The keen reader might remember Ceremony Shadows, Portland-based trio with a great deal of gloomy darkwave energy behind them. Writing about ‘Reclaim’, we proudly declared it as providing “an intense, brainiac aural experience, one that’s hard to forget”. We stand by our words: the American project has certainly struck gold here, embarking on a rather leftfield and fringe path, yet finding a way to decode their nuanced artistry in a popular fashion.
‘Ascension’ widen the overarching picture once again, packing Ceremony Shadows’ cathartic character into a sultry and dark-laden 8-track album. Celebrating nostalgia as much as futurism, the record is a melting pot of synthwave, electronica and new wave, eventually making for a rather striking darwave effort. A transformative and mystical work, ‘Ascension’ questions our collective and personal consciousness, urging the listeners to reclaim their truth and revise everything with an open mind.
In a sense, the album is quite personal, and we’d recommend that everyone take their time with it. It’s a deep, meaningful effort with tons of idealistic and lyrical angles – almost hypnotising at times. As the group explains: “‘Ascension’ invites you to step into the liminal, where darkness is not to be feared but embraced, where sovereignty is reclaimed, and transformation begins.”
Recommended! Discover ‘Ascension’ on Spotify:
