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Ascension Lost is the third album from Germany’s Thulcandra and it sees the band continue in the same melodic Black/Death Metal vein of their previous efforts. Let’s clarify right up front; if you want nothing but icy cold Black Metal or viciously brutal Death Metal you’re going to need to look elsewhere because Thulcandra’s music isn’t anywhere near those extremes. What you do get on Ascension Lost is loads of tremolo picked guitars, blast-beat speed drumming and harsh vocals all tied together by the band’s keen ear for melody. The sound is thoroughly modern and the songs have a huge presence but there are nods to those whose shoulders Thulcandra stand on. There are occasional Tom G. Warrior grunts and some of the solos are in the style of early Kirk Hammett. This is great stuff for fans like who think of Traditional Metal as their genre of choice but are looking to branch out.

As I said earlier, if you are looking for the extremes of Black or Death Metal, look elsewhere because Thulcandra aren’t writing what you want. For those who like their music to contain a good dose of melody, Ascension Lost is definitely worth checking out as this band continues to perfect their blend of Black, Death and Melodic Metal.