‘Ascendancy’ by MATRIARCHS is an Explosive Metalcore Anthem ‣ CVLTARTES

MATRIARCHS are similar to living organisms, constantly changing. In most cases, these changes bring different reactions, both from those directly involved and the fans. However, their latest single, ‘Ascendancy’ seems to set this change in order and common sense. Starting with the appearance of K Enagonio and moving to a more intense sound, ‘Ascendancy’ comes as a musical announcement of a relentless force. Both the vibe and the stormy sound are surrounded by a clear yet slightly aggressive message. The typical metalcore rhythms, the melodic distortions, and the aggressive growls place you in a story with the same foundation yet a slightly changed landscape.

‘Ascendancy’, the first episode of the single series “The Shape of C#nt $ to Come”, is a bomb that boils; it’s ready to explode and unfold in sonorous lures. It’s a song full of sincerity, perfectly placed in a metal scene increasingly lacking a clear message.

With the band’s last single released this year, ‘Deadman 2.0’ you could notice the influences of the old metal, with references to the classic death or trash, so ‘Ascendancy’ practically continues this path, which seems more and more firm.

‘Ascendancy’ might seem an aggressive song if taken as a whole, but it is easy to digest, and it even allures you into this revolt as if some unsuspected magnetic forces were to be activated. A fight that turns into a dance (here a mosh), where you throw yourself to enjoy the freedom that comes within.

MATRIARCHS is a metallic hardcore band formed by Ben Levi (Cutthroat, Fate Destroyed) in Los Angeles in 2012, inspired by his affinity for Beat Down and ‘90s New York metallic hardcore. Ben had played with drummer Alfred Santa Cruz, bassist Miguel Vasquez and guitarist MartyCole in several other projects throughout the last decade so they were no strangers to getting creative together. After playing their first show to a packed house the boys never looked back. They’ve gone on to play with bands like Soulfly, Harm’s Way, Disgrace, Bane, Backtrack, Sworn Enemy, and Vision Of Disorder.

An ambitious release produced by Nick Jett of Terror, and mastered by Matt Hyde (Lionheart, Hatebreed, Deftones), “Scandalous Jointz” fused together with the visual aesthetic and presentation of more thought-provoking heavy acts with the sonic ferocity and energy of hardcore. A few national festivals and two tours later saw the band taking a hiatus and reflecting on what the general direction and purpose of the band would be.

In 2018 MATRIARCHS parted ways with vocalist Richard Barthel. After teaming up with Jeremy Valentyne and Brandon Wolfe to produce their new release, adding veteran CarlosPagan to the lineup on guitar, and meeting new vocalist K Enagonio during the pandemic, the band found the new fire it needed. In K the band finds its truest voice. Over the quarantine, they wrote their second full-length, “Year of the Rat”, released last fall through KnucklehedzINC and Upstate Records.