Debut releases are weird; you never can know what you're going to get. Sometimes debut means one-man black metal who just discovered GarageBand. Debut can mean hidden talent of Lethbridge, Alberta unmasking themselves for a world unprepared. Or it can mean a group of already-established musicians getting together and deciding to try something new. So it is with U.K.-based Ark Ascent and Downfall, their debut release. Featuring Rogue Marechal (ex-Shadowkeep) on vocals, Andrea Arcangeli (DGM) on bass, and Michael Brush (Sirenia) on vocals, there's a whole bunch of talent here. One Jack Kirby rounds out the sound with guitar work that reminds me pleasantly of Mob Rules. Though Ark Ascent is billed as a progressive metal band, I tend to think of them as leaning more towards traditional heavy metal with touches of Kamelot-esque power metal in the form of synths and catchy riffing.