I was reading the Becoming the Archetype interview and was a little dissapointed with Seth's attitude. If he isn't into metal and enjoying being in the band why is he still in it? And the thing that really gets me the most is when he says "I don't really know any good Christian metal bands now." and "I don't know who plays Christian metal and I really don't even care." "So yeah, I wish someone would just be able to come out that could just do exciting things." Then he goes on to rant about no one being creative and "stupid emo bands" etc.

1. I like BTA alot, but does he think they aren't following in other bands' footsteps? This response seems prideful to me.

2. Why doesn't he support his fellow Christian metal bands, or even just the ones that share his label? He is basically saying there is no creative Christian metal, and I'm sure there are many of us who disagree completely.

I came away from this interview with a bad taste in my mouth and I feel like Seth could have done a much better job of representing BTA, Christian metal and ultimately God with his responses. What do you think?

   BTA Interview with JfH



    
    

i don't listen to bta or any metal really but i read the interview and was surprised at what he was saying. it was like... um ok. then why are you in this band?? and talking about how bands should be following after radiohead... right. lol

Yeah I read the interview and I was left feeling a little bewildered. I think I understand his point about why he is in the band. My confusion was with him basically saying that there's nothing creative in Christian metal. Yet before he stated that, he said that he doesn't listen to Christian metal. So if he doesn't listen to Christian metal, how does he know that there aren't any creative Christian metal bands? Maybe I misunderstood something, but that's the impression I got.

I'm with Maylene on this one and I'll tell you why.

First of all, as far as the pride issue, he does NOT think they aren't following in other band's footsteps and he acknowledged that. He listed at least three secular bands that have influenced their sound (Mastodon, Opeth, Metallica). He also listed Living Sacrifice and Extol in the Christiain scene. Five bands they're following right there.

Secondly, if Seth doesn't think there are any good Christian metal bands right now, that's his opinion. What's the big deal? I don't blame him. They play a style of metal that's not prominent in the Christian scene and with the super-saturation of boring metalcore and hardcore bands as of late, there's a lot for a technical metal fan and musician to feel jaded about. Nothing wrong with that. They don't have to like everything. I don't think there are any good mainstream rap artists, but that's just my opinion and a lot of people disagree. It's all relative, and most of all, harmless. Not everyone has to like everything.

Secondly, why do you assume that he owes the genre of Christian metal some sort of allegiance? He didn't rip anyone, he just said he didn't find it creative. I honestly don't blame him. And I myself don't find a lot of Christian pop creative. Is there anything wrong with that? I don't think so. I applaud and encourage the artists in their ministry; I don't have to like the music. There weren't any personal attacks in the interview, just opinions.

As far as being in BTA, I think you missed the part where he said, "I like what we do and that's it. If we didn't do that then I wouldn't really be involved in the scene at all anymore". That means that if BTA broke up, he wouldn't be involved in the scene anymore because he's not that into it anymore. He didn't say he didn't like being in BTA and he can't wait to leave. He's just getting bored. Nothing wrong with that. He also said he's not that into playing metal anymore. Once again, nothing wrong with that. He's deciding to stick it out for whatever reason, and you should leave it at that. There's nothing wrong with losing interest with something and moving on to something else. Maybe God is calling him in a different direction. Maybe he wants to stay in the band because now would be a bad time to leave. There are a million different factors at play and the bottom line is we simply don't know. That's it. No big deal.

As far as representing God, all I can say is I have no idea about his actual attitude and no one else does because all we have are the words, not the tone. Hypothetically speaking, if he DID have a bad attitude, don't be that surprised. Christian musicians are normal sinful people like everyone else and they aren't perfect. We go through up's and down's in our lives and whoever thinks it has never affected their attitude for better or worse has fooled themselves. It's hard. The person that has never dropped the ball as far as bad attitudes can throw the first rock at him but I for one know that I've had a bad attitude before. Personally, besides feeling weary about the situation he's in right now, there was nothing to indicate that he was sour or bitter. I'd also like to point out that JFH did in fact post the interview, so they must have thought it appropriate.

Finally, BTA shreds. That much is certain.
    

I agree with Maylene and Apollyon on this one. I mean, in all honesty, how much originality really is there in the Christian metal scene?