Ascension is one of the representatives of the orthodox black metal movement in Germany, which rose towards the end of the 2000s. This debut by the band can be considered an important step in their musical path in terms of its uniqueness.
The demo begins with a quite impressive and engrossing lo-fi guitar opening. The following riffs gradually throw the song into the space of cosmic warps. It's like an introduction to the dark variety that's generally spread throughout the demo. The gloomy atmosphere dominates the songs and sometimes melodic, sometimes power chord transitions that complement them. The uncanny arpeggios and the original solos set the tone and increase the depth of the compositions. The burning tremolos of the guitars shatter the soul like a poisoned arrow and plunge it into darkness.
The vocal creates a unique style of singing by using his voice more mysteriously and magically. The drum sound is designed to follow the theme of the album, rather than single flat blasts as seen in most black metal albums. Of course, this does not mean that there are no blasts in the whole demo. On the contrary, temperate and consistent transitions were enough to put the songs in a trance mood. Mayhem-like passages create the feeling of wandering through dark labyrinths. The songs become more ritualistic at times, and the slow tempo transitions lead you to enigmatic labyrinths.
In metal, there are some albums/demos that you should read the lyrics while listening to the songs to grasp the meaning of the conception. I think this demo is such a work to have this experience. After all, black metal is more than music, isn't it? The lyrical concept of the demo is in harmony with the album artwork, and the message to be conveyed is a good example of how orthodox black metal should be. The descriptions focusing on the concept of sin are presented in a mystical atmosphere. This theme, created with dark existential unrest, is combined with the depth of the music.
With this demo, which easily can be considered a full-length album rather than a demo, Ascension offers real black metal with a gloomy, haunted, and dark atmosphere. It is rarely imaginable for a band to make a better breakthrough than this. The overall diversity and mystical creativity spread throughout the album; the use of instruments, the ritualistic and hypnotic atmosphere, combined with the theological satanism concept, create perfection. Especially the songs "Sin Harvest", "With Burning Tongues", and "Gray Queen", which easily could be included in the top 10 of the band's entire discography and be called classics.
Sample:
Sin HarvestSample:
Ascension - Coldblooded Grace
