The Fundamental Component is the debut studio album American heavy metal band Byzantine.

AllMusic felt that the albums' best songs were "unveiling truly progressive and exploratory melodic passages", but that the remainder was hindered by excessive tinkering and split style between metal subgenres.

[1] Disagreeing with these negatives, Lambgoat appreciated the split musical influences, praising both the groove and "hard violence" of the guitars.

The variety of vocals also received praise, especially of the control demonstrated when varying between different styles.

also appreciated the instrumental variety, but scorned the quality of OJ's singing as "atrociously meager", with a combined effect that though the album was interesting, several pieces became unbearable.