An email arrived from Ten keyboard man Darell Treece-Birch. Would I mind reviewing a new CD by another band he’s involved with by the name of Nth Ascension? Described as “rock with a progressive edge” and a further Ten connection with Gary Hughes engineering the vocals and a bit of backing. No problem Mr Treece-Birch. I like my prog I do so all too happy to oblige.
Nth Ascension’s new offering is entitled Ascension of Kings. It has a nice dreamy, pastoral cover art as a good prog album should. And for an old prog man like myself I was heartened even before the first listen when looking at the track listing and seeing plenty of nice long songs and a closer at just shy of 19 minutes. Another hallmark of any good prog album.
But it isn’t “just” prog. Oh no. This most certainly rocks too – and how. This is a new band and on this evidence a very tight and talented one. The song writing and musicianship is top drawer really well arranged and put together.
The opener – Fourth Kingdom positively rocks along. A slashing riff really grips the ears (hmmm, so it’s not a prog album, it’s a rock album…….or is it……) and it’s a very enjoyable ride in to heavy territory. The guitar work is great with the keys coming to the fore towards the end it serves as a reminder that these boys can play prog too. Six minutes flashes by.
Return of the King is again more rock that prog though does hint at what’s to come later with more complex structures and changes coming in even if it is a more “punchy” song. Strange Dreams builds on this yet further with a fine meshing together of heavily progressive rock and excellent guitar work from Martin Walker.
Then we’re off and away in to deeper prog/rock nirvana. It’s almost as though the three knockout opening trio of songs and setting things up for what’s to come.
A twisting and turning three-part piece takes the listener here and there and back again as the trilogy meanders up and down from pastoral, soothing keys to in your face riffola all wrapped up in a neat package. Spectacular.
The real highlight (difficult as it is to pick just one from this album) has to be Vision. An eighteen minute masterpiece of which Rush would have been proud if they’d come up with it instead of say 2112 or Xanadu. Everything comes together in stunning clarity. Instant classic. It’s rock, its traditional prog, its pomp or is it heavy metal? No – it’s all of that forged together with an outstanding arrangement finely crafted with Nth Ascension showing how good they are. Breath-taking. You must listen to it to for yourself as words (well, my vocabulary at least) alone cannot do it justice.
Rock with a progressive edge indeed. Think Rush, Dream Theatre, bits of Genesis and Pink Floyd. Take all the best bits in the right proportion and that’s what Nth Ascension have come up with here. Ascension of Kings is (in the ears of this reviewer) completely essential listening. Been quite a week with the Scintilla Project followed by this masterpiece. Thank you Darrel for the opportunity to review.
I do urge you to check out the band’s web site here: http://www.nthascension.com from where you will be able to order your very own copy of Ascension of Kings.
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