Using music as ritual, Ascension is the new album from Portland, Oregon, USA-based dark wave trio, Ceremony Shadows.
By Graeme Smith
“Ritual has always been a powerful way of coming together, and of building and maintaining community,” the band explain. “So is music, and we feel that there is a natural kinship there.”
Ceremony Shadows first appeared on our blog in February 2025 when I discovered them through their single, Prey. In my review, I described it as “intoxicating” and “edgy,” two terms that can be equally applied to the album on which it features.
Ascension expands on the themes that Prey introduced to us, talking about self-ownership and reflecting the society in which we live. “It is important to us to reflect on the society and culture we live in,” the band say, “but we want to do so by making people think, and making them aware, instead of presenting them with ready-made opinions.”
The band do so through moody and atmospheric dark wave and post-punk, a sound that’s certainly niche but garners a dedicated following. “Even though our creative output can seem bleak and dark at times, we ultimately very much intend to convey a message of hope, empowerment and change, by encouraging people to overcome their fears and limitations,” they say.
In Ascension, tracks like Light Like Stars and title track Ascension certainly convey a sense of hope and brightness. We also get messages of self-improvement and overcoming challenges in tracks like the rousing Resistance. Reclaim encourages us to take ownership of ourselves and our flaws. “My body is my own,” it chants.
With roots in the US as well as Germany and Poland, the three members of Ceremony Shadows – Timo, Anastasia and Jakub – met in Portland. “We were friends long before we were bandmates. We met about a decade ago here in Portland, when the scene here was smaller, and when people like us who would frequent alternative concerts, venues [and] events would easily get to know each other.
“Not being originally from the US was certainly a bonding factor as we grew our friendship! Our different cultural heritage helps us look at the world and society in different ways, and that shapes the things we write about, and how we express our thoughts and emotions in our music and lyrics.”
Typically known as a city for hipsters, Ceremony Shadows are quick to point out that Portland also has a burgeoning dark wave scene. International touring act Dancing Plague hail from Portland, and local venue The Coffin, which caters for the alterative and Goth scene, has recently expanded.
With their new album released, Ceremony Shadows are focussing on their live performance. “From the get-go, we have been fascinated by the idea of a ‘Gesamtkunstwerk,’ an artistic presentation that encompasses music, visuals, lights, stage presence, etc. So, we created a stage show where those elements are custom-designed for our music.
“Our big goal is to play in Europe since we have a sizable portion of our online audience there, so we are working hard to get on the radar of the right festivals, promoters and booking agents to make that happen. Playing a major festival like Wave Gotik Treffen in Leipzig is a bucket list item for us for sure.”
Let’s hope Ceremony Shadows make it to our fair shores soon. The live show certainly sounds like a must-watch. In the meantime, you can check out their album Ascension below.
