Daily Archives: October 14, 2020

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ASCENSION PARISH - As of 5 a.m. Monday, residents in Ascension are only hours away from access to medical care from a Neighborhood Baton Rouge General Hospital in their Parish.

Prior to the hospital's construction, Prairieville patients had to drive to a Baton Rouge General location in the capital city, which is at least 11 miles away.

But after two years of construction on the new Neighborhood Hospital in Prairieville, locals now have swift access to professional medical care in their own neck of the woods.

Officials were eager to bring the new hospital to the community.

"There is a significant gap in access to care between, you know, going out towards St. Elizabeth's and Lamar Dixon and the healthcare corridor district with everybody in Baton Rouge," Tre Nelson, Baton Rouge General's Administrative Consultant,told WBRZ. "So, this is going to be great because now instead of having to travel 15 to 20 to 30 or 45, with traffic, minutes to get healthcare, people are able to very easily access their neighborhood hospital."

The 42,500-square-foot facility is scheduled to open in phases, with Phase One beginning Monday, October 12.

Starting Monday, patients will have access to the new building's primary care doctor's office.

The new facility features a 10-bed inpatient hospital, a lab, a 14-bed emergency room, primary care and outpatient rehab, as well as physician practices and office space.

The new neighborhood hospital's emergency room is scheduled to open to the public in November.

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Baton Rouge General celebrates partial opening of its Neighborhood Hospital in Ascension - WBRZ

(Photo Courtesy of Michigan Atheltics)

Since the programs move from club to DI in 2012, Michigan lacrosse has been anything but special. The Wolverines have only had two winning seasons and won three conference games in the Big Ten. Michigan has been at the bottom when it comes to DI programs in the midwest, getting surpassed by newer programs such as Marquette and seemingly falling further behind established ones like Ohio State and Notre Dame.

While the past hasnt been very pleasant to Michigan, the future is very bright in Ann Arbor. And that bright future could very well start in 2021. Since Kevin Conry was hired, the athletic department has made a commitment to lacrosse, which included a $168 million dollar lacrosse-only stadium and facility, and they have drastically increased their efforts on the recruiting trail. Now entering the fourth year of the Conry era, things look like they are all starting to come together and we could see the long-awaited rise of Michigan lacrosse begin to take hold this spring.

Now does that mean unleashing a surprise attack on a stacked Big Ten? No. But that does mean that we could see Michigan be more competitive against quality competition than ever before, and that certainly includes Big Ten competition.

After going 4-3 during the shortened 2020 season, the Wolverines return a majority of their starters and impact players from last season. Three of which were just freshman a year ago. In addition to the talent that the Wolverines return, they also bring in one of the top recruiting classes in the nation. The class is highlighted by St. Ignatius, Calif., attackman Michael Boehm and Seton Hall Prep, N.J., midfielder Kyle Stephenson. Both are ranked as top-30 recruits by Inside Lacrosse. Former Limestone midfielder Tyler Papa will be using his fifth-year of eligibility at Michigan after a successful career at DII powerhouse Limestone, where he was a multi-time All-Conference and All-American.

Stephenson and Papa will be joining a midfield unit was one of the best in the nation last season and really carried a lot of the weight for this offense. The Wolverines midfield unit produced 45% of their offense. And much of that success can be attributed to sophomore Josh Zawada (16G/16A). The freshman sensation was not only their top midfielder but their top offensive threat overall in 2020. Its safe to say that he lived up to the hype as a freshman and it looks like he will have a very successful career in Ann Arbor.

Outside of Zawada, senior Alex Buckanavage (11G/11A) and sophomore Jake Bonomi (5G/4A) also contributed heavily at the midfield spot and are expected to continue playing at that same level in 2021 as they did last season.

But this offense is a far cry from being a midfield-only unit. Attackmen Bryce Clay (20G/2A) and Kevin Mack (13G/3A) are two of the top goal scorers on this squad and have been since they stepped foot on campus. The two heavy shooters are expected to be two of the Wolverines primary targets again this season, and with the amount of talented passer around them, especially at midfield, this Michigan offense looks like it could work very similar to last season and will likely be more efficient with the amount of both impact players and role players that have, at least, seven games of true game experience under their belt. It wouldnt be surprising at all to see this offense, which ranked 23rd in the nation last season, take a sizable step forward in 2021.

Michigan was very young and amongst the bottom half of teams in DI on the defensive end last season, ranking 42nd in scoring defense as they allowed 11.86 goals per game. They will certainly want to improve in that department this spring. And the fact that they were so young last season suggest that they can take some pretty significant steps on the back end.

Junior Andrew Darby (12GB/5CT) is the Wolverines top returning pole and the only pole who started all seven games last season. Sophomore Ryan Schriber (7GB/3CT) and junior Drake Schaffner (16GB/4CT) both put together stellar seasons last year, starting six contests, and should continue their play and upward trajectory coming into this upcoming spring season.

In goal, Michigan saw Matt Trowbridge start six games and John Kiracofe, who was a sophomore, started in their final game of the season against Marquette. He made 13 saves with a 52% save percentage in that outing against the Golden Eagles and saw significant time in multiple other games. He should be the next guy up in between the pipes and has clearly shown that he can hold his own and anchor this defense.

The Wolverines return junior Nick Rowlett at the faceoff dot. After missing his freshman season due to injury, the Old Dominion native went 73-for-144 (55%) at the dot as a sophomore.

*Note:The NCAA has granted an extra year to spring sport athletes. However, not every team has put out their 2021 roster yet and a full 100% accurate list of every senior returning is unknown. If you know any impact player who is returning but was not mentioned in the above article please comment, DM, oremailus. Thanks*

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2021 Could Mark The Start of The Ascension of Michigan Lacrosse - Lacrosse Bucket

The Ascension is Sufjan Stevens in perfect form. The 80-minute record is an intricate, massive cacophony of confusion, despair, frustration, and love. Its beautiful, its hideously ugly, and its the only record Sufjan Stevens could have made in the bizarre world we live in today.

Stevens has been an indie-music icon for many years. His albums range widely in their stylefrom the baroque pop of Illinois to the stripped-down acoustic guitar of Carrie & Lowell. Hes covered subject matter from issues in the U.S. to the intense personal grief of his mothers passing.

He even wrote the soundtrack for the Oscar-winning film Call Me By Your Name. Recently, he described the Oscars in an interview with The Guardian as a horrifying Scientology end-of-year-prom, and representative of everything I hate about America and popular culture.

This comment about America is particularly striking from an artist who once planned to (and decided not to) celebrate his country by writing an album themed around each state. The Ascension is telling about how Sufjan Stevens sees America today.

His crisis is palpable throughout the album.

Now, Im a huge Sufjan Stevens fan. I have a signed copy of The Age of Adz, my favourite of his albums. I waited close to 10 hours for front-row tickets to one of his live shows, where he smashed a banjo to pieces right in front of my face. Its one of the highlights of my life.

With that in mind, I actually didnt think I was going to love this record. I wasnt a big fan of the instrumental album, Aporia that he released earlier this year. Along with the singles that were released before the album, that didnt leave me particularly hopeful for what was to come.

Then I heard the first few erratic seconds of the opening song, Make Me An Offer I Cannot Refuse, and I was instantly hooked. It sounded like nothing hed ever done before, and I had no idea what to expect next.

I should never have doubted you, Sufjan.

The Ascension takes the crises of the world today and sets them to a roller-coaster track. Themes of spiritual confusion and enlightenment, the climate apocalypse, the worst parts of todays pop culture, mental illness, medication, death, the desire to be loved and the fear of a future that has never been more uncertain whiz past as you, the rider, scream down massive drops and coast on groovy jams.

The intensely personal grief and confusion of Carrie & Lowell has been replaced here by a much grander, more universal sense of incongruity.

Stevens has always spoken to the complexities of the human condition in such a unique and beautiful way, and it makes sense that he would capture the surreal despair of what it means to be alive in 2020 just as well.

So much of this album is about copinghow can we keep going when everything we know is falling apart around us? Stevens reaches for platitudes and Ativan, hoping to find something that will get him through, one day at a time.

Some parts of this album are a frenzied apocalypse dance party, pounding drums and beats that make you want to move until you forget about the looming death of mankind. In other parts, its a symphonic tsunami of noise, with distorted angelic choirs, huge peaks and crashes. Its maximalist and manic, lingering and intimate, weightless and crushing all at once.

Even through the ebbs and flows of faster and slower tracks, the tension of the album is constantly building. Yet the releases it findsthe explosions in songs like Tell Me You Love Me that sound like musical fireworks, the frustrated screams into the void on the song Ativanare never enough.

The Ascension is, at its core, about the incomprehensible state of affairs of the world as it is today. Even the outro offers little in terms of a resolution on how to move forward, simply a prayer repeated into the heavens: Dont do to me what you did to America.

There isnt one clear message from The Ascension. In some songs, it seems like love might be the answer, the one thing that saves us. In others, it feels too late for even that. I hope you give the album a listen and try to decide for yourself or simply listen to hear Sufjan Stevens lament for America, for himself, and for all of us.

Featured image provided by Take Aim Media.

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Review: Come on and face the apocalypse in The Ascension - The Charlatan

These new urgent care centers complement our existing urgent care and occupational health sites and provide additional care options to the communities were privileged to serve, said Bernie Sherry, Senior Vice President, Ascension and Ministry Market Executive, in a statement. These additional sites of care will allow us to continue to deliver on the promise to provide care in ways that are affordable, accessible and convenient for our communities.

Consumers can find these new urgent care locations in their community under the name Physicians Urgent Care, supported by urgent care leader Physicians Immediate Care and with connection to the trusted health care services and providers of Ascension Wisconsin. The urgent care centers will be located in South Milwaukee, Brookfield and Mount Pleasant:

Physicians Urgent Care South Milwaukee : opened October 5, 2020, at 3111 S. Chicago Avenue, South Milwaukee, WI 53172. Hours of operation: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m.- 8 p.m., Saturday - Sunday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Physicians Urgent Care Brookfield: opening November 9, 2020, at 19165 Bluemound Road, Brookfield, WI 53045. Hours of operation: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m.- 8 p.m., Saturday -Sunday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Physicians Urgent Care

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Ascension Wisconsin to open three new urgent care locations - Greater Milwaukee Today

Perth songwriter KUKA has shared her new single Ascension, three months after returning earlier this year with Contemplation.

KUKAs latest features the producer real name Laura Jane Lowther singing over a swirling bed of hazy, ethereal synths and vocal samples, with understated electronic percussion underneath. Listen to Ascension below:

Ascension is about the continual growth that we are all undertaking at every stage of our life, explained the producer in a statement.

Were constantly faced with new challenges whether we realise it or not and its important that we dont let our fears get in the way of our enjoyment of the process.

According to a press release, Lowther has been steadily building a catalogue of her own music in recent years. Her last full collection of songs under her KUKA moniker was 2015 EP Unconditional. In the time since, shes collaborated with a wide range of artists including the likes of Flume, Vince Staples, A$AP Rocky, Cosmos Midnight and more.

Last year, Lowther returned after a three-year break with a pair of singles the Flume-assisted Drowning and Real, co-produced by Nosaj Thing. She also appeared alongside SOPHIE on Voices, which appeared on Flumes 2019 mixtape Hi This Is Flume.

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Listen to KUKAs ethereal new single Ascension - NME.com

Ascension Parish Sheriff Bobby Webre plans to make an announcement Wednesday afternoon about the implementation of deputy body cameras, his office said.

Webre told the Donaldsonville City Council Tuesday night that deputies will receive cameras in the first quarter of 2021, the Donaldsonville Chief reported.

On Wednesday, the Sheriff's Office said that Webre planned to discuss his plans for the cameras with the media at 3 p.m.

During his run for office last year, Webre, a former chief deputy and top lieutenant of former Sheriff Jeff Wiley, had said that he would consider the implementation of the cameras if elected as other departments in the state and around the country have put them on deputies and officers.

Webre is expected to make the decision as video footage of officers in action, often by the general public, have proven pivotal in disputes in Baton Rouge and other parts of the country over police enforcement and helped fueled outrage over deadly police encounters with the public, in particular, with Black people and other minorities.

Cellphone video of two Baton Rouge Police officers engaged a struggle to handcuff Alton Sterling on the ground outside the Triple S Food Mart off North Foster Drive more than four years ago helped drive public outrage and days of protests.

Officer body cameras often provide another angle and longer look at incidents than what can be recorded by the public.

Webre made the body camera announcement Tuesday during a comments to the Donaldsonville City Council Tuesday night, the newspaper reported.

The V300 model Motorola brand system that the Sheriff's Office plans to buy will cost an estimated $500,000 to implement parishwide, the paper said.

Two cellphone videos taken by bystanders captured the graphic conclusion of the roughly 90-second encounter between Sterling and the Baton Rouge officers on July 5, 2016.

Former Officer Blane Salamoni can be heard yelling "gun" in the brief video clips just before he shoots Sterling six times while Sterling was being restrained on the ground.

Lake retrieved a loaded .38-caliber revolver from Sterling's pocket just after the shooting and both officers told investigators they thought Sterling was reaching for the weapon, federal authorities have said.

Salamoni and Officer Howie Lake II had responded to an anonymous 911 caller who claimed a man matching Sterling's description threatened him with a gun outside the Triple S, authorities have said.

Sterling, 37, was Black. Salamoni and Lake are White.

Federal and state prosecutors determined there wasn't sufficient evidence to bring charges against Salamoni and Lake, but the shooting has set off civil litigation. Video of the incident has played an important role in establishing what happened.

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Ascension Sheriff Bobby Webre to discuss body cameras for deputies Wednesday - The Advocate

Ascension Episcopal School in Lafayette has embraced livestreaming in the coronavirus era, opening a virtual door for parents and students away from campus to participate while creating an avenue for students to learn new skills.

Ascension Episcopal Head of School Jeff Plunk said virtual and livestream options were quickly put together in the spring while the school was in survival mode trying to ensure the best learning experience through the end of the year. In the summer, the Ascension Episcopal team recognized they could expand livestreaming to capture more than immediate academic needs.

In July, when it became clear COVID-19 restrictions would continue to impede gathering, the school chose to commit to livestreaming classes and other functions. Organizing the protocol in the final weeks before school opened was chaotic, but it was worth it, he said.

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Its a good way to keep everyone safe while still promoting community, the head of school said.

Families have been deeply appreciative of the opportunity to have some participation in their childs school day while having to remain off campus. Plunk said his daughter, whos a senior at Ascension Episcopal, has loved being able to cheer her friends on while watching their volleyball matches on video.

I think the truth for all of us is that COVID has really been isolating in many ways. I think because were a school and a community that prides ourselves on being together and helping each other through things, I feel like the livestreaming has been an intentional effort on our part to keep us connected and together and still maintain that family feel, Plunk said.

Brad Williams, Ascension Episcopals digital media specialist, coordinates the livestreaming efforts across the three campuses, shooting everything from sporting events to chapel services to the schools opening convocation ceremony. Its a process; there are preproduction meetings, staff and equipment coordination plans, and creative brainstorming, he said.

During events, Williams said he typically mans the production desk, toggling between multiple camera views, overlaying graphics, and interspersing videos and photos in real time. Sometimes the goal is to closely replicate the feeling of being at the event in person, while other times the aim is to make it a more television program-type experience.

Regardless, the goal is always to make the stream the best quality production it can be, he said.

As someone who just had a son who graduated from high school, I know whats like having a senior and missing out on all these big events in a student's life. We dont want them to feel like theyre having to sacrifice any more on what theyre seeing and hearing if theyre having to watch it from home, Williams said.

The schools art and athletic booster clubs helped make the improved quality possible, donating approximately $2,000 toward purchasing additional iPads, cables, tripods, adapters and other equipment. The extra support was needed to be able to divvy equipment across the schools three campuses, Williams said.

The digital media specialist isnt the only person making the magic happen; theres also a team of technology staff members, teachers and a devoted group of student volunteers. Williams said working with the students is one of the most rewarding parts of the initiative.

The students, mostly middle-schoolers at Ascensions Downtown campus, have learned technical skills, but theyve also gained confidence, learned how to communicate with and lead their peers, and learned how to take ownership of their work through the program, Williams said.

Sixth-graders Mason Guillory, 11, and Braxton Leonard, 12, are two of those students. Mason and Braxton both said they shot their hands up when their media literacy teacher, Ms. Gros, asked for student volunteers to learn the livestreaming ropes. Braxton is a fan of computers and Mason said he aspires to become a director.

Several weeks in, the boys have advanced to operating more and more independently setting up cameras, micing student presenters for the morning announcements, operating cameras during live streams to the point that both now train other students who sign up to help. Mason said he's even had the chance to turn the tables on his teachers and instruct them on how to operate the livestreams.

Braxton said its awesome being able to display his expertise around computers to other students and introduce them to something he loves. Mason said he feels like hes getting a jump start on his dream career.

It feels like Im a part of something and its fun having responsibilities that can actually help set up your future, Mason said.

There can be pressure knowing the quality of the show rests on the quality of your work, and that one little mess up can cost the whole thing, the 11-year-old said, but the boys said theyve liked rising to the challenge and learning how to succeed under the stress. Mason said hes even noticed its helped him handle stress better when taking tests and navigating other school work.

Its exciting. Its a rush, Braxton said.

The boys said theyre excited to continue learning and growing with the livestream. Braxton said hes looking forward to running a stream solo, and Mason said his sights are set on learning how to operate a split screen view while livestreaming.

Plunk said he sees opportunities for livestreaming to be incorporated into the school setting beyond the pandemic. It will likely be adapted, possibly with fewer aspects of the school experience streamed, but with key moments still broadcast so working parents, out-of-town family and alumni wanting to cheer on their friends can still connect, he said.

The teachers have taken to it, too; one teacher hung an overhead camera while conducting a frog dissection so students in quarantine or in the schools Hyflex virtual learning program watching over livestream could get a dynamic view, Plunk said.

Its been amazing to see them get creative, he said.

See the article here:

Ascension Episcopal's livestreamed events open new door to learning -- in more ways than one - The Advocate

Christmas crusade

Nov. 6 is the deadline to submit applications for the Ascension Parish Sheriff Office's Christmas Crusade for Children, which provides toys for children around the parish.

Applications should be submitted to the Sheriff's Office, 828 S. Irma Blvd., Gonzales; Donaldsonville office, 300 Houmas St.; Hickley M. Waguespack Center, 1201 Maginnis St., Donaldsonville; District 2 substation, 13200 Airline Highway, Gonzales; and District 3 substation, 38567 La. 42, Prairieville.

For information, call (225) 621-8361.

Ascension Parish will honor area veterans during a parade at 2 p.m. Nov. 8.

The parade will roll from Irma Boulevard, continue south to Worthey Road, then right on Burnside Avenue and right on Cornerview Road.

Parade organizers are asking for residents to invite an area veteran to ride in their vehicles and decorate in red, white and blue. Due to the coronavirus, no floats or marching groups will be allowed.

Online voting is underway through Oct. 31 for the Arc of East Ascension's Virtual Dancing for a Cause with a Twist fundraiser.

There is a $10 donation to vote for your favorite video of dancing groups of teachers, school groups, local businesses and others.

You can vote for your favorite video as many times as you would like once every hour.

To vote, visit thearcea.com or https://brparents.secondstreetapp.com/Dancing-For-A-Cause-Virtual-2020-With-a-Twist/gallery.

For more information, call (225) 621-2005 or email sharon.morris@thearcea.org.

Ascension Parish 4-H and the LSU Agricultural Center are taking orders for sweet potatoes and peeled pecan halves through Oct. 26. Pickup will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov 17-18 at the 4-H office at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales.

All proceeds will benefit Ascension Parish 4H Foundation to increase scholarships and programs.

The sweet potatoes cost $13 for a 10-pound box and $26 for a 40-pound box; a 3-pound box of peeled pecanscosts $30.

To order, call (225) 621-5799, email cbrady@agcenter.lsu.edu, contact any 4-Her in the parish or visit lsuagcenter.com/ascension4h.

The River Region Art Association is holding its inaugural Depot Makers Market from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 17. The association is looking for people who have handmade crafts, art, jewelry, food, home decor, yard art or other handmade items they wish to sell at the market, which will be held in the adjacent parking area to the Depot Gallery, 320 East Ascension St., in Gonzales.

Vendors must provide their own tables/chairs and tents; electricity will be available. To reserve your spot, visit riverregionartassociation.org to obtain a booth form. Fill out the form with payment and mail to the River Region Art Association for your spot.

For information, call association president Sharon Flanagan at (504) 452-2616.

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Around Ascension for Oct. 14, 2020 | Ascension | theadvocate.com - The Advocate

Vocalist Burton C. Bellhas spoken toEamon O'Neill from eonmusic about his shock exit fromFear Factory, working withGeezer Butleron hisG//Z/Ralbum, and his new projectAscension Of The Watchers. An excerpt follows:

On Apropyca, the album Burton's just released withThe Watchers:"It's somethingthat I've been working on for literally ten years.Ascension Of The Watchers, to me, is the most personal, and the most representational piece of work I've ever done, in my entire career. So,Fear Factoryfans can actually get an in depth look into the sounds that were created for Fear Factory. So, there are a lot of similarities, and there are a lot of differences as well."

On working withBlack Sabbath's Geezer Butlerfor 1995's Plastic Planet (which is being rereleased on October 30th, via BMG):"Obviously I was a fan ofBlack Sabbathalready, and to be working with... It's fuckingGeezer Butler, you know what I mean? So he took me up to his studio which was an attic, and it was like aBlack Sabbathmuseum, and my heart was just like eek! I was looking at everything, trying to hold my jaw up! I saw the Sabotage platinum record on the wall, and I said; 'God damnit, that was the first record I loved byBlack Sabbath, it's my favourite record byBlack Sabbath!', and he looked at me like I was crazy, and he was like; [doesGeezer's accent] 'Really?! That record?!'"

On not being asked back to work onGeezer's Black Science album in 1997:"I was disappointed that I wasn't used again, but they wanted someone that had more of an open schedule, I guess. Demanufacture did very well right after that, and I was touring that andG//Z/R, so I was busy. But yeah, I'm not really sure why I wasn't on the second record. But regardless, I am very proud of the work that we did on Plastic Planet, and I'm just honoured to have the opportunity."

Finally,Burtonspoks of his disappointment at not being able to fulfill planned Fear Factory Obsolete anniversary shows due to legalities:"There was things that happened that just kept us from doing that, so yeah, I'm very sad that that never happened, because that would have been really cool. Yeah, I was totally stifled, and it was beyond my control in that Fear Factory camp."

To read the complete interview, visitthis location.

Industrial gothic rockers Ascension Of The Watchers - the creative, and innovative journey of former Fear Factory vocalist Burton C. Bell - will release their new album, Apocrypha, on October 9 via Dissonance Productions.

A music video for the song "The End Is Always The Beginning" can be found below. Says Bell: "Now, more than ever, my words are a true reflection of my mind. 'The End Is Always The Beginning' is a true statement, in every aspect of life, it all depends on the individual perspective. The video was created by Victor Hugo-Borges and is another surreal snippet into Ascension Of The Watchers. The meaning is unique for every listener and viewer. There is no incorrect analysis. Take what you will from it. For me, this is the beginning of a whole new chapter, and this song validates my personal strength to truly understand what it means to move forward."

Born of life, love and spirituality, Bells unmistakable, harmonious inventory once renowned in one of metals finest pioneering acts has brought life to a new concept, a genre of its own. Ambient atmospheres, melodies and introspective lyrics that sheds light of Bells visions, as seen in their purest form. An intimate nature that Ascension Of The Watchers envisioned, to draw the minds, hearts and aspirations of a people to a higher level of thinking to a feeling with cohesive celebration and reflection in the beauty of existence.

Tracklisting:

Ghost HeartThe End Is Always The BeginningApocryphaA Wolf InterludeHonoreeStormcrowCygnus AeonKey To The CosmosBells Of PerditionWanderersSign Your Name

Ghost Heart video:

The story of Ascension Of The Watchers:

In early 2002 Burton retreated to the quiet, simplicity of rural Pennsylvania for seven months with his friend and musical confidant John Bechdel, escaping the onslaught of Los Angeles, and industry alike. A mentor in music, philosophy and demeanour, Bechdel unwittingly guided Bell along the creative path of this new conceptual movement.

With Burtons unprecedented vocal sound and style, coupled with the brilliantly orchestrated musical compositions of both Bell and Bechdel (synonymous with pioneering tags to the industrial/metal genre) the pair began experimenting with textured melodies of melancholic tones, best attributed to the 80s and 90s underground scene. Ascension Of The Watchers echoes the sounds of a prophetic hallucination, fears and dreams with remorse of things lost and forgotten; but with a hope of redemption and light in the future.

In 2004, Ascension Of The Watchers independently released Iconoclast, printed only on CD and vinyl to a limited number. In 2008, with the help John Bechdel and Paul Raven (RIP), Burton brought Ascension Of The Watchers to Ministry legend Al Jourgensens label, 13th Planet. With the guidance and special collaborations with Jourgensen during the recording and mixing in El Paso, Texas, AOTW added the guitar talents of Eduardo Mussi. It also featured Paul Ravens last contribution as a bass player on the track Mars Becoming.

In 2008, Ascension Of The Watchers debut LP Numinosum was released through 13th Planet. Upon release, AOTW performed special, intimate shows, including the album release performance at Alex Greys Chapel of Sacred Mirrors in NYC. They also had the honour of supporting Killing Joke for their reunion tour in honour of their fallen friend, Paul Raven.

In 2017, the friendship between renowned UK solo artist Jayce Lewis and Burton brought in the essential camaraderie, talents and studio that perfectly suited the recording of Apocrypha. Northstone Studios, based in the countryside of South Wales, connected to the 250 year old Court Colman Manor, the studio built by Lewis own hands using the ancient stones of the monastery that once stood there, the rustic detail proved a perfect setting for AOTWs very own Jayce Lewis to record, produce and mix the Apocrypha album. A recording process that literally stirred the souls that remain within the stone walls of Lewis Northstone Studios. During the vocal recordings of the title track, a recording was inadvertently captured from the aether; an eerie, unrecognizable and untranslatable, syllabic phrase whispered within the vocal booth. The event is now the intro to the title track, Apocrypha.

In Truth, the making of Apocrypha has been a decade long journey of writing and recording, from California, Pennsylvania, New York and Wales. In 2018 the band decided to utilize the crowdfunding platform PledgeMusic to jumpstart the project. After a very successful campaign, raising 124% of their goal, PledgeMusic went into administration, eventually declaring bankruptcy, and in turn, would never release any of the funds dedicated to Ascension Of The Watchers. Nevertheless, the band persevered to complete the album.

After ten years of writing and recording, along with reflection on the very personal nature of this project, Ascension Of The Watchers will renew its journey in 2020, with the culmination of the long awaited release, Apocrypha. With plans of conceptualized touring, AOTW continues to grow as Bells main creative endeavour, well into the future.

Lineup:

Burton C. Bell - vocals and guitarJohn Bechdel - keyboardsJayce Lewis - drums, backing vocals and programming

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BURTON C. BELL - "ASCENSION OF THE WATCHERS Is The Most Personal, Most Representational Piece Of Work I've Ever Done" - bravewords.com