Following on from the recent success of
Inheritance the latest release from Italian
progressive metal outfit Ashent, Lion Music
are pleased to offer up a timely reissue of
the bands long out of print 2006 debut album
Flaws Of Elation. In addition this new print
comes with all new artwork and the
additional bonus of the bands very first
ultra rare 2003 4 track demo!
Flaws Of Elation
is a prog-power experience with some modern
techno-thrash influences which are reflected in the
way Ashent arrange and play guitars and drums. There
are also some death metal references, in the mode
the band use growling as backing vocals that have
their importance in the economy of Ashent’s sound,
wisely mixed with a modern prog attitude that uses
avant-garde and gothic elements in order to create
intense and dramatic music. The atmosphere is very
dark, but the vocals of American vocalist Steve
Braun are extremely melodic, supported by some
beautiful orchestrations.
On Flaws Of
Elation bassist Gianpaolo Falanga comments, “Flaws
of elation was our debut originally released 7 years
ago: looking back now we wanted to share for the
first time our complete musical vision for the long
distance demonstrating that the progressive power
metal could be created in a more aggressive and
personal way than the usual clichés heard in the
genre. We aimed to develop a balance between catchy
vocals and huge riffing, creating true songs with
interesting arrangements”.
On the change in
sound from the bonus 2003 demos to the Flaws Of
Elation album Gian comments, “At the time of our
first official demo, the songs had a more
“power-metal” attitude, with less complex drum work
and keyboards being more dominant. We decided to
release the 2003 demos at the end of this reissue in
order to underline the stylistic differences between
the 4 songs in the original 2003 version, in
comparison with the 2006 versions. You can clearly
observe the renewed sound approach, with the
introduction of seven strings guitars, more dynamic
drum patterns and fills, but also a lot of choirs
and harmonizations, with the aim to magnify the 2
sides of our sound: the aggressive and the melodic”.
Not only does
the Flaws Of Elation album mark a refinement of the
bands sound, but also a change in personnel with new
singer Steve Braun, drummer Davide Buso and
guitarist Cristiano Bergamo joining the band between
the albums creation and the 2003 demos.
Ashent – Flaws
Of Elation sees release through Lion Music on 19th
April 2013.