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ASCENDANCY :
RISE OF A DEAD EMPIRE

Ascendancy is a young (formed in June 2001) band out of Boston Massachusetts. After releasing two demos with very limited pressings, we now have a proper CD. Although, with nine tracks, "Rise Of A Dead Empire", barely manages to clock in at over 22 minutes in length. So, can anyone guess the band's chosen genre? That's right kids, insanely brutal Grindcore is they style of choice for these lads. Personally, I've had a soft spot in my heart for these kinds of bands ever since the first wave (Napalm Death, Carcass, etc.) erupted from the Metal underground over fifteen years ago. Since that time bands have had to get faster and faster just to be noticed, which leads us to a group like Ascendancy. This stuff is way, way over the top. The speed is almost incomprehensible, and while they make a brain-shattering first impression, I think the songs suffer a little for it. To set the mood, try to imagine the faster elements of Napalm Death, mixed with the faster parts of Cryptopsy and Kataklysm, and you'll have an idea of what to expect. The first track, "Darkness Within", is only 1:27 long, and I'm not sure if it's supposed to be an actual song, or act as an intro. It's so chaotic, that it sounds like everyone in the band is playing a totally different song, and they just went and mixed them all together in the studio. The boys (Terence - guitar & vocals, Seth - drums, Josh - bass, and Michael - guitar) manage to settle down a bit by track two, but this is still pure sonic insanity. Song structures and time changes are so complicated, that one can only sit there stunned while trying to make sense of it all. While the band has obviously been concentrating on becoming the heaviest and the fastest, (and they could go toe to toe with anyone on that level) I think an important thing has been pushed to the side, and that is forging a memorable song. Which, contrary to many people's assumptions, can be done in the genre of Grindcore. Think back to the early days of Napalm etc., I don't know about you, but I can hum those tunes in my head, which indicates memorable groves and beats. I doubt even Ascendancy could hum the songs form ROADE. So basically, they've mastered the skills of a shit-kickin' Grind band, but they still need to fine-tune those skills to ascend (get it?) to the top of the heap. For all the latest info, check the band out at ascendancymetal.com. Oh, and one more thing, that drum 1:20 solo/intro on "Forever Desensitized", either has to be greatly truncated, or given a re-write so it's not so monotonous.
RATING = 6 Grindcore (Released 2004)

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