Runner-Up: Falling Up (Your Sparkling Death Cometh).
Honorable Mentions: Hawk Nelson (Crazy Love),
Seventh Day Slumber (The Anthem Of Angels), Flame (Captured).
Becoming The Archetype’s Celestial Completion is an excellent Metal release that almost feels like a concept album, with its pictorial lyrics and strikingly dramatic musical and vocal presentation.
Singing is sparsely but strategically used, placed only where it has the greatest effect; and when it does appear, it features perfect harmonies and a unique, alluring (and occasionally even darkly operatic) quality.
And there are some other great dynamic elements, as well, such as some fantastic use of piano throughout the middle section of the album, and even a very unexpected— but surprisingly fitting— shift to Ska (!) at one point.
In short, this record is absolutely worthy of both a full 5 & 1/2 Stars and Best Fifth Release!