Never knowing what to expect from creative duo Waking Stone is a huge part of their creativity identity it seems. In this case, prepare yourself for a nostalgic rock and roll single with strong riffs, passionate vocal resolves, and fantasy storytelling that’s confidently reinforced by the images and colour scheme of the accompanying video.
Ascension Road is something of a Led Zeppelin-inspired rock and blues groove, with a distinct sense of mystique and theatrics to the lyrical venture at its core.
Setting the mood scene by scene, Ascension Road adopts its own sense of cinematic presence and purpose from the opening moments. It’s a post-four-minute piece of music in full, even promising a soaring guitar solo to break up the poetic images and haunting scenes of the verses, but it’s a wholly immersive single and video in its completed state.
Things move from detailed and characterful to more vague and metaphorical as the song’s structure takes hold, and meanwhile the Washington DC outfit offer up some of their most bold and energised vocals yet – further underlining that clear connection to the rock and roll escapism of music’s history.
Showcasing a whole other side to their artistry and performance capabilities, Waking Stone are easily a band worth knowing about in the indie live scenes. Their versatility and conviction is forever consistent, regardless of the mood or style of the music, and regardless of whether they’re taking on a political topic or something more imaginative and playful. They’re a band with an unwavering passion for making music, and it’s this that drives their sound in every case.
“So bow down and pray
Your penance for my grift
And I shall take you away
The power in me commands
Your allegiance and your worship
For castles made of sand”
Find Ascension Road on Bandcamp, iTunes, Deezer. Find Waking Stone on Patreon, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram & their Website.
