA is not a “worship” band, but one of my fondest worship experiences was when I attended my first Becoming The Archetype show. I believe it was also the first Young Bloods Tour produced by Solid State Records where I saw them at Chain Reaction in Anaheim (CA). You too will enjoy BTA whether you experience them live, in album or even partaking of some tasty In-N-Out. I recommend all of the above as these are good dudes with some great music.