ARCHETYPE

    Dawning

   - 8 -

ARCHETYPE is an American Power Metal band that displays some Progressive Metal tendencies. Dawning is their first full length disc, and it is surprisingly impressive.  I was surprised by my level of enjoyment of this disc because I have had their 1999 Hands of Time EP for a few years, but I had forgotten all about it.  The EP did not pique my interest enough to keep track of the band.  When I found out that ARCHETYPE had released a new disc (thanks to the kind souls on the Perpetual Motion Board), I checked out some mp3s on the band's web page, and I have been listening to ARCHETYPE on a regular basis ever since.  I even went back and listened to the Hands of Time EP and realized that the band's potential did indeed surface on that disc.  For whatever reason, I did not pick up on it in the past.  The four songs on Hands of Time ("Visionary", "Dissension's Wake", "Arisen", and "Hands of Time") rear their heads on Dawning as well, and they definitely are more engaging.  Each song flows better both musically and vocally, and the production is definitely of higher quality.

Although it is a somewhat simplistic description of the band, I think of ARCHETYPE as similar to ICED EARTH circa Something Wicked This Way Comes (you know, when ICED EARTH was still good).  ARCHETYPE is not quite as crunchy as ICED EARTH, and ARCHETYPE's music is more complex considering the song structures and the awesome guitarwork on display, but the vocals of Greg Wagner and the  musical phrasing and harmonies are definitely reminiscent of Jon Schaffer, Matt Barlow, and company.  Think of a more progressive and better version of ICED EARTH, and you have ARCHETYPE.

All ten songs on Dawning range from good to excellent, so I don't feel a need to describe them individually.  Some tracks are simpler than others, but all of them are damn catchy.  The guitar playing of Chris Matyus is the obvious highlight in ARCHETYPE.  The amount of catchy riffage on Dawning rivals that heard in my favorite guitar hero release of 2001, ONWARD's Evermoving, and the soloing of Matyus is truly wonderful.  A good example is the title track which is my favorite song on Dawning.  It contains a killer guitar solo breakdown in the middle of the tune.  There is also some great acoustic guitarwork to be found on tracks such as "Inside Your Dreams" and "Arisen".  Another point of comparison that comes to mind when addressing the stellar guitar playing of Matyus is fellow Ohio natives ANTITHESIS's excellent release, Dying for Life.  Of course, the rhythm section of Keith Zeigler (drums) and Jamie Still (bass) is good as well, and I quite enjoy Wagner's vocals.  However, Matyus is obviously the heart of ARCHETYPE.

I urge all fans of American Power Metal and Progressive Metal to check this unsigned band out.  It is sad that bands as good as ARCHETYPE do not have label support.  With 10 songs of high quality and a running time of over 66 minutes, Dawning is definitely worth your time and money.  You can find more info about ARCHETYPE on their webpage.
 
 
 

Contributed by John Frank

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