Top tracks — play these first
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Fools — Opening with an expansive sound that builds progressively, this track encapsulates the album's theme of disillusionment while showcasing Broadrick's layered guitar work.
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Broken Home — This track combines melancholic melodies with crushing heaviness, representing the emotional core of the album as it delves into themes of isolation and vulnerability.
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Brave New World — The song’s juxtaposition of serene vocals against dense instrumentation reflects both hope and despair, capturing the essence of the album's overarching narrative.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
Ascension merges heavy textures with ethereal melodies, creating a unique sonic experience within its genre.
What we noticed
- The album features long, droning tracks that often exceed six minutes, creating an immersive soundscape.
- Vocals are layered with heavy reverb and often blend into the instrumentation, making them feel like part of the texture rather than distinct lines.
- Several tracks build gradually, starting from quiet, ambient sections before erupting into dense, heavy passages.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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8/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- hauntingly immersive soundscapes
- patient exploration of themes
- cathartic moments of release
- ideal for introspective evenings
Maybe skip if you
- seeking upbeat, quick satisfaction
- prefer standalone, catchy tracks
Where this album fits
- Career context
- By the time 'Ascension' was released in 2011, Jesu, led by Justin Broadrick, had already established a unique sound blending metal and ambient music. This album followed their critically acclaimed release 'Infinity' (2009), and marked a continued evolution in Broadrick's artistic vision, showcasing his ability to weave personal themes into expansive soundscapes.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Godspeed You! Black Emperor· Isis· Pelican
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Fools 8:12
- 2 Birth Day 5:09
- 3 Sedatives 5:10
- 4 Broken Home 8:51
- 5 Brave New World 4:13
- 6 Black Lies 5:26
- 7 Small Wonder 7:31
- 8 December 7:50
- 9 King of Kings 6:24
- 10 Ascension 2:45
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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