Caleb - Guitarist and Vocalist
1. Ascension hail from Los Angeles. That city has always been associated with the music world, how is the extreme metal scene there?
To be perfectly honest, the scene is rather lacking here. There are a few great bands, but the majority of the bands here are merely clones of other more successful bands. There is no unity in the scene. You have the thrash kids, the elitist, close minded black metallers, the brutal death crowd, etc. Nobody supports metal as a whole, only their preferred genre. And the audience is so close minded to anything new and original that a majority of the bands are playing recycled, generic, stagnant sounding music.
To be perfectly honest, the scene is rather lacking here. There are a few great bands, but the majority of the bands here are merely clones of other more successful bands. There is no unity in the scene. You have the thrash kids, the elitist, close minded black metallers, the brutal death crowd, etc. Nobody supports metal as a whole, only their preferred genre. And the audience is so close minded to anything new and original that a majority of the bands are playing recycled, generic, stagnant sounding music.
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2. You are now with Ascension, what led to the move from Five Finger Death Punch?
I was actually replaced just before the band hit the road. To be honest it was really a blessing in disguise, as now I'm playing my own music that I really feel passionate about, and it made me more determined than ever to take Ascension as far as it can go. It's sort of like what happened when Dave Mustaine was booted from Metallica in a way... Hahaha!
I was actually replaced just before the band hit the road. To be honest it was really a blessing in disguise, as now I'm playing my own music that I really feel passionate about, and it made me more determined than ever to take Ascension as far as it can go. It's sort of like what happened when Dave Mustaine was booted from Metallica in a way... Hahaha!
3. So you are also interested in producing other bands and musicians. Are you currently working with anyone?
Indeed I am! I'm wrapping up work currently on volume two of "Drums From Hell: Extreme Metal Loops" for my buddy Jeremy Spencer from Five Finger Death Punch. It's basically a collection of blast beats and double bass grooves designed for metal musicians who want to write and record but don't have access to a killer drummer. Check that out when it hits the streets. I am also currently in pre-production with the female fronted death metal act Bow Before None. I'm really into producing young, up and coming underground bands. I like to support the scene and the musicians in it as much as possible. I've recently done some work for bands such as White Silence, Prey for the Hunters, Vishapakahr, and Verfallen, both on the production end and in several cases as a session player. I played drums on the Vishapakahr tunes, and bass on the White Silence and Verfallen ones. All of these artists are featured on my MySpace profile if anyone cares to give them a listen...
Indeed I am! I'm wrapping up work currently on volume two of "Drums From Hell: Extreme Metal Loops" for my buddy Jeremy Spencer from Five Finger Death Punch. It's basically a collection of blast beats and double bass grooves designed for metal musicians who want to write and record but don't have access to a killer drummer. Check that out when it hits the streets. I am also currently in pre-production with the female fronted death metal act Bow Before None. I'm really into producing young, up and coming underground bands. I like to support the scene and the musicians in it as much as possible. I've recently done some work for bands such as White Silence, Prey for the Hunters, Vishapakahr, and Verfallen, both on the production end and in several cases as a session player. I played drums on the Vishapakahr tunes, and bass on the White Silence and Verfallen ones. All of these artists are featured on my MySpace profile if anyone cares to give them a listen...
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4. Ascension is most brutal, and puts me in mind of bands such as Behemoth, and Nile. How did the band develep this crushing sound?
I would say that our sound has developed through a natural progression. It's been a steady evolution of bigger, louder and harder. I would say we differ greatly from both of the bands you mentioned due to the fact that we prefer to create energy and weight through a pounding, simplistic groove and hooks as opposed to constant speed and technicality. I've drawn influences in my writing from other places besides strictly extreme metal. I'm a huge fan of punk, and 70's hard rock as well, and I would definitely say this shows in Ascension's music to an extent...
I would say that our sound has developed through a natural progression. It's been a steady evolution of bigger, louder and harder. I would say we differ greatly from both of the bands you mentioned due to the fact that we prefer to create energy and weight through a pounding, simplistic groove and hooks as opposed to constant speed and technicality. I've drawn influences in my writing from other places besides strictly extreme metal. I'm a huge fan of punk, and 70's hard rock as well, and I would definitely say this shows in Ascension's music to an extent...
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5. What is the next big goal for Ascension?
Our current goal is to finish our record and to find a suitable label to release it, and upon doing so begin to tour relentlessly.
Our current goal is to finish our record and to find a suitable label to release it, and upon doing so begin to tour relentlessly.
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6. Are you currently playing in any other bands?
I have a studio project involving three fourths of Ascension called Caligari. It's a really raw, old school thrash sounding thing with songs that all revolve around horror films. We have a single, "Horror Philosophy" available at www.myspace.com/caligariscabinet. Have a listen!
I have a studio project involving three fourths of Ascension called Caligari. It's a really raw, old school thrash sounding thing with songs that all revolve around horror films. We have a single, "Horror Philosophy" available at www.myspace.com/caligariscabinet. Have a listen!
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7. How have fans received Ascension so far?
Exceedingly well! We're very happy that so many have shown us so much support at such an early stage in the game. We receive emails on a daily basis from people demanding to hear more music, to know when we're touring through their states and countries, and to know where they can find our records and T-Shirts.
Exceedingly well! We're very happy that so many have shown us so much support at such an early stage in the game. We receive emails on a daily basis from people demanding to hear more music, to know when we're touring through their states and countries, and to know where they can find our records and T-Shirts.
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8. What can listeners expect when they come to see Ascension live?
Those who see us perform live tend to always go home happily satisfied by the ringing in their ears. We strive to be a cut above everyone we share the stage with sonically, visually, and musically, and people really do tend to take notice. We have a very strong underlying message in our music that we feel comes through live in a way that can't quite be fully captured on a recording...
Those who see us perform live tend to always go home happily satisfied by the ringing in their ears. We strive to be a cut above everyone we share the stage with sonically, visually, and musically, and people really do tend to take notice. We have a very strong underlying message in our music that we feel comes through live in a way that can't quite be fully captured on a recording...
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9. What does being in this band mean to you?
Being in this band means being devoted to something greater than ourselves. This band is my life. Music is my life. Everyone who is in this band is completely devoted to making the music happen no matter the cost.
Being in this band means being devoted to something greater than ourselves. This band is my life. Music is my life. Everyone who is in this band is completely devoted to making the music happen no matter the cost.
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10. What do you think is the most important aspect of playing metal is?
I would say total devotion to the music and determination to make the music happen. The way that the metal genre is heading today, and the way that the music industry as a whole is as well, leads me to believe that the only bands who will ever succeed are the ones who put all of their energy and resources into their music and never stop trying to make their music reach new ears all over the globe.
I would say total devotion to the music and determination to make the music happen. The way that the metal genre is heading today, and the way that the music industry as a whole is as well, leads me to believe that the only bands who will ever succeed are the ones who put all of their energy and resources into their music and never stop trying to make their music reach new ears all over the globe.