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Tuesday, October 28th

A Grand Design: Becoming the Archetype

Becoming the Archetype - Dichotomy
Artist: Kristian Wåhlin
Release date: Nov. 25, 2008
[amazon.com]

The press release claims this will be the most controversial album cover on a Christian label. It certainly is striking, but I wouldn’t say it’s controversial…unless there’s something more graphic on another panel. It may cause as much of a mild ruckus as the first Advent of a Miracle pressing that had the illustrated nip-slip on the CD face.

Written by Jay DiNitto
> A Grand Design | 2:00 pm |
More on: Becoming The Archetype, Kristian Wåhlin

61 Responses to “A Grand Design: Becoming the Archetype”

On 10/28/08 3:02 PM, TobeOnFire said:

Diz one here: http://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/strongarm/the_advent_of_a_miracle_f1/

Here’s a glimpse at the other artwork for “Dichotomy” (not much though): http://www.invisiblecreature.com/blog/?p=779
On 10/28/08 3:30 PM, travis said:

Hopefully it is better than the last release. I was severely disappointed with it after their great debut!
On 10/28/08 3:44 PM, George said:

That album cover is so ugly. The image from inside (provided by TobeOnFire) reminds me of O’God the Aftermath.
On 10/28/08 3:46 PM, Jay DiNitto said:

Thanks for the link Tobe. That Hideous Strength is a great book.

I was trying to find an image of that one Sinai Beach shirt, with the “I’ll Piss On Your Tortured Soul” on the back. Granted they weren’t on a Christian label when they released it, but it’s pretty graphic.
On 10/28/08 4:07 PM, kyle u said:

impending doom gets a lot of shit for their “repentagram” symbol

mychildrenmybride has a t-shirt of a lumberjack pissing and the urine spells the words “get pissed” gasp!

how bout zao’s release of liberate which showed jesse’s naked woman tattoo (later pressings had it edited out)

zao’s penis shaped tie on the cover of the all else failed re-release. i tried to find an image of the orignal, but can’t at the moment

pod’s payable on death album. the angel had pubic bone showing, which led to christian bookstore’s favorite tactic, put a giant sticker over the whole thing, which they also did with:

symphony in peril’s “The Whore’s Trophy” to cover up the word “whore” and also the blood.

SPEAKING of whore, also the christian bookstore veresion of the showdown’s “tempation come my way” did not include the track “fanatics and whores”

and also, the christian bookstore version of the special edition of norma jean’s “o god the aftermath” did NOT include all the brand new artwork because it was too graphic. it was literally black pages.

so in conclusion, loaded statement there, BTA.

haha wow i suck
On 10/28/08 4:29 PM, brad said:

@kyle u: that symphony in peril record was what i was thinking of. didn’t it get banned in lifeway or something along those lines?
On 10/28/08 5:08 PM, kyle u said:

i’m not sure if it got banned, i really wouldn’t be surprised
i just know of it being released with a giant sticker.

same with all the demon hunter covers, with the goat head
On 10/28/08 5:10 PM, TDWP Fan said:

Are they a christian band that swears now jsut like He is Legend? I don’t know, just asking. I haven’t heard the record.
On 10/28/08 5:11 PM, TDWP Fan said:

Are they a christian band that swears now just like He is Legend? I don’t know, just asking. I haven’t heard the record.
On 10/28/08 5:35 PM, EricMc said:

^Why would an album cover like this lead you to believe that they may swear now?

And He Is Legend is not a “christian band”. They state that very clearly on their website.
On 10/28/08 5:37 PM, The 1/3 said:

No, the T&N band who got censored for swearing was Brave Saint Saturn featuring Christian ska hero Reese Roper.
On 10/28/08 5:55 PM, kyle u said:

BSS has a new album coming out. i literally just found this out…by going to showbread’s space from this article, and seeing BSS as their top friend.
On 10/28/08 5:57 PM, Jay DiNitto said:

kyle, the press release mentioned album designs on Christian labels, not just any hoo-haa artwork.

But I’ve never thought of the Zao tie as a penis. I guess if someone’s looking real hard for a deformed phallus, then eh…
On 10/28/08 6:03 PM, kyle u said:

i understand what the press release said, but the controversy comes from the fact that the record is from a christian band, and will be sold in a christian bookstore.

and of all my examples, the only one not released on a christian label was POD

lulz.

and zao’s penis tie, the original knot was circular with a nice little vein in it.

ooooo just found the link!
http://www.classicgod.com/Pictures/cdcovers/zao.jpeg
On 10/28/08 6:31 PM, Jason said:

*lol* about the Strongarm nip slip.
On 10/28/08 7:00 PM, Sean Cannon said:

yeah, jay, that was the huge thing about that album cover for years. and that was why the dudes face had some stuff dripping from it. because the “tie” had “untied” all over the dude’s face. a bit uncouth, as it were.
On 10/28/08 8:17 PM, Bob said:

I work in the Music Dept. at a Christian Bookstore in Oklahoma and I constantly get parents asking me about different album covers and whatnot. It’s really annoying.
On 10/28/08 8:57 PM, xThe Vikingx said:

Haha, the Zao one is hilarious. If I remember correctly from the Zao documentary the band had nothing to do with the album cover for All Else Failed. So more than likely that was a Clark Brother design.
On 10/28/08 9:03 PM, Jay DiNitto said:

Zeus’ beard kyle, if the one-up victory means so much to you, by all means…

Never heard the Zao controversy before…I wouldn’t have inferred that in a million years unless I was conditioned beforehand to look for it. Since I never scour album art expressly for subliminal splooge shots I suppose I passed it over. Maybe I need to brush up on my p0rn?
On 10/28/08 9:08 PM, Jay DiNitto said:

Additionally, That Hideous Strength has some imagery/themes in it (the mechanical-organic face, Merlin was a Christian, and there’s that bit about humans and animals bumpin’ uglies near the end). But I don’t expect most ultra-conservative evangelicals get any deeper into Lewis’ body of work than Mere Christianity.
On 10/28/08 9:50 PM, ryanB said:

I know it sucked and all, how about was it The Showdown’s second cd, one guys shirt on the cd said ass. And it was still in the christian book stores….I don’t know if any one said that yet. Maybe it was on the back. I don’t remember.
On 10/28/08 9:51 PM, ryanB said:

Oh and that strongarm cd cover looks AWESOME!
On 10/28/08 9:56 PM, kyle u said:

if its a fight ye want, its a fight ye get!
lol

i wasn’t looking for a victory jayyyyyyyyyy
just clarifying that my comment wasn’t off the mark

as far as the imagery from the book, i’ll brush up on my beastiality porn (ONE-UP VICTORY!)

you make an excellent point, that you wouldn’t have inferred that if you hadn’t been pre-conditioned.

that’s what happens when evangelicals (or anyone) get up in arms over things that are “controversial”. by raising such a fuss, it exposes it even MORE to people who wouldn’t have normally inferred the offensive.

anyway, here’s to hoping the cover for the Zao’s upcoming album has way more nip slips and penises and good ol’ fashioned horse lovin’ that becoming the archetype could ever dream of
On 10/28/08 9:59 PM, kyle u said:

you know jay, sarah palin warned me about media elite like you
On 10/29/08 11:00 AM, michael said:

Here are pictures of some of the album artwork that was changed, or removed from the shelves of Christian retailers:

1) Squad 5-0 “Bombs Over Broadway” (artwork changed after 9-11)

2) The Deadlines “The Death and Life Of…”
3) This is Solid State Vol. 1

4) P.O.D. “The Fundamental Elements of Southtown”
On 10/29/08 3:59 PM, Michael said:

Zao’s “Liberate Te Ex Inferis…” album artwork:
HERE
On 10/29/08 4:15 PM, Ryan @ Milkweed Records said:

If Jesus was alive today… he’d be “banned” from the Christian bookstores, but then again he’d probably barge it and trash the place, just as he did in the synagogue.

The BtA cover artwork looks great, though the inserts are rather cheesy.
On 10/29/08 4:15 PM, Ryan @ Milkweed Records said:

*barge in
On 10/29/08 6:06 PM, TDWP Fan said:

Yeah, thats true EricMC. They decalred they wern’t a christian band but i meant that by christian abnd they were thought to be and wee on a christian label. Shouldnt of even been on there if they didnt intend to be christan band if you ask me…
So i take it BTA does not swear??
On 10/29/08 6:15 PM, Ryan @ Milkweed Records said:

Solid State is only a Christian label when it’s convenient OR making them money.

And BTA… I heard ‘em say fuck and shit and cock and balls and fag and shit and poop and kaka and loveshack and watermelon-fisting.

They’ve got the mouth of the devil.
On 10/29/08 7:19 PM, TDWP fan said:

Ryan @ Milkweed Records- Who said those things? How about you actually be specific and say who on Solid State said that
On 10/29/08 10:27 PM, kyle u said:

tdwpfan why do you care about the vocabulary choice of any band member in any band ever
On 10/29/08 11:09 PM, Jay DiNitto said:

“but then again he’d probably barge it and trash the place, just as he did in the synagogue.”

Eh, I see where you’re going with this, but Jesus did that for a specific reason that doesn’t really apply to Christian bookstores.
On 10/30/08 3:28 PM, TDWP Fan said:

Uhhh Kyle??
why do i care about vocabulary? Well i would rather listen to a song with lyrics i can apply to instead of a song talking about kissing a girl once (Hint:Katy Perry). Lyrics do mater. Duh.
On 10/30/08 3:30 PM, TDWP Fan said:

…Or fucking a girl (Hint: 50 cent) Lyrics do mater to me
On 10/30/08 3:37 PM, Jay DiNitto said:

“Lyrics do mater.”

LOL
On 10/30/08 6:10 PM, TDWP Fan said:

Whats so funny gangsta?
On 10/30/08 7:17 PM, Jay DiNitto said:

I…uh…
On 10/31/08 1:45 AM, kyle u said:

i thought you were wondering if the band members themselves swore, which is why i asked why you would care. iunderstand why people don’t want swearing in their lyrics.
On 10/31/08 3:37 AM, Jamison said:

Hearing a cuss word makes me feel dirty. I only like to look at swearing. That’s why I frequent buzzgrinder.
On 10/31/08 8:35 AM, TDWP Fan said:

Kyle if they swear in real life that doesn’t effect me.. If i went to a concert of Christian band and the vocalist is swearing on stage at the crowd. Then i would care.. But thats about the only situation i would care.
On 10/31/08 9:33 AM, Philip said:

Edit your posts guy, jeez.
On 10/31/08 9:59 AM, Jay DiNitto said:

Who is that directed to?
On 10/31/08 12:05 PM, One Crushing Blow said:

Matter ≠ mater.

Oh well.

No matter what happens, people are going to be offended one way or another. The whole “Christian hardcore/metal” scene, as accepted as it may seem now, is still deemed horrible in the eyes of a lot of people, even self-proclaimed Christians. But the whole thing is, if you truly call yourself a Christian, acknowledge the fact God can work in more ways than one and that just because it’s not in your comfort zone doesn’t mean it’s wrong. No where in the Bible does it say not to listen to metal. It just tells us to keep in the spirit and to follow His commandments. If for one person they can feel God through metal, then awesome. If the next person can’t? Then whatever.

Not directing this towards anyone.

But that whole Zao thing is actually pretty funny. Oh well. What can you do.
On 10/31/08 1:54 PM, Ryan @ Milkweed Records said:

Alert Buzzgrinder: JESUS POSTS ON BUZZGRINDER!
On 10/31/08 3:11 PM, Philip said:

@ Jay:

Directed at TDWP Fan’s humorous typos. Sorry, for some reason I was feeling like grammar police earlier.
On 10/31/08 3:43 PM, Jay DiNitto said:

That’s cool. I kinda thought you were referring to my original post.

Woof.
On 10/31/08 4:52 PM, Cool dude said:

That is very true One Crushing Blow.. Those who despise it should just shut up.. And Philip, im cool.. Don’t mess with me.
On 10/31/08 5:58 PM, One Crushing Blow said:

Sad when you can’t say a single thing without unnecessary sarcasm or comments nowadays.
On 10/31/08 6:12 PM, E-ticket said:

my faith isnt strong enough to stand against this kind of photoshoppery. ban it all to hell!!!
On 11/1/08 5:30 AM, PJ said:

I know I’m late to the party on this one. But how can an article on “controversial Christian album covers” go 50 comments deep without anyone talking about TOTM’s “Flaming Pig Head” on the MODERN MUSICK CD?

And if any of you are (un)fortunate enough to have a CD-R demo of the first there are so many things on that disc from the original title down to the subject matter of the xeroxed cover art.

More to the point, there is nothing more controversial about this album cover than the wierd, slimy birthing scene in The Matrix.

The bottom line though, is that older and/or more conservative Christians will always be a little shocked by things wild youngsters take without pause. So at what point does the “This’ll really shock’em at the Christian bookstore” game get old with bands?
On 11/1/08 4:01 PM, Dylan said:

I don’t think that’s a game any bands play
On 11/17/08 12:01 PM, BUZZGRINDER » MP3’s Company - Becoming The Archetype said:

[...] the artwork that generated some “controversy” a little while back? Well, it’s not just pretty pictures; there’s music with it, [...]
On 11/17/08 2:35 PM, tAlex said:

“The image from inside (provided by TobeOnFire) reminds me of O’God the Aftermath.”

That’s because everything from Invisible Children looks very similar. They produce good stuff, but it all looks the same.
On 11/18/08 2:28 AM, matt said:

I like how it’s okay to swear unless you are on a stage. makes perfect sense to me…
On 11/18/08 2:40 AM, kyle u said:

hahaha everything from Invisible Children looks the same
On 11/18/08 5:16 AM, Jay DiNitto said:

It’s because they’re black, isn’t it? I think it’s supposed to be that all Asians look the same.
On 11/19/08 12:03 AM, xJoeyx said:

The cover art of Impending Doom’s Nailed.Dead.Risen. is more controversial than that, really.
On 11/19/08 11:08 PM, The 1/3 said:

tAlex, I think you meant Invisible Creature.
On 11/20/08 8:10 AM, Jay DiNitto said:

Invisible Creature’s work is rather diverse if you look at the other things they’ve done besides metal band artwork.
On 11/20/08 6:09 PM, Philip said:

“everything from Invisible Children looks the same”

EDIT: Everything is equally fantastic.

Tuesday, October 28th

A Grand Design: Becoming the Archetype

61 Responses to “A Grand Design: Becoming the Archetype”

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