Release date: Out now!

Formed in 2014 in the grim north of the UK, Ascalon are a no-nonsense traditional heavy metal band focussed on the power and glory years of metal. Following a demo and 5 track EP in 2014 and ’16 respectively the band are back with their first full length effort ‘The Black Library’.

Review

Prospero Burns is an instrumental that feels like your waking up from a glorious dream with hazy eyes. It stars with gentle acoustic guitars which fade into the background of the mix. There is a bed of synths and these glistening, twinkling notes that give it that warm feeling. Like your floating through space passing the stars that surround. The guitar work that sits at the forefront is slow and melodic, with a somewhat majestic feel. Essentially it feels like a gigantic hug, the music wrapping its arms around you!

Thousand Sons kicks things of properly with some thunder! Matt’s vocals are the first thing that struck me and straight away I knew I was about get a big good ol’ dose of classic heavy metal. Theres some excellent harmonised guitars before the storm of fiery rhythms and double kick that takes full charge. I love how everything feels very uplifting and inviting which is always a great aspect of any song. We then get a very interesting and twisting collection of riffs that feel playful before more double kick and harmonised guitar riffs take control. The solo drops a match and lights everything up before Matt returns with his big powerful for a last chorus!

The Black Library gives us more melodic madness with some killer harmonised riffs to open things up! And that scream that Matt gives us… holy cow I thought the window was about to blow out! The Black Library is another fully charged track with plenty of belting rhythms and bass lines. I love how the harmonised guitars weave in and out of the mix at the right moments delivering a nice punch. Another great little track!

Event Horizon starts things of with a dark acoustic guitar before big moody leads and rhythms come ripping in. Everything just feels sinister and evil, which is certainly the complete opposite to what we got with “Thousand Sons.” Noticeably there is plenty of double kick and whipping guitar ideas that feel like a tornado coming right at you! It feels the creativity and ideas are properly flowing here! Matt has plenty of attitude running through his vocal ideas while the little lead licks spice things up. The play on tempos also makes the structure more intricate and pleases the ears! Theres a brief solo part way through though which is different to the rest and the tone was a bit odd. Soon enough things jump back to the playful instrumentation and lower pace before going full speed to take things out!

No Worlds Left to Conquer is up next and seems to be one of the stronger contenders on the album. So if you like Iron Maiden this wil certainly be the song for you! Chords ring out into the darkness while a panned lead gives us a tasty riff before we are plunged into a speeding Maiden-esque section full of harmonises and pummelling drums. From there we get galloping riffs and kick drums that take us back to the classic metal stuff we all truly love. Matt delivers once again on vocals throughout and we get to revisit the opening section before an absolutely killer solo section. Personally my favourite so far on the album as it flies and soars like an uncontrollable rocket sparking and smoking!

All Empires Fall is another one of those songs with a soft acoustic intro and some light leads guitars. The tone choice is a bit weak sounding but that is just a flash before we get into the meat of the song. A more punchier guitar comes in with a scaling riff followed a barrage of rhythms and thunderous drums making everything feel like a giant earthquake. We get more of the energy and power like in previous songs. Little riffs flashing past and a mid tempo choruses come and go before we return to another break in the song. This time the softness of the section feels stronger and the lead bluesy guitar is sharper and cleaner. Then, out of the blue, the fiery and explosive main lead lick comes back firing all guns. It then leads into another great solo section which has a mix of emotive ideas and scales. The song concludes with another big mid tempo chorus sealing the song.

Staff of Stars comes out swinging—fast, furious, and with a distinctly thrashier edge. Easily the most breakneck track on the album so far, the guitars blaze by at supersonic speed, while the vocals unleash some fierce, old-school heavy metal screams. A slick stream of lead licks, enhanced by panning effects, adds flair and keeps the mix fresh and dynamic. The rapid-fire rhythm guitar is tightly locked in with the thunderous drumming and booming bass, giving the track a rock-solid foundation. Ascalon even toss in some classic galloping riffs for good measure, making this short-but-scorching track a definite highlight.

Eye of Horus slows things right down for the intro with smashes on the crashes and tripping snare ideas combined with some lead ideas. Soon enough the pace picks up and the double kick drives things forward while we get even more raring riff ideas. The song feels fairly straightforward and I would say the best part of the song is certainly the solo section whihc is soars and tears through the skies.

Edge of the Rainbow closes the album on a more introspective note, beginning with delicate acoustic textures before the metal kicks back in. Spacious chords and melodic leads set the stage, leading into verses built around a simple, repeating riff. While the choruses feel a bit understated compared to some of the album’s earlier highlights, the solo section more than makes up for it. The guitar tones here are spot-on, crackling with energy and emotion—arguably some of the strongest on the record. It’s a big, expressive instrumental moment that really showcases Craig and Matt’s guitar chops, and honestly, it’s a style I wish had been featured more consistently throughout the album. The track wraps up with one final chorus, bringing The Black Library to a fitting, if slightly restrained, close.

Conclusion

After a long hiatus and a series of lineup changes, Ascalon return with The Black Library—a bold and commendable effort. While the production lacks polish and a few instrumental passages drift into repetition, the album more than compensates with searing riffs, thunderous bass lines, inventive drumming, and vocals that radiate passion and authenticity. It’s a release that offers plenty for both longtime fans and newcomers alike!

TheNwothm Score: 7.5/10

Links

Bandcamp: https://ascalon.bandcamp.com/music

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ascalonmetal

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ascalonband