Comments:
Ascension Theory's second CD, Answers, reaffirms the band as
a thinking man's band. Not just a thinking man, but something Phil
Dick would have enjoyed. While their debut release owned a more existential
premise, Answers is a concept album about a city on earth and
a colony on the moon, and how the two cities become completely different
societies over time and space.
The
band is comprised of Leon Ozug (vocals, guitar, bass), Tim Becker
(keyboards) and Chad Lenig (drums), but they also had a few guest
musicians to help on vocals and on a some of the tracks.
The
first track, "Passion of My Heart," is almost classical
in its use of melody during the intro. Their sound throughout the
CD is pure, the production nears perfection, and Ozug's voice is just
as pure as the production values. Everything fits perfectly (there's
that word again) on Answers. While you will place Ascension
Theory in the progressive metal genre, Ozug is focused on singing
and never screaming - never. His voice is so strong and musical, he
could sing something from Buddy Holly and you'd still be mesmerized.
Keys
play a role in all of their songs, mainly due to the fact Becker is
the principle songwriter. The track "Lockstep," shows their
propensity for penning smart lyrics as well: "Marching lockstep,
to the cadence we all know. Blindly passing by the suffering of our
own kind." The solo in this song is brief and ultra-clean, making
you wonder how a singer can figure out how to play guitar this well.
You'll
be starting to figure out the Ascension Theory sound by the time you
hit "Perfect Plan." They tend to start with a keyboard intro,
compositions built on crescendos to the chorus, and although you'll
hear some metal riffing, it's all evenly mid-paced. "Saturn's
Reign" is more metal than some of the other tracks, as the production
brings the rhythm guitar to the forefront, and Ozug sings a bit heavier
during the verses, although the chorus is his pure voice again.
Now,
the guests start to show up on "The Way of Death." This
composition is heavier and more chaotic than what you've hear prior
on this release, more distortion, but then … Ozug doesn't sing
lead. Beverly Luse takes lead duties. This decision was probably made
for artistic reasons, and Ozug gets a chance to focus on his guitar,
which is really a wicked, searing solo. This isn't a duet either,
and really, it takes away from the Ascension Theory sound. Luse sings
the next song too, "Decisions."
Oddly
enough, by the time you get to "Refractions," you'll hear
a lounge-y, experimental, moody instrumental. This isn't to show off
their musical abilities; it's more of an interlude before they wrap
everything up in the final track, "Answers." This song begins
with a somewhat joyful, uplifting keyboard piece, and suddenly gets
heavy and sounds like Fates Warning, Ozug leaning close to what we've
come to know from Ray Alder. The denouement is not as uplifting and
hopeful as the keyboard hints at, though, as the lyrics offer, "A
house divided will not stand - strong winds will send it crashing
down."
Ascension
Theory is demanding that they are a force to be reckoned with on Answers.
Nightmare Records has been releasing some of the best music in the
genre over the past few years - with bands like Lanfear, Pyramze and
Avian - and now you can put Ascension Theory in that same group. Yes,
they are that good.
www.ascensiontheory.com
Track
listing:
1. Passion Of My Heart
2. Lockstep Listen
3. Perfect Plan
4. Saturn's Reign
5. To Be Content
6. The Way of Death
7. Decisions
8. End Game
9. Refractions
10. Answers
HRH
Rating: 8.1/10
