With its predecessor, Inactive Theocracy, with whom I had discovered the band and represents a benchmark in the genre, I had observed this impressive mastery Reverence had in the development of various atmospheres, installing a rich music, varied, fascinating .
The combo has set the bar very high, "The Ascension Asthenic" he would follow suit or we would see a regression?
Well, no need to wait until the end to say, this new album is a worthy successor to "Inactive Theocracy!"
With "Earth", after a long purely symphonic beginning, dark, melancholy, we begin the journey that will be black, very black, but damn it's good to listen to a dense and diverse as early ! Yes, "Earth" is already a top in this album, with its beautiful range of tempi, his choirs religious accents that bring a lot to the overall atmosphere, torn and his remarkable vocal range (clear or death / black) is started with a fantastic title that I will want longer!
It is immediately specify that this type of music needs a production height, and this is the case. Signed Xort (Anorexia Nervosa), shaped to Drudenhaus studios, it is a setting its premium set before us, to receive all the subtleties of the band's music.
With "Darwin's Black Hall", one enters directly onto a high pace in the thick of it but soon the tempo decreases, we start in a Black Metal Atmospheric and tortured, which is in no hurry to implement the climate inevitably taking charge but oh, to the extent that, and that's one of the great strengths of Reverence, his music is unpredictable. As you can imagine, the result is of this ilk: acceleration, deceleration, pleasure of the senses!
"The Descent" from a very moderate tempo was a little solo rather we used to hear in the hard rock and, as usual, it varies inexorably tempi. "Monotony" is a term completely excluded from the vocabulary of Reverence, we pass an enjoyable time listening to his music. In addition, there is a clear orientation on some heavy passages, which proves to be a "plus" non-negligible, the clear vocals are present, always used with a view to bringing us a palpable despair. And like "Reverence" is nothing prohibits it even has a (very short) time that could easily be integrated into a title Prog / Rock.
I think we can say that Reverence has considerable ability to include, here and there, "accessible" to his music passages, all metalheads can enjoy, regardless of their musical preferences.
With "Psalm IV", one remains in excellence. I would divide this compo into three parts: the first half is dynamic, predominantly fast, followed by a repetitive passage, with some shouting well in line with this dark atmosphere successor, finally we arrive at a mid-tempo, combined with crying, which involve us inevitably in a deep sadness ... three shots ... stop crying ...
We ascend the moral (!) With "Ghost Of Dust", which is more diverse than ever, sometimes flirting with progressive countries. And then there was this solo Hard hovering rather, the clear voice, doubled important in the dramatic progression and then heavy acceleration and although hardening of the voice, that lead us to the end of the title.
It is a mid-tempo "Cold Room" welcomes us, extreme vocals, considerable contribution clear voice, Melodic Heavy acceleration on a fad that will continue, back to square one for last. Always on top, the routine what ...
It is exclusively orchestral fashion that pleasant "Genesis Of Everything" follows it precedes a "Those Who Believed" rather haunting, very atmospheric, dark of course, it will take almost until the last minute to see off the tempo. Still convinced? And how!
"The Asthenic Ascension" comes close the album, the beginning is ambient, subsequently approaches the previous song but not for long because then left in a light, well-known now, which is to properly diversify the point. Superb choirs invite within landscapes Heavy / Sympho us well beyond a traditional definition of Black Metal, Reverence having constructed a style of its own.
After such a slap, it must come to its senses!
Well, try to summarize what to me constitutes the essence of the universe through Reverence of this album.
It is a metal that refuses to retreat into a traditional pattern, banishing all conformism, all linearity, that takes us in rich compositions, a power, a frightening darkness. "The Asthenic Ascension" is an album that does not hesitate to marry different styles and ambiences to finally obtain something that touches the grandiose.
The music of the training we offer Black, Heavy, some Prog elements, Indus keys, multiple atmospheres, extreme or clear effective voice, sticking perfectly to the various aspects of music. Reverence weaves its web and locks us in this universe which is not desired to extricate as it is taking.
In the end, it appears happy to have had the privilege to witness the birth of a masterpiece!
"The Asthenic Ascension" is therefore to procure emergency !!
Tracklist of The Ascension Asthenic:
01. Earth
02. Darwin's Black Hall
03. The Descent
04. Psalm IV
05. Ghost Of Dust
06. Cold Room
07. Genesis Of Everything
08. Those Who Believed
09. The Ascension Asthenic
Find this column (and many others) on the webzine auxportesdumetal.com
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