Convocation
Ashes Coalesce
SCORE: 8.8 out of 10
For their sophomore album, the Finnish duo take some of the most extreme sides of metal and elegantly combine them to devastating effect. Ashes Coalesce is not only heavy, but it is emotionally crushing and complex as well.
“Sophisticated” and “elegant” may not be precisely two adjectives one would use to describe songs or albums spawned from the most extreme sides of metal. When they are used, though, it has to be done with caution, as in the eyes of fans -or the artists themselves- those words may actually go against the whole idea of making extreme music. Nonetheless, there are some albums that cannot be described otherwise, and Convocation’s sophomore effort is one of them, since it elegantly combines elements of doom and death metal with a very subtle touch of prog that lies hidden within its complex songwriting and vast instrumentation.
Convocation have existed for four years now, and in this relatively short lifespan they have been able to grow musically while keeping their core intact; Scars Across, their debut album, was an engulfing black cloud, adorned with keys and synths that shined like timid bursts of light amidst all the morose ambiance created by the growls and guitars, but even with all its nuances, it was a straightforward -albeit above average- doom album. For Ashes Coalesce, the Finnish duo is still taking cues from some of the most extreme branches of metal (funeral doom, death metal) only this time, the effect is doubly devastating: this is an undeniable upgrade as it is not only heavy, but also emotionally crushing as well.
The production is so full, that each track has a presence so dense, it can actually affect the space where it’s being played in; it is very physical music. With its lethargic pace and its extremely heavy tone, this album has the same effect as looking at a giant architectonic structure from the bottom all the way to the top: it’s both majestic and humbling how small it can make you feel. And even though an overall mournful air reigns supreme, there’s something glorious and weirdly optimistic about it; this kind of animic complexity is not something a lot of funeral doom projects can deliver, or at least not without having to sacrifice some of their darkness, but Convocation remain in the shadows as ominous demonic figures who have been endowed with sensibility.
With an intro that sounds like a “guitarrier” Bell Witch, “The Absence of Grief” quickly veers into a territory of its own; in a weird way, the track -and the album in general- sounds almost symphonic because of the active role the synths and keyboards take. When most funeral doom acts are content with using organ drones to create fuller chords, Convocation let the keys move freely around the tracks, creating very engaging instrumental passages. Since this is not a prog-metal album, everything is handled with restraint, so don’t expect unnecessary complexity. The duo also takes advantage of different timbral qualities of the keyboards: the rotary overtones on “Portal Closing” give the track a quasi-psychedelic tone.
Very much in line with its extreme nature, Ashes Coalesce is pretty intense: the vocal delivery is so powerful, it will leave your throat feeling sore, and even the few clean verses add so much weight because of their -almost- operatic quality. Being stretched to monolithic proportions, the tracks end up feeling longer than they are because of the dynamics and instruments at play; it is a tiring experience, but the duo leaves room to breathe with ”Portal Closing”. Reprising the arpeggio and melody from “The Abscence…” before disappearing into the ether, it gives a beautiful ending to the record, threading the line between optimism and melancholy; this dichotomy makes Ashes Coalesce feel as if we just stared right into the mysteries of life all at once, the good and the dark.
