ranges: the ascensionist
As the band’s 8th official release and the first album making its debut on the 12” vinyl format, there was an intention to establish the concept as a delineating point between past and future releases; connecting back to the original essence of the band and providing a direction for further progression going forward.
This was accomplished by a central focus on the symbolic Mountain as a singular aspect of the multitude of ranges. Expanding on this motif was the exploration of how an individual might ascend to its heights and the steps necessary to make that journey, both literally and metaphorically.
The previous seven Ranges albums had already adhered to a loose linear narrative, but they would be reestablished under the architecture of the song order contained on ‘The Ascensionist’ (album), reinforced by the song structure of ‘The Ascensionist’ (song) as a holographic fractal of the whole, and visually exemplified by the symbolism portrayed in the music video for the song.
Included as supplementary material with the original pressing of 250 copies was a hand-made booklet full of arcana intended to be read as a sort of “journal” of the Ascensionist’s path through the previous albums and through the grades of initiation. Each album was designated with a unique symbol which was further utilized in the ‘Path of the Ascensionist’ cassette series.
The full music video for ‘The Ascensionist’ is featured below, followed by an analysis of each song as it corresponds to the stages of ascent.
THE WANDERER
The process of ascent is, in essence, the process of return. Thus, the journey must begin with a fall. The one who fell gropes through the mire to eventually finds his footing, but not yet his sight. He becomes the wanderer in the wilderness, blind to purpose or direction; gross matter incarnate.
AB SA RO KA. The first four syllables approximating a language but denoting nothing of value. Profane utterances spewed out upon the checkerboard.
SEVEN SISTERS
The heavens momentarily reveal themselves, offering a glimpse of realms beyond the temporal. The daughters of Atlas surmount the shoulder of the bull; sirens calling to anyone with ears to hear.
The mansions of the firmament must be dwelled within to fully comprehend. The son takes with him twelve disciples.
THE ASCENSIONIST
Volition. A tripartite union of forces manifests the BLADE. Thought, when brought into proper union with Emotion, conceives a male child.
No one can ascend who does not make the choice to.
CALLED NOT TO A NEW RELIGION, BUT TO LIFE
The aspirant lays bare his true intent and relinquishes all attachments to matter and dogma in a declarative act of rendering himself entirely destitute.
Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.
THE GREATER LIGHTS
The miasmic fog of the wilderness dissipates to allow the perception of the two pillars; polar aspects governing the dualistic dynamics present in all manifested things. The Hermetic axioms, seven in number, clarify this perception upon revelation.
As the crux of the lowest octave of the grand cosmology, it is only natural that Day would be separated from Night. Equillibration of the opposites.
THE LESSER LIGHTS
As the sun rules the day, so the moon must govern the night. The trials have now begun.
Venturing forth through endless cycles, traveling in circles. Seeking the path by daylight, praying for guidance by moonlight. Desperately hoping a single luminary will contain the ultimate answer.
The only true way out is through.
SEVEN VEILS
The perilous climb is fraught with antagonism. The serpent as deceiver tempts most cunningly on the very steps of the altar. An alluring dance leads to certain doom.
The silver cord is finally loosed, the wheel ultimately broken at the cistern, the essence of the chalice is spilled. So begins the trial of death.
IN THE ARMS OF KINGS AND GODS
Emerging on a plane foreign to most faculties, the one who ascended beholds a tree. The brazen serpent proffers redemption and absolution from the finality of death. Reinforcing the hierarchical nature of the grades of ascent, it traverses the Sephirot from KINGDOM to the ultimate achievement of the CROWN.
BABYLON THE GREAT (PART I)
The attainment is complete. The leaden cube has been transmuted. The dilemma of whether to stay in the resplendent realm of Metatron or return as Avalokiteshvara to Babylon with a beneficent gift now presents itself.
As above, so below.
