Becoming The Archetype - Celestial Completion
Rating
RIYL
For TodayThe Human Abstract
The Showdown
Release Date
03/29/2011
Label
Solid StateTracklist
1. The Resonant Frequency of Flesh2. The Magnetic Sky
3. Internal Illumination
4. Path of the Beam
5. Music of the Spheres: Requiem Aeternam Pt. 1
6. Elemental Wrath: Requiem Aeternam Pt. 2
7. Xenosynthesis: Requiem Aeternam Pt. 3
8. Invisible Creature
9. Cardiac Rebellion
10. Reflect/Refract
11. Breathing Light
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Becoming the Archetype has always been one of Solid State’s lesser promoted groups, simply because they don’t play as many breakdowns or sing as excessively as most Christian metalcore acts do. They don’t seem to have the right amount of colorful, cartoonish merch to reel in scene kids, but also don’t really have the serious edge that metalheads look for, leaving them in an awkward position between the two realms. They ultimately serve as a gateway band for a younger generation trying to listen to more technical music, while still retaining some amount of the image that gains their label-mates most of their notoriety. It seems as if they’ve been stuck in this same rut of identity crisis for their past two albums, with each wave of fans coming and going with the next. At this point in their career, their fourth release could either pull them out of a trend of mediocrity or push them further under.
Entitled Celestial Completion, the group’s third album packs eleven songs into a slightly symphonic, moderately technical package. Right from the start, there are tremendous similarities to other metalcore contemporaries, not necessarily a bad thing, but notable nonetheless. A sung chorus in the opening track, “The Resonant Frequency of Flesh,” sits on top of the rest of the band, echoing moments from The Human Abstract’s newest, Digital Veil. On the other end, the group’s loose and airy riffing structure seems to reference For Today at times. It doesn’t help that the production between all three bands is similar. That said, the band isn’t ripping anyone off or necessarily being unoriginal, but they aren’t creating anything brand new or out of the box here.
When they do manage to create something completely their own, they end up churning out slightly pretentious efforts such as the three-song "Requiem Aeternam" suite and others that just fly under the radar. The last half of the album is filled with songs that wind in between metal, Indian elements, and even one song, entitled “Cardiac Rebellion,” that ends in ska. Being a fan of Between the Buried and Me, I can appreciate the thought going into these quirky ideas, but poor implementation and a lack of focus hamper them and, in turn, most of the album.
Celestial Completion isn’t by any means a bad album, but I wouldn’t go much further than that. Fans of Becoming the Archetype will undoubtedly love it, while those looking (admittedly in the wrong place) for something new and interesting need not bother. I feel like this is how the majority of many recent album reviews have ended: If you’re a fan, you’ll be into it, and if not, you won’t be finding anything special. I hate to repeat myself, but that’s the bottom line when it comes down to mediocre releases such as this one.
--Cody Rogers
Comments
Minnesota
Terminate Damnation, their debut album, was a behemoth of an album that I rocked a ton, but ever since then these guys have been only mediocre. I think it was due to the band changes after their debut--they lost some key members and have never really been able to get back to where they were. I agree with you that this album is not bad, but it's not really memorable either.
Find me EVERYWHERE:
Spokane, Washington
i listened to this album all the way through yesterday, and it's pretty darn good! a little bit different for them, but nonetheless, a quality album. and rick, if you think Dichotomy was mediocre, you better check your metal listening credentials...that album was top notch!
Current Listenings:
7 Horns 7 Eyes - "Throes of Absolution"
Horse Feathers - "Cynic's New Year"
Andrew Bird - "Break It Yourself"
Sigur Ros - "Valtari"
Rocky Votolato - "Television of Saints"
Janus - "Nox Aeris"
Blues Traveler - "25"
Minnesota
Eh, I may give Dichotomy another go, but nothing by this band has grabbed me like Terminate Damnation did.
Find me EVERYWHERE:
Wisconsin
London, UK
I feel like this is almost a really good album but for every moment of brilliance there's plenty of mediocre. Still very enjoyable but slightly disappointed the overall album doesn't flow better and isn't more consistent
Currently listening to:
Ne Obliviscaris - Portal of I
Tacoma Narrows Bridge Disaster - Exegesis
Suspyre - Suspyre
Hot Water Music - Exister
7 Horns 7 Eyes - Throes Of Absolution
Copperas Cove, TX
Will this band ever become the archetype they are seeking or are they going to continually offer up mediocre metal? Is it a journey? If so, how far along are they and when do they plan on releasing the album that will become the archetype they seek?
They had some neat moments and a few good ideas however, very few of them were executed well enough to work, also, they should of not gotten rid of the guitarist from Crutch/Aletheian. He was amazing.
Also, Sear Bliss, a black metal band from Hungary has had a brass section for years, same for Shining, a jazzy black metal norwegian music collective and I'm only telling you guys this to burst your bubble if you thought the ska section was unique for a metal band. I r mean and music snob.
"Let no one know that God hasn’t any friends and if wilderness is found laid out across your heart, then child I do understand that you haven’t a clue of where to start." -Me.
Raleigh, NC
I think it's certainly unique for a metalcore band, but as I said, it's executed very poorly.
Kansas
I listened, heard it, and wondering if I would see the word "ska" in this review.
But your right. This is just another mediocre release from these dudes. I don't understand this band at all. Terminate Damnation was incredible. Physics of Fire was solid...and everything after has just been....disappointing.
http://rateyourmusic.com/~benny06