Ancient Tome is a Blackened Doom Metal band from the United States, established in 2020. On January 20, 2025, the band unveiled their third EP, titled “The Implications of Ascendancy,” which was released by Chaos Records.
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Ancient Tome, The Implications of Ascendancy: This review will evaluate every aspect of the album, from its intricate musical composition to its production. Our analysis will provide valuable insights to help you determine if this album is worth adding to your collection.
The First Three Sins of The Implications of Ascendancy
Let’s start by discussing the first three sins of Ancient Tome and their album, The Implications of Ascendancy
The First Sin, The Strings/Keys: Feature dissonant-distorted, tremolo-picked riffs and atmospheric passages, creating a haunting, oppressive atmosphere. The bass riffs provide a deep, rumbling foundation that complements the guitars. It adds weight and depth to their sound, enhancing the overall heaviness. The Second Sin, The Vocals: Involve raw, unrefined harsh, guttural screams and whispers that convey a sense of despair and darkness within… The Third Sin—The Percussions: The drums are heavy and aggressive, featuring blast beats and double-bass kicks that drive the band’s intense sound, adding a sense of urgency and chaos to the music.
The Fourth Sin: Overall Discussion:
This deeply immersive record takes listeners on a journey into the darkest realms of existential dread, loss, and the search for rebirth
As soon as the listener hits the play button, they are welcomed by the gentle, slow instrumental introduction of The Implications of Ascendancy. As the track approaches its final minute, it shifts dramatically into a distorted, sombre, and weighty conclusion, seamlessly flowing into the next piece, Break the Blue. This transition sets the stage for the final two tracks, The Way of the World is to Bloom and Lamentation, each contributing to the evolving musical journey.
Ancient Tome is far from a leisurely stroll; it intertwines the ethereal black metal atmospheres with the slow, and crushing tones of doom metal, while there exists a slight brutality of death metal, within the music. This fruit of art and powerful combination elevate the heaviness and despair to unprecedented heights, challenging the boundaries of heavy music while offering an intensely narrative experience that captivates the listener. Moreover, this profoundly immersive album invites the listener to traverse the bleakest corners of existential anguish, grappling with themes of loss and the quest for renewal.
Ancient Tome‘s album, The Implications of Ascendancy unfolds like a relentless tide, slowly enveloping your spirit in the oppressive weight of its sound, refusing to release its grip. Yet, amidst this darkness, glimmers of hope emerge; fleeting moments of delicate instrumentation and ethereal vocals offer listeners a brief respite, akin to gasping for air while submerged in deep waters. However, this reprieve is short-lived, as the music’s brooding intensity returns, delivering a punishing blend of dissonant, tremolo-picked riffs and haunting atmospheric passages. The bass anchors the composition, while the drumming injects a frenzied sense of urgency and chaos. The vocals weave a dense fog over the soundscape, characterized by their raw, blackened quality. Interspersed within the slow, heavy riffs are bursts of intricate, faster-paced sections, crafting a dynamic auditory journey that showcases the devilmanship and artistry of this dark musical creation.
Ancient Tome‘s album, The Implications of Ascendancy, presents a distinctive auditory experience, blending a raw yet meticulously crafted fusion of devastating doom and otherworldly black metal soundscapes. This sonic journey strikes a delicate balance between overwhelming heaviness and haunting introspection, all encapsulated in a production that achieves flawless clarity. Each shard of distortion, every rhythmic pulse, and the immense weight of the music and vocals resonate deeply, conjuring an unsettling yet exhilarating sensation in the listener’s core—a delightful queasiness that lingers long after the final note fades.
This bold entry into the realms of death-doom-black metal is set to leave a lasting impression with its sonic power and conceptual depth. For fans who seek an exploration of human conflict and transcendence, The Implications of Ascendancy is a captivating and emotionally resonant work. This bold entry into the realms of death-doom-black metal is set to leave a lasting impression with its sonic power and conceptual depth.
The album comes to an end with the last song, Lamentation, as the music takes its musical breath. We want to give a shoutout to Chaos Records for letting us review Ancient Tome and their album The Implications of Ascendancy. Now, we’re going to wrap it up by talking about the final three sins and concluding the review.
The Last Three Sins
Let’s discuss the last three sins of Ancient Tome and their album, The Implications of Ascendancy
The Fifth Sin, The Memorabilia:
Personally, I find that Ancient Tome‘s album, The Implications of Ascendancy is anything but a casual experience, and I truly appreciate when bands or artists create such depth. It invites you to immerse yourself in the music rather than merely hear it. Ultimately, every element is a fruit of art: the devilmanship, the weight of distortion, and the intricacies of composition and arrangement. Again, a fruit of art perfection from the first note, until the final note fades into the darkness.
The Sixth Sin, The Artwork:
The artwork is bleak, and draws in the music. The artwork invites you more to the music, than focusing on the artwork itself.
The Seventh Sin, Disrelish:
There is nothing to dislike in the musical offerings of Ancient Tome and their album The Implications of Ascendancy; thus, we conclude our review of Ancient Tome and their album The Implications of Ascendancy. I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude for your time in reading this article, and I encourage you to explore the work of Chaos Records and the band Ancient Tome.
Members
Kevin Esnayra: bass
Zeshaan Younus: guitars
Naraka: vocals, drums, guitars
Aidan Neuner: drums
Track-Listing
01. The Implications of Ascendancy
02. Break the Blue
03. The Way of the World Is to Bloom
04. Lamentation
