…And Ascend it Does

There’s only so much to expect from two of some of the harshest musicians out right now, and it’s all noise. Like static from unclear channels, The Body and Full of Hell, who have tangoed together in the dance of album creation before, have done it for the second clamorous time. Somehow much like and nothing like their previous, last year’s One Day You Will Ache Like I Ache, The Body and Full of Hell’s current joint endeavor Ascending a Mountain of Heavy Light embodies the most idyllic qualities from them both.

Straight away, Ascending’s resistance to conventional flow is established. “Light Penetrates” is dissonant, with a grating electronic distortion that gives way to a contrasting but fitting vocal dynamic between shrill screams from The Body’s Chip King and hellish growls from Full of Hell’s Dylan Walker. The two bands actually play up on this musical yin-yang effect, where through the harshness there are still elements of categorical distinction.

Take “The King Laid Bare” for example, which teeters farthest on the totter of industrial metal. “Our Love Conducted with Shields Aloft” harkens an improvised, free jazz element, where the drums seem to be ad libbed. On a heavier note, a reigning sludginess dominates “Farewell Man,” acting as a reminder that even with all of the harsh electronic noise, both bands are still above all else leading proprietors of classic brutality.

If anything, that’s a resounding attribute to take away from Ascending — despite whichever ways the album’s sound may veer, there’s a recalling knowledge that both The Body and Full of Hell are well within their lanes of capable outfit. None of it sounds strained or contrived. Quite the contrary, actually, as a flow is established even within the jarring bursts of sound. Most times, The Body’s presence was better known, seeing as they tend to be more experimental. But that doesn’t mean that Full of Hell’s piercing death-grind isn’t apparent either. It pops up at the most opportune times, accenting points in songs like necessary commas and periods.

Hopefully, both Full of Hell and The Body are committed to this partnership. It’s proven successful twice now, and any releases to come will just as much a turbulent delight.