Finally it has come, this specific point in space and time where planets align and Saturn is again in ascension. After six whole years of waiting the Danish behemoth atmospheric Death Metallers SATURNUS is back with their fourth album "Saturn In Ascension" ready to take the listener to another journey in melancholic soundscapes where doom and sorrow reigns. Contrary to the canon in metal releases SATURNUS take their time to release albums in benefit of quality over quantity while they enjoy a cult status.

"Saturn In Ascension"includes 8 tracks and runs for 70 (!) minutes so length-wise they have the proper epic durations that SATURNUS as usual have in their songs. As a bonus track the song "Limbs of Crystal Clear" is included in a remastered version from the first demo of the band. The cover is mostly red and black depicting a forest and the hands of the undead rising from the earth while an intimidating skull is above all.

"Litany Of Rain" starts with haunting chants and then a classic SATURNUS lead initiates the impending doom of the litany of rain.Jensen's roaring vocals complete this epic introduction and all the feelings that a SATURNUS record would bring are here. The song evolves and guitars build on the basic riff and somewhere in the eight minute comes the first clean vocals kick in to add the final touches to the first epic song of the record. "Wild Torn" opens with clean guitars followed by lead guitars and is in general similar to the style of the first song but great nonetheless. The first acoustic song of the record is next and that tune is absolutely magnificent. A classic SATURNUS song full of melancholy, with beautiful guitars and piano, Jensen's voice commanding and bitter and on top of all a stunning ending with the vocals of Laurie Ann Haus. "A Father's Providence" is one of those songs they do which seem like PARADISE LOST and lean towards the prime gothic metal configured to fit SATURNUS' style. That should be the fastest song of the record a personal favorite.  The next song hails the return to the style of the first two songs of insane duration, riffs pulled out of murky waters and a "Mourning Sun" to shine above soundscapes of destruction and desolation. "Call Of The Raven Moon" (the tile instantly reminds me of "The Call of the Winter Moon" ...) is the second acoustic song in this record a bit different than the first one having flutes (it sounds like that) and choirs. "Forest Of Insomnia" and "Between" put the closing touch in this record having a slow paced atmospheric doom - death metal style with the difference that "Between" has more acoustic passages and that this is the longest track of the album. "Limbs of Crystal Clear" is of different style totally as the band initially played death metal but it's nice to check the band's roots every now and then to see the development. I guess this is added also on purpose since the band is celebrating its 20 years of existence and seems like a fitting move to have the last song of the last album and then the first of the first demo as it is the connecting the beginning and end of their career.

I am a fan of the band since 2003 or something that I first listened to "For Your Demons" and I like all their releases though I think I would opt for the first one as my favorite. But I want and I will try to be as objective as on my judgment. The band has developed a specific style that you can either love it or hate it especially for these insanely long compositions - in this record half the songs are over ten minutes long. I think that somehow the band has overdone it this time because they are way too many and there is not a lot of changes in them. But this is a half filled glass so one can say is half full and the other half empty - meaning that I am sure that there are a lot who will like it - I just say it might get too much after a while. I also find the production a bit dull - I am not sure if the promo version that I got is the final version but compared to the previous works of them there are things like the snare drum that are not so well heard. But other than that "Saturn in Ascension" is definitely a quality record equivalent of the name of SATURNUS. All the band's music qualities are found here in excessive proportions making this marriage of doom and death metal as fitting as ever. Lower the lights, light some candles, have some whiskey, melt in your sofa and let the record play from the beginning to the end. "Saturn in Ascension" is a testimony of the legacy of SATURNUS a haunting journey through feelings and majestic music that this band faithfully delivers to its fans, hopefully for another 20 years.