Send "Becoming the Archetype " Ringtones to your Cell 
| Sputnikmusic |
 Genre ambiguity seems to lead to many an internet flame war these days. Hardcore kids get upset when their favorite band adds a guitar solo or a clean guitar part and death metal kids bash the hardcore bands for their lack of said solos. With Celestial Completion, Becoming the Archetype throw caution to the wind and create an album that breaks plenty of genre boundaries. Most importantly, it worked.For those that have already listened to Becoming the Archetype, you may or may not be surprised. They still have the elements that make them the band they always have been, but take on a more experimental aspect with Celestial Completion. Though some fans will undoubtedly criticize this decision, it must be taken objectively as maturation or at the very least an evolution of the band. At the very core of it, the band tried something new and went with it. For that, they must be commended. It is up to the listener to decide whether or not they like the new direction. That being said, the best way to approach the album is with an open mind. When I decided to write this review I listened to the album a few times with one question in mind: “Do I like what I am hearing?” The album opens with a pseudo-orchestral intro that leads into what is overall a quite heavy album. There are breakdowns, solos, clean vocals, brass sections, riffs, and some great screamed vocals. In other words, this album has something to offer to just about anyone. Of course, by combining these elements, some of the songs include a somewhat sudden change of pace. It is here that much of the criticism surfaces. However, BtA manage to transition quite well throughout the album and no part seems particularly forced. The production, while not something to drool over, is certainly of quality and adds to the clarity and flow of the album. The instrumentation is not the most complex, but the riffs are headbang worthy and some of the solos are quite impressive on both a technical and melodic level. The relatively short song lengths help to push the album forward and retain momentum. As someone listening for something entertaining, Celestial Completion will succeed. If you are looking for an album that forgives no one with its heaviness, you will be disappointed. On a similar note, do not expect a typical metal album. It is an interesting blend of many elements that results in an album that is fun to listen to all the way through (something that does not happen as often as it should) while still providing the energy and intensity metalheads know and love. This combination of consistency and replay value result in a 4.0 rating....full text |
| Popmatters |
| Christian progressive metal group Becoming the Archetype has consistently released high-quality music since their humble beginnings as Nonexistent Failure in the early part of the decade, and then as the Remnant for a further two years. They’ve benefited a great deal from the input of excellent producers on each of the three full-length albums following their final name change. With the help of Tue Madsen (Terminate Damnation), Andreas Magnusson (The Physics of Fire), and Devin Townsend (Dichotomy), each Becoming the Archetype album has been better than its predecessor, becoming more progressive and well-balanced in sound each time. It was understandable, therefore, that some people were confused and/or worried when the band announced Matt Goldman as producer for the group’s fourth album. Better known for his work with post-hardcore groups such as Underoath, Four Letter Lie, Vanna, and Oceana, Goldman seemed to be an odd choice for the Georgia-based group, and some worried that it might be the first major misstep for Becoming the Archetype. Such concern was unnecessary. Becoming the Archetype’s fourth album, Celestial Completion, is every bit as impressive and incredible as its predecessors, and displays a great deal more complexity and progression than anything else the group has ever written. Many had thought the band had reached the limits of their experimentation with Townsend in the producer’s chair, but Celestial Completion easily outranks Dichotomy in the area of strange but beautiful musical inclusions. A complex keyboard arrangement performed by guitarist Seth Hecox, blended with background sitars, is the highlight of “Elemental Wrath: Requiem Aeternam Part II”. At the same time, the sudden cut to a ska-like trombone breakdown on “Cardiac Rebellion” seems completely out of place at first, but gradually becomes the most enjoyable part of the song. The fact that these sections sound tasteful and work within the song structures are as much a testament to Goldman’s producer skills as they are to the band’s songwriting ability. The one element that has had many fans on edge, though, is the introduction of clean vocals into the band’s repertoire. Clean vocals have only appeared with regularity on one previous Becoming the Archetype album, The Physics of Fire, and they were performed there by former guitarist Alex Kenis (who left the band in 2008 to re-join his old band Aletheian). All other instances of clean vocals in the band’s past have been minor incidental inclusions or guest performances, such as the bridge by Demon Hunter singer Ryan Clark on the title track of Dichotomy. On Celestial Completion, lead singer Jason Wisdom sings cleanly at fairly regular intervals, as a supplement to his standard menacing roars and screams. The clean vocals were a source of contention from the moment that lead single “The Magnetic Sky” debuted, but over the course of the entire album, they add unprecedented depth to the band’s sound. The leads sung by Wisdom, backed by gorgeous harmonies courtesy of Hecox and fellow axeman Daniel Gailey, are the linchpin to many songs on the album....full text |
| Indievisionmusic |
| A lot of bands come and a lot of bands go. Many reasons could pertain to this, but the biggest reason in the last few years seems to be the economy. Another huge reason is the fact that most every metal/core type band has the same similar sound, whether it be guitar riffs, drumming, and lastly breakdowns. Very few go above and beyond to be different, so what’s left is a bunch of bands that sound the same. Only a few are ever going to make it in this economy, so you have to be different if you want to succeed. I know I want to be blown away by musicianship, as well as lyrically. Becoming The Archetype is one of those few metal bands that isn’t afraid to stand out and be different, which is constantly earning them new fans. With each album they did more and more things musically to stand out from the rest of the crowd. With their latest Celestial Completion, they went way above and beyond, experimenting with all sorts of instruments and effects. As a whole this is metal, but with the added dose of experimenting going on, it brings all sorts of sub-genres that act as branches to the tree. “The Resonant Frequency Of Flesh” starts this album off with eerie symphonic black metal keys, operatic vocals, and a choir of sopranos, which leads into grungy guitar and constant double bass playing. It felt like I was listening to strategically placed pieces of music from Beliah, Sarah Brightman, and Nirvana, that formed this euphoric mix of operatic symphonic black metal grunge. It’s one of the best opening intros I’ve ever heard to kick start an album. I love these lyrics There was a time when we all sang the song of death. But now our bodies resonate… (our bodies resonate…) Our living souls (souls) reverberate… the music of eternal light. “The Magnetic Sky” starts out with some excellent clean vocals from Daniel Gailey and then goes into Jason Wisdom’s death growls. It’s an amazingly catchy song that also brings out the core side of the band with two breakdowns. “Internal Illumination” kicks off with plenty of guitar riffs and blast beats. It has a lot of different vocal ranges from Jason, and the added black screams from Daniel Gailey add an extra element to the intensity of the song. The last part of the song slows down and you can just hear the emotion in Jason as he claims...full text |
Becoming the Archetype lyrics
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