A Grave Ascent moves between the fury of Black Metal and a deep sense of melancholy that slowly unfolds without relying on forced darkness.
The guitars shift between violent bursts and haunting melodies, while the keyboards create a vast, ancient and deathly atmosphere. There are moments when the drums push the songs into pure aggression, followed by slower passages where every melody seems to carry the weight of something lost. The orchestral arrangements are not just there for decoration; they add to the feeling of isolation that runs throughout the album, bringing to mind bands like Midnight Odyssey. The closing track, ‘And What Is Yet to Lose’, captures this feeling perfectly, slowly sinking into complete desolation.
Lumen ad Mortem knows exactly how to work with these contrasts.
