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"With “The Ascendance,” Art Nation may not have been as successful as with their two previous albums, but the album is still quite respectable."
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4/5
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Two years after their last release, Art Nation returns this spring with their fifth album, entitled “The Ascendance.” For a decade, the Gothenburg-based band has been steadily and diligently carving out a niche for themselves in the crowded world of Swedish melodic hard rock, led by Alexander Strandell (Crowne, Lionville, and Nitrate). Will the title of their new work prove prophetic, giving the band an edge over their competitors?
The frontman is not only climbing the ladder of success, he is also reaching new heights that set him apart from other singers of the same ilk. To appreciate Art Nation, you have to be open to his vocal style and the occasional (and rather superfluous) use of the vocoder. Similarly, it is necessary not to be affected by the omnipresence of keyboards, which frequently play the rhythmic role traditionally assigned to the guitar. Often, the latter only has room to express itself during the inevitable solo that appears two-thirds of the way through the song. The other characteristic feature of the band is the presence of a drummer who is anything but machanical in his approach to his instrument. The numerous tempo variations on each track are a constant, and the man behind the drums has fun with them, letting his talent speak vehemently. Like his companion on the synths, he does not go unnoticed by the listener.
“The Ascendance” is a melodic hard rock album where the word “hard” is not there to attract metalheads. And while the well-crafted melodies of the happy metal genre unequivocally captivate the music lover, they nevertheless form a whole with the power and do not soften it in any way. Except for the ballad "Julia" it's full throttle. At times, the speed of execution is reminiscent of Sonata Arctica (“Set Me Free”), and when the melody is five-star, it brings to mind One Desire (“Sunderball,” “Runaways,” and “Lightbringer”). Even if the last third of the album is a notch below the rest, there are no missteps here, except for a few synth sounds on “Unstoppable” that are unpleasant to the ear.
"The Ascendance" is probably less successful than the two previous albums, but the bar was set very high. This fifth attempt nevertheless holds up well enough to deserve multiple listens and, on some of its tracks, promises some great live performances. - Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
01. Set Me Free
02. Thunderball
03. Halo
04. Runaways
05. Julia
06. The Last Of Us
07. Lightbringer
08. A New Beginning
09. Unstoppable
10. Rise
11. Fallout
LINEUP:
Alexander Strandell: Chant
Christoffer Borg: Guitares
Richard Svärd: Basse
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READERS
5/5 (1 view(s))
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STAFF:
4/5 (1 view(s))
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