Ark Ascent was formed in 2011 as 'Prophecy' around multi-instrumentalist Jack Kirby, then 19. Pre-production for the tracks that were eventually going to make the cut for their debut album started that same year, with Rogue Marechal (ex-ShadowKeep) on vocal duties.
In 2014, after a couple of years rewriting and re-recording the songs, the pair then decided that a bass player with flair would be a necessity to bring their music where they wanted it to be, and Andrea Arcangeli of DGM fame was recruited and started recording his part immediately.
It would take a few years of fine tuning before the songs were to be considered ready for mixdown and Rich Hinks (Annihilator, Aeon Zen) brought in to co-produce and mix the album. Rich also contributed the bass performance on The End of Time, the song originally penciled in as title track.
With their first release, Ark Ascent take you on a journey, following the fate of humankind at the onset of a major disaster that will eventually lead to its destruction.
From the instrumental opener (Arrival), to the truly epic closing track (The End of Time), the flow of the music remains seamless and interesting, alternating highly energetic tracks such as Point of No Return and Darkest Hour with melancholic interludes (Farewell, Innocence Lost, Closer to Heaven), hints of prog (Ascension, The Aftermath) and dopamine-releasing melodic anthems Downfall and Sanctuary.