Rating: 8.1

Country: Finland

Release Date: 2008

Record Label: Self Released

Track list:
1. Summoned By Sacrifice
2. The Art of Necromancy
3. Omnipresent Evil
4. Drifting in a Void

Band Website: Ascended

Ascended - The Art of Necromancy

Tommi Sookari - Vocals
Juuso Lautamäki - Lead Guitar
Lassi Vainio - Rhythm Guitar
Tuomas Koski - Bass
Sami Saarhelo - Drums

Ascended are a new band from Finland and have only just released their first demo this year but they play authentic old school death metal of the early ‘90s. That should make any death metal fan salivate like a dog having a violent seizure, for he should know that back then Finland had probably the best death metal scene in the world. Well aware of this fact, Ascended have no intentions of betraying their listeners' expectations and like good mannered boys deliver just what is expected from them.

While Finland had several bands with their own unique sound, Ascended are satisfied emulating the music of early Amorphis circa Privilege of Evil/Karelian Isthmus, and we as listeners should be more than satisfied with that. You can expect similar majestically structured songs played with the same assured pride while exuding an eerie vibe that only bands of their elite Finnish ilk are able to produce, the title track being an excellent example of that. Pure, chunky and darkish death metal riffs progress unhurriedly like fluffy clouds high above, leads and harmonies swirling and screaming distantly in the air like lofty birds of prey, and when you are about to experience vertigo, you are suddenly struck by a bolt of lightning amid intense rumbling, the feeling similar to old Demigod's heavy parts as felt in “Summoned by Sacrifice” for instance. Ascended's songs unravel ever so gently and elegantly, their languorous pace - perhaps bordering dangerously on complacent for some - in fact goes well with their passionate, dreamy form of old school music. It is not let down at all by the production which is astonishingly good for a demo: maybe a tad dry, its crisp and powerful sound easily betters that of some of the "classic" demos released by their revered country mates.

Unalloyed death metal riffs played at an agreeable pace and arranged extremely well around floating ethereal harmonies and faster Bolt Thrower-esque chugging parts more than make up for Ascended's lack of originality, which is hardly the issue here given their ambitious and instantly gratifying style of music. Fans of the aforementioned bands as well as Gorement, Depravity, old Cemetary, etc. will adore this band. Ascended must be signed.

May 20th, 2008