I must say, that not since hearing Shadows Fall almost 4 years ago, have I heard a band that pays such an homage to the classic american metal of the 80's and early part of the 90's. Well all that changes with "Ascendancy".

Trivium is yet another band that brings those feelings back, with this, their Roadrunner debut. With all the classic breakdowns, the breakneck solos, intricate riffing and freight train like drums, Trivium is channeling everything good about Slayer, Testament, and early Megadeth....all the while putting their own stamp on it, thus taking us listeners for a ride that such bands as Killswitch Engage and Unearth have come close to, but failed to do.

"Ascendancy" opens with a clean intro track entitled "The End Of Everything" and then steamrolls right into "Rain". There couldn't have been a better track to open this album, as it tells you just what this band is about. "Pull Harder On The Strings Of Your Martyr" goes into a bit more of a hardcore direction, but still manages to breakdown into some serious guitar shredding. "A Gunshot To The Head Of Trepidation" is probably the best five minutes and fifty-five seconds of metal any of us have seen in a few years at least. Even the oldest of old school metal heads will be pumping their fist to this track.

This is a well rounded metal album that I'm glad to see released. Its got everything you want and expect without getting too derivative. Gruff vocals, but nothing that you can't understand, smart songwriting combined with exceptional musical prowess...I mean, what more could you want? "Ascendancy" gets a thumbs up from me.