Heavy. Right off the bat, that is the word I would use to describe this band, and this record. Fucking heavy. Heavier than a chain-mail sack full of battle axes. The first time I heard The Blinding Light was well over a year ago, and though it didn't exactly inspire me to run out and pick up the band's latest release, it was just something that you could tell contained a lot of promise. Little did I know it would turn into possibly one of the most aggressive and uncompromising assaults this side of the Atlantic.
First of all, let's be honest: "metal-core" is a genre that has seen a lot of output in the last couple of years, and not a lot of it worthy of a second listen. As with anything that becomes popular, it has seen hordes of imitators and watered down hack acts all looking to make what little dent in the music world that they can manage. So with that said, it goes without mentioning that the genre could use a little shot in the arm. Enter 2004, and behind it, The Ascension Attempt.
First thing you'll notice, other than yet another amazing layout courtesy of Deathwish, is the sheer distortion in the mix. Holy over-driven balls, batman. There is definitely no shortage of energy in the mix; the guitars sound like an unholy blast of Converge inspired thrash, tempered with a tuning that is so low its digging a trench for the bass and drums. The rhythm section is equally thick and overdriven, but retains a certain clarity where it's needed to maintain order. That's about where the "order" of this record ends, however.
Vocals. I haven't read any other reviews of this record yet, but I guarantee, I absolutely promise, that almost every one is going to compare the delivery to Tom Araya of Slayer. You can get back to me if I'm wrong about that, but let's face it, bro sounds just like Araya. Not in a bad way, mind you. The attack is absolutely perfect for the music it has to work with. Raw, emotional, and to the vocalist's credit, real. It sounds like a human being that is angry. Not a cookie monster, or the 10,000th girlish high pitch shriek that seems to be all the rage these days. The falling point comes in the apparent lack of articulation and clarity. Unlike Araya, who makes a point of delivering every single word audibly, the lyrics are lost in a soup of distortion.
Chaotic thrashing, crushing breakdowns, vocal venom; what's missing? The answer is dynamics. In all its preoccupation with pummeling the listener into submission, The Ascension Attempt neglects to spend more than a second exploring the other end of the spectrum, leaving the listener feeling a little unimpressed after a while. The true pioneers of the genre almost all possess the ability pause just long enough to create a more challenging experience. Shai Hulud, Converge, etc. all have mastered the ability to craft truly epic songs. While The Blinding Light has the song length, they haven't quite touched on enough to make me think this is going to attract as wide an acclaim as it could have.
Despite nit-picking, the truth remains that this album is downright punishing, and head and shoulders beyond most of the pack. The brilliance is in its ferocity, which in my mind puts it up to par with Dillinger Escape Plan, Pig Destroyer, and other current leaders in the extreme metal genre. There is the problem of the assault becoming redundant after a few of the five minute long tracks have passed, but given the progression and promise the band has shown in its short existence, my bet would be that these guys have more than enough ability to put out something truly groundbreaking one day. Until then, The Ascension Attempt should keep metal and hardcore fans foaming at the mouth, but don't be surprised if it leaves you wishing for just a little bit more variety.
