ASCENDANCY
Rise of a Dead Empire
9 songs

The world of metal has been divided and subdivided into so many mini/ combo/ crossgenres that it has become virtually impossible to label a metal band or its music with any tag that would be remotely meaningful. Having said that, this slab is pure metal, loud, fast and brutal. Fair warning: if you don't dig metal bands whose singer sounds like he just finished gargling with Clorox bleach, steer clear of these guys. But for those willing to lend an ear, there are great rewards in store because after a few listens, it starts to become apparent that these guys have some brains to back up the brawn. Buried within the layers of noise caused by playing as fast as humanly possible, there are some really appealing structures and undertones and stuff going on that makes sense to the ear even if it can't be reduced to words. And they slow it down once in a while to remind you that they know what the word melody means. And they are also monster players, every one of them. It's asolid as it gets and it is always cause for rejoice when a true Massachusetts metal band comes along. Hail! (Tim Emswiler)

I'm surprised that piece of shit had anything positive to say about an Extreme Metal release... Good deal... But in general, fuck The Noise! (See EAT MY FUK review, for starters, as well as every awful issue filled with so many bad bad bad bands haha)...

The noise is ridiculous. They hate metal usually. But I was pleasantly suprised to see that too.

Does mass have any Metal zines?

Wooh. That made me warm inside. Check the new issue of BW&BK for a not-so-good version of an album review for us. Or don't, please.

swamplorddvm said:

Heavy Rotation's the only one I know about. Check it out.