Melbourne progressive metal outfit Divine Ascension, have returned, unleashing their brand new album, “The Uncovering” upon the world. The band’s overseas success is difficult to ignore having previously toured Europe for 30 + dates supporting Stratovarius (Finland) with Gloryhammer (UK) and being signed to reputable Swedish label, Vicisolum Productions. To back up their latest stellar release the band will be touring their homeland including a stop at Metal United Down Under in Melbourne so we grabbed a few words from guitarist Karl Szulik to find out all about the new album, the tour and more.
Tell us about the process of writing and recording the new songs on The Uncovering.
The process was similar to our second album, Liberator. Each person contributed a range of ideas that we all delved into and built into full pieces or songs. We always create way too many songs for each album as everyone in the band writes music. This is a positive and negative as we can choose the best tracks to work with and further build, but unfortunately ideas need to be cut too.
The recording process was very similar to Liberator. However, during tracking our keyboard player left the band. We deleted the keyboards and started from scratch reimagining many of the songs. This was extremely difficult as we had been working on the demos for quite a while and hearing the songs in a new light was creatively draining. But I think it also gave us a new angle to play with soundscapes and move in a slightly different direction sound wise.
We produce all of our own music and always have. During this album process, I spent a good amount of the time in the studio with each of the members offering guidance and reassurance when required. But we are a very united team with a clear vision of the end product. Most of the time we know what we want to achieve before starting and work systematically towards it.
We did discuss having a guest singer on this album like we did with our debut album, As The Truth Appears. This time we wanted an international artist. Upon hearing the idea for a vocal duet that Jen had with Pursuit of Desire, I immediately thought of Tom Englund from Evergrey. I believed his tone and range would be an awesome match with Jen’s! He was so easy to work with and very professional. I think he definitely made the song better with his delivery.
Another mention is working with Jens Bogren of Fascination Street Studios in Sweden. We worked with him on Liberator and decided to again work with him on this release. He was so easy to work with and extremely professional! We are very happy with the results.
I would like to add that we decided to work Adam Calaitzis from Toyland Recording Studio for the drums and vocals and he was an integral part in obtaining some of the quality takes you hear on the album today. He is such professional engineer and makes recording so comfortable.
What were some of the things you wanted to achieve with the release?
We go into each album with a variety of things we want to improve upon from the previous release. These are usually things that we personally want to improve upon. But sometimes it includes feedback we receive from reviews, friends, family, fans, etc.
With The Uncovering we wanted to be more progressive playing with time signatures as well as intricate melodies and more interesting chords. We also wanted to have a greater focus on guitars which I think we definitely achieved! Haha!
The other thing Jen did was create a bit of a theme throughout the album. Each individual song relates to the overarching theme in their own way.
Do you enjoy the process of creating? Are you someone who continually writes or does the best come out under a little gentle pressure?
Personally, I love the process of creating. I am always noodling with ideas or putting things together. It’s not always music for Divine Ascension either. It could be another project I am working on or even just a new pop song that needs to be tracked. I really do enjoy creating music with Jen, Jason and Luke though. There is something very special about having talented individuals throw ideas at you and building it into something out of nothing. This happens right through the recording process too which makes it that much more exciting!
What does it feel like as an artist waiting for the songs you’ve lived with for some time to get released to the fans? Is there a sense of excitement or a little panic in there too?
It has always been exciting for me. A sense of pure elation is the best way to describe it. When something you have created from absolutely nothing, has evolved through many different forms to finally be mixed at a world class level and then released to people from all around the world who enjoy it enough to be looking forward to the day they can finally listen to it, pure elation is the only way to describe that feeling.
How does it compare to previous releases?
Being our third full album release, there are things that are not as exciting as a debut. But if you are connected to the songs and art like we are, the excitement when we receive the first draft mix back is just as high! Haha!
I think as a listener you can hear the progression of the band musically and lyrically from our debut album through to this album, The Uncovering. It still has the core elements that make Divine Ascension unique, but we have definitely grown as people and songwriters since our first release. I think you can hear that in the songs and in the quality of the release as well.
What were the lyrical themes of the songs?
Each person in the band relates to the lyrics and songs in a different way. I guess that is the beauty of art and music. For example, Evermore is about leaving a legacy. What will you leave behind when all that is left is silence? But I remember discussing this with Jen and we actually made connections to the European tour we did with Stratovarius and the band in general, hoping people will enjoy what we do while we continue to do it.
There are also songs like Prisoner, which to me, speak of being a prisoner of your own mind. Someone fighting with their inner demons that others cannot see. Beyond The Line tells the tale of being inundated with the pressures of life in general. Feeling like you are being swept away in the long list of demands, drowning in responsibility and desperately trying to come up for air. Pursuit of Desire has a nice chorus line that has a very powerful sentiment for me. We work so hard doing what we do with music often with very little return all while being crushed from the demands of life. But an honest pursuit of something you truly love doing is always worth it in the end. Chase the passion, feel the fire!
What were the main inspirations for The Uncovering?
Many of the songs are products of what we are feeling, seeing and even hearing in our lives. We might be stressed with work or family pressures so writing a song about coming up for air in Beyond The Line is what we need to do to deal with it. Other songs such as New World are looking at our world in general and making some assumptions of what may come in the future if we continue along the path we have currently chosen.
Any favorite moments or songs on the album?
There are many! Haha! Personally I think Evermore is one of the most challenging songs we have ever written, recorded and performed live as a band. I also think Beyond The Line is a very clever track that has super complex and unique sections mixed with very straight forward and catchy melodic parts. Add a progression that leads to an ending that is different from the rest of the song and does not include anything from the first half of the track and you have a very interesting piece of music.
Did you imagine how these songs would play out in a live situation?
I still do whenever it comes time to put a setlist together for a show. Haha! When we write though, that does not really cross our minds. With three full releases we will never play a long enough set to include all the songs we put on an album. So we just write and create with the idea of giving the songs what they need rather than what we need. I think the songs turn out better by releasing restrictions like this.
What can people expect on the upcoming tour?
Primarily a group of people thoroughly enjoying what they are doing. But we also theme all of our live sets and tours to suit the most recent release. So we have worked hard to create a unique set of songs for the Uncovering Australia Tour that will include both new and older songs in a way that is engaging and will get the blood pumping and horns high in the air!
How do you pick out a setlist and is that a difficult process?
It is beginning to get tricky with so much recorded and previously released material. We all have our favourite songs to play live as well as songs that we know the fans enjoy. So it is tricky to fit all of that as well as a heavy presence of new material in the set. But we rough out a draft set and then jam it out a few times making adjustments as we go. That always seems to work for us. Haha!
What is your favorite song to play live?
I really enjoy playing Hideaway live as the crowd sings along and there are some great melodies as well as heavier sections to rock out in.
Do you play cover songs and if so, what kind of covers do you perform?
We have only ever played one cover song live and that was The Final Countdown by Europe. We have discussed possibly adding a new one to our set in the near future, but we always get carried away with all the possibilities. Haha!
How has the experience of playing live been like for the band so far?
We have had our ups and downs like any live act. The majority of the time we have a positive experience. The bands we play with, the venues, promoters and the fans that support us are always lovely!
We have had many fantastic live opportunities supporting bands such as Kamelot and Blind Guardian here in Australia and travelling throughout Europe supporting Stratovarius and Gloryhammer. It has been an absolute pleasure and we are all extremely grateful for these opportunities we have been given.
Any favorite places to play live?
Usually on a stage in a packed-out venue! Haha! Locally, we really enjoy playing at The Barwon Club in Geelong and The Basement in Canberra. So we are looking forward to heading back to Canberra in April. Further abroad, I think some of the larger venues we played at in Europe such as Progesja in Warsaw, Poland, the Live Club in Milano, Italy and of course the Z-7 in Pratteln, Switzerland were all such amazing experiences!
Any stand out shows or personal highlights from a tour or show?
The venues in Europe listed above which have been some of the biggest venues we have ever played at are definitely highlights. But on a personal note, Warsaw, Poland was an extremely humble night for me. I remember flicking my hair back during the set and seeing this giant Australian flag draped across the front barrier with the people holding it screaming the words to our songs. That was a moment I will never ever forget.
How did the band form and get started?
The band formed over a period of years through online forums in Melbourne. I was one of the final members to join the band. I contacted the group via an advertisement looking for a guitarist on one of these forums. We made a time to audition and jammed out a few covers together. I must have impressed them, because I’m still in the band now! Haha!
What have been your greatest challenges to date, and your favourite moments musically?
One of the greatest challenges is maintaining the band outside of our full-time jobs. We all work in demanding full-time jobs and taking time to write, record, promote, book tours, rehearse, maintain all of our websites and social media and of course have time to sleep is extremely difficult! What is most difficult about it is that it is an ongoing challenge that will always be there.
As for my favourite music moments, there are many. From hearing our very first demo played back to each and every time I listen to a first draft mix of a new album, it is special. But there are also many small moments like finally finishing a piece of music or having a spark of creativity when writing. They are all engrained in my memory and every time I listen to the tracks it reminds me of those particular moments.
From what you’ve learned so far what is the most valuable advice you’ve been given so far as a musician?
That if you are in it for money and fame you have already failed. This resonates so well, particularly with how the industry works. The experiences we have had have always enlightened us on how difficult it is to maintain a professional and high-quality original act. So you really need to be doing it for the right reasons.
Who are some of your main influences?
Some of my favourite bands include Freak Kitchen, Soilwork, Symphony X, Seventh Wonder, Dream Theater & Evergrey. But what I listen to and am inspired by extends to all kinds of things such as movie scores, jazz fusion, etc. If it is well written, has a memorable melody in it, the chances are that I will enjoy it.
Who or what inspired you to be in a band and play music?
I remember wanting to play guitar from a young age. I’m not entirely sure why to be honest. No-one in my family or extended family plays any music. But I always wanted to. Maybe it was because when I was a baby my Mum always let me fall asleep to music? Either way I started learning guitar. From early on, I was introduced to heavy metal and that just opened so many doors and possibilities. I was in awe of the bands touring the world and creating this heavy, raw and emotional music that all I wanted to do was create music like that. So being in a band with likeminded individuals was something I had to do.
How do you feel about the current music scene right now?
Connected! The world is so large, yet so small! Sure, there are many issues I could complain about like streaming revenue and having to work a full-time job just to pay for all of my musical endeavours. But on the other side of the coin, the same industry has provided me with some incredible opportunities like touring Australia multiple times, touring Europe, sharing the stage with some of my idols, meeting people and making friends all around the world and even getting to talk about what I do with you here at The Rockpit. I think it is important to focus on the positives. And there are many experiences that the current music scene has provided us.
Do you believe music can still change the world?
I believe it does impact the world each and every day. I listen to music on the way to and from work and even at work when I get the chance. It sometimes provides me with the energy and motivation to do what I do each day and help those who need it most. As a teacher in a low socio-economic area, I often use it to inspire my students and show them that if you consistently work hard, put in the hours and stay focused, anything is achievable!
If you could be a fly on the wall for the recording of any album in history, what album would it be?
That is a tough question! Haha! I think any of the early Van Halen, Deep Purple or Iron Maiden albums would be very interesting to watch be created. It would be a very humbling experience to watch those masters create their works of art!
What is the meaning of life?
The meaning of life is whatever you want it to be. Your future is your own, so own it!
DIVINE ASCENSION
‘UNCOVERING’ AUSTRALIAN TOUR 2020
April 4th – Melbourne – Metal United Down Under
April 18th – Canberra – The Basement
With Mattersphere, Saralisse & Taliesin
April 19th – Sydney – Frankie’s Pizza By The Slice
With Hemina, Halcyon Reign & Code Atlantic
