Ascendancy (album)

Ascendancy
Studio album by Trivium
Released	March 15, 2005
Recorded	October 2004 - January 2005, Audiohammer Studios, Sanford, Florida and Morrisound Recording, Tampa, Florida
Genre	Metalcore, thrash metal
Length	55:16
Label	Roadrunner
Producer	Jason Suecof, Matt Heafy
Trivium chronology
Ember to Inferno (2003) Ascendancy (2005) The Crusade (2006)
Singles from Ascendancy
"Like Light to the Flies" Released: 2005 "Pull Harder on the Strings of Your Martyr" Released: 2005 "A Gunshot to the Head of Trepidation" Released: 2005 "Dying in Your Arms" Released: 2006

Ascendancy is the second studio album by American heavy metal band Trivium. Released on March 15, 2005 by Roadrunner Records.

Background and production

The album was produced by Jason Suecof and frontman, Matt Heafy. The album spawned four singles in "Like Light to the Flies", "Pull Harder on the Strings of Your Martyr", "A Gunshot to the Head of Trepidation" and "Dying in Your Arms". Music videos for each of the songs were shot; a promotional video was filmed for the song "Rain".

A demo of the song "The Deceived" was included on the re-release of Trivium's debut album Ember to Inferno nearly a year before Ascendancy was released. Likewise, a demo version of "Like Light to the Flies" was included on the MTV compilation album Headbangers Ball Volume 2. Also, a demo of the song "Blinding Tears Will Break the Skies" was included on the Ember to Inferno re-release and later re-recorded and included as a bonus track on the re-release of Ascendancy.

Sales

In the U.S., Ascendancy peaked at #151 on the Billboard 200 and at #4 on the Top Heatseekers charts. In the UK, it peaked at #78, and shipped over 100,000 copies, attaining Gold status, without entering the UK top 75.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
411mania
Allmusic
Amazon
Sputnikmusic
Ultimate Guitar

Upon its release, the album received very positive reviews from most music critics. Brandon Ratliff from 411mania, gave the album a perfect review, saying this about the band, "Watch out for this band twenty years from now. They will be as influential to so many as bands like Sabbath, Slayer, and Metallica were before them. As I said before, this album is in every way perfect, and that’s why I am proud to announce the first album to ever get a perfect score from me. Now go and buy this album. If you like metal at all you will." In another very positive review, Johnny Loftus of Allmusic had this to say about the album, "Ascendancy aligns real-deal thrash with powerful modern influences. But at all times it's a platform for Trivium's own crazed talent." Fans and critics alike consider Ascendancy to be the bands' breakthrough album.

Accolades

Ascendancy won the "Album of the Year Award" from Kerrang!" magazine.

Track listing

All lyrics written by Matt Heafy, except where noted. 

No.	Title	Music	Length
1.	"The End of Everything" (Instrumental)	Heafy, Jason Suecof	1:20
2.	"Rain"	Heafy, Corey Beaulieu	4:11
3.	"Pull Harder on the Strings of Your Martyr"	Heafy, Beaulieu, Travis Smith	4:51
4.	"Drowned and Torn Asunder"	Heafy, Beaulieu	4:17
5.	"Ascendancy"	Heafy	4:25
6.	"A Gunshot to the Head of Trepidation"	Heafy, Beaulieu	5:55
7.	"Like Light to the Flies"	Heafy, Beaulieu	5:40
8.	"Dying in Your Arms"	Heafy	2:53
9.	"The Deceived"	Heafy, Beaulieu	5:11
10.	"Suffocating Sight"	Heafy	3:47
11.	"Departure"	Heafy	5:41
12.	"Declaration"	Heafy	7:00
Total length:			55:16

United Kingdom special edition
No.	Title	Length
13.	"Washing Away Me in the Tides"	3:46
Total length:		59:02

Worldwide re-release
No.	Title	Length
13.	"Blinding Tears Will Break the Skies"	5:10
14.	"Washing Away Me in the Tides"	3:46
15.	"Master of Puppets" (Metallica cover, lyrics by James Hetfield)	8:11
16.	"Dying In Your Arms" (video mix)	3:05
Total length:		75:19

Notes

• The bonus track "Washing Away Me in the Tides" was included on the Underworld: Evolution soundtrack.
• A demo of the song "Blinding Tears Will Break the Skies" was included on the Ember to Inferno re-release and later re-recorded and included as a bonus track on the re-release of Ascendancy.

Personnel

Trivium

• Matt Heafy – vocals, guitars, production, art concept
• Corey Beaulieu – lead guitar
• Paolo Gregoletto – bass guitar, vocals
• Travis Smith – drums, percussion, gang vocals on track 6

Production personnel

• Jason Suecof – production, engineering, mixing on track 15
• Andy Sneap – mixing, mastering, gang vocals on track 6
• Jeff Weed – engineering assistance
• Aaron Caillier – engineering assistance
• Mark Lewis – co-engineer on track 15

Additional personnel

• Chad Sunderland – gang vocals on track 6
• Gizz Butt – gang vocals on track 6
• Paul A. Romano – art direction, artwork, graphic design
• Josh Rothstein – photography