Celestial Completion

Released in 2011, Celestial Completion represents the creative peak of Becoming the Archetype's most experimental era. It is the final album to feature founding vocalist Jason Wisdom and drummer Brent Duckett before a decade-long hiatus from the group. Sonically, the album is a departure from the more straightforward technical death metal of their earlier work, incorporating a wide array of global instruments including sitars, tamburas, and tablas, alongside a full brass section. The album's artwork, designed by the legendary Dan Seagrave, visually mirrors the complex, multi-layered 'celestial' themes of the music. Lyrically and conceptually, the record draws from high-fantasy and sci-fi influences, most notably Stephen King's The Dark Tower series. Critical reception highlighted the band's bravery in blending disparate genres, with many noting that the album successfully avoided the 'sophomore slump' tropes by leaning into avant-garde arrangements and high-fidelity production values.