Category Archives: Ascension

Donaldsonville hosts holiday yard decorating contest

The City of Donaldsonville is hosting its annual Holiday Yard Decorating Contest. Residents interested in taking part can register by call (225) 473-4814 or emailing dvillecoc@bellsouth.net or lee@visitdonaldsonville.org. Judging will be Dec. 18-19 after dark. Awards will go go best house and yard, best yard and best door decorations. Deadline to enter is at 4 p.m. Dec. 17.

Local veterans groups are hosting the annual Wreaths Across America project. The group is selling the holiday wreaths, which will be available for pickup starting at 9 a.m. Dec. 18 at Veterans Memorial Park in Gonzales. For more information, call (256) 656-2124.

Do you love hearing stories before bedtime? Then put on your favorite, comfy pajamas and join Ascension Parish Library staff for an evening of storytime fun. Staffers will read stories, sing fun songs, and you will get to make an easy craft to take home. Pajama Storytime is being held on the second Thursday of the month in Gonzales and Galvez and the third Thursday of the month in Dutchtown through Dec. 16. Designed for kids ages 8 and younger and their families. Pajama Storytime lasts approximately 25 minutes, followed by a quick craft. Kids ages 5 years and younger may need assistance. For more information, call the library or visit us online at myAPL.org.

Winter is a great time to make snowflakes. Beginning Dec. 6, visit any location of the Ascension Parish Library to pick up a packet containing everything you will need to make your own pipe cleaner snowflake. Try out different bead patterns and when you find the one you like best, twist the ends of the pipe cleaners to keep the beads in place. Designed for kids ages 6 to 8 years old. Available while supplies last. For more information, call your local library location or visit myAPL.org.

Punch needling is an art style that has been used for centuries to handmake rugs or patches. Artists use a specialized needle to push thread into cloth. Tweens between the ages of 9 and 11 years are invited to Ascension Parish Library at 6 p.m. Dec. 7 in Dutchtown; 10 a.m. Dec. 18 in Galvez; and 10 a.m. Dec. 29 in Gonzales to introduce this old-school fiber art technique to the modern gaming world. Choose between "Among Us" characters or keep it classic with Mario and Luigi. Then, learn how to turn these video game characters into fun, fluffy 3D patches in just a few easy steps using fabric, colored thread and a specialized needle. For more information, call your local library location or visit myAPL.org.

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Bring new life to old books by transforming an authors words into a new work of art using colored pencils, stencils and more. Repurpose loose pages from worn-out books and turn them into artful designs that celebrate the unending creativity of the written word. Book Page Art will be held at Ascension Parish Library at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 7 in Gonzales and Galvez and Tuesday, Dec. 21 in Dutchtown. Designed for teens ages 1218. For more information, call your local library location or visit us online at myapl.org.

Discover the best practices for creating a YouTube Channel and compelling video content that promotes your products and services and drives engagement with your brand. Learn how to create and organize a YouTube Channel, add videos, and promote your business with video ads during this Grow with Google virtual workshop led by a Google-supported trainer at noon Thursday, Dec. 2. Advance registration required. Visit Ascension Parish Librarys Business Resource Center website at aplbusinessresource.com and click on the banner to register online. Once registered, you will receive an email with more information on how to join the webinar, hosted on GoToWebinar. For further assistance, call the library at (225) 647-3955.

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Around Ascension for Dec. 1, 2021 | Ascension | theadvocate.com - The Advocate

HELENA Both Carroll basketball teams are ranked inside the NAIAs top-5. In the latest NAIA top-25 coaches poll released on Wednesday, the Saints men and women each moved up a spot, with Kurt Paulsons team advancing to No. 4 and Rachelle Sayers team breaking into the top-5 at No. 5 for the first time this season.

Wednesdays poll was the second-straight edition in which both Carroll teams have moved up. The men began the season at No. 10 and moved up to No. 5 before the latest advancement. The women were ranked No. 7 in the preseason poll and improved to No. 6 before cracking the top-5 this week.

Carrolls men are off to a 10-0 start to the season, while the women are 9-2 with a trio of wins over top-25 opponents, including back-to-back victories over top-15 teams last weekend.

Carroll is the only NAIA program in the country with both basketball teams ranked in the top-5.

Jovan Sljivancanin paces the mens team with 18.9 points and 12.6 rebounds per game. Senior point guard Shamrock Campbell is also averaging double-digits with 13.6 points per game on 46.9 percent shooting.

Dani Wagner (17.3), Christine Denny (12.7) and Jamie Pickens (12.7) are all averaging double figures for Carrolls womens basketball team.

Around the Frontier Conference, Montana Western was the lone womens team to join Carroll in the top-25, checking in at No. 24. Providence was in the receiving votes category.

On the mens side, Montana Tech was in the receiving votes category.

Conference play begins on Thursday with Providence hosting Rocky Mountain College, Carroll hosting Montana State Northern and Montana Tech hosting Montana Western for both mens and womens contests.

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Carroll basketball teams continue ascension in latest NAIA poll with top five rankings - 406mtsports.com

Since August, many hospitals have been in surge mode with cases climbing.

INDIANAPOLIS Health experts call it "a pandemic among the unvaccinated" and as the winter months approach, some fear that could cause the worst surge yet.

I am worried about the way the winter is going to go and I am worried about the people who are unvaccinated, said Dr. Gabriel Bosslet, a pulmonary critical care physician at IU Health and associate professor of clinical medicine at the Indiana University School of Medicine.

This week, Bosslet tweeted a warning to Hoosiers.

Looks like this winter may be the worst surge yet," his post read. "The only patients I have cared for in the ICU in the past weeks have been unvaccinated. If you have not been vaccinated, now is the time. If you are due for a 3rd shot, get it now.

If people would just get vaccinated, 95 percent of the people I meet in the intensive care unit, I would not meet. Things would be normal. So it is hard because I dont know what else to do to make people understand what this is like, Bosslet said.

Since August, hospitals have been in surge mode with cases climbing.

Data from across IU Health shows, in August, there were 107 patients hospitalized with COVID-19. The hospital system reached its peak in September with 425 patients. As of Tuesday, they had 328.

Number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 at IU Health:

They are not alone. Ascension St. Vincent has also noticed an increase. There were 33 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 across Ascension St. Vincent Indianapolis hospitals on Thursday. Six of them were in the ICU.

Number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 at Ascension St. Vincent:

Its known that COVID-19 thrives in cold weather, especially around the holidays when people are gathering, but this year, health officials are worried about the more contagious variants and the threat of more flu cases. Also, healthcare workers are short-staffed and tired.

We are exhausted, emotionally exhausted. Its really hard to see this many people die, Bosslet said.

Many health care workers said it feels like dj vu because around this time last year, Indiana reached its peak with more than 3,400 Hoosiers hospitalized. This year, the number is lower, with more than 2,300 admitted, but some worry it's just the start.

What makes it even more difficult is that we just have a lot more patients in our hospital. We have more patients in our hospital than we ever have, said Dr. Ram Yeleti, chief physician executive at Community Health Network.

Yeleti said its not all COVID-19 patients, but the concern is beds are filling up at an alarming rate, causing hospitals like Community Health Network to start preparing.

Right now, our staff and our leadership have been instructed this week to look at contingency plans if every one in three or every one in four beds is a COVID patient what do we do, Yeleti said.

One option he said is to delay surgeries and other services, which would affect even more Hoosiers in need of care.

Get the vaccination not just for yourself but for your family member and for your neighbor because one of you may have a health condition that needs a hospital bed and there may not be one, he said.

On Thursday, President Joe Biden announced vaccinations as a key part of his plan to prevent another winter surge, especially as the omicron variant starts spreading across the country.

The five-step plan includes increasing booster shots and vaccinations among kids as young as five. The White House also wants to distribute COVID-19 treatment pills around the country as soon as they're approved. They plan to work on expanding free at-home testing for those who struggle to afford it and extend transportation mask mandates through March. Lastly, if you're flying into the country from overseas, you'll have to test negative within 24 hours of your flight.

What other people are reading:

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Expert: 'Pandemic among the unvaccinated' could lead to worst winter surge yet - WTHR

HELENA If youre hiking in Helenas South Hills, you may spot some trees sporting holiday decorations. While people may just see it as a way to add a little festive atmosphere, city leaders say there are some downsides to the trend.

A lot of the decorations get blown away by the wind, said Kristi Ponozzo, Helenas parks, recreation and open lands director. They get sort of dispersed all over open lands, and it becomes a litter issue that we have to clean up at the end of the year.

Ponozzo says they first noticed decorated trees on Mount Helena and Mount Ascension a few years ago. Initially, there werent very many, but theyre now finding 25 or more a year. This year, ornaments are already hanging on more than a dozen trees at the bottom of the 2006 Trail on Mount Ascension.

I think people want to go up and decorate and be festive and maybe take some pictures, which we think is great, said Ponozzo. We just ask that after they decorate the tree, they take all of those decorations down and take them home with them.

While Ponozzos preferred option is for people to bring their own decorations back, they could also use biodegradable items like fruit, popcorn or pinecones that wont need to be picked up later.

The other option is just to leave the trees as they are: Theyre green and festive and beautiful, Ponozzo said. Were happy that people are out and enjoying it; we just want to make sure that its clean and beautiful for everyone.

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Decorated trees leading to litter concerns on Helena open lands - KTVH

Contributed Report| Gonzales Weekly Citizen

It was a special day for one of East Ascensions top athletes last Thursday evening.

Senior Spartan outfielder Dominick Regira took the first step in taking his baseball career to the next level as he officially signed his letters of intent to play at Southeastern.

He initially announced his commitment to Southeastern back in October.

Regira had a breakout season as a junior last spring.

After playing in nine games as a sophomore, Regira became a starter in the outfield for the Spartans in 2021. It didnt take long for him to develop into one of East Ascensions best players.

As a junior, Regira hit .337with 25RBIs, nine doubles and three home runs. He also scored 25 runs. He led the team in on-base percentage at .548.

He also made 10 starts from the mound and went 5-4 with more than 35 innings pitched.

Those numbers were good enough to make him a first-team All-District 5-5A selection and a first-team All-Parish selection as well.

His performance also helped East Ascension have a tremendous season.

Regira and the Spartans finished with more than 20 victories for the second straight full season. It was the first Spartan team to accomplish that feat in a decade.

East Ascension also pulled off a big first-round, road upset over No. 13 Zachary. That marked the second straight postseason in which the Spartans won a first-round contest.

It pushed East Ascension through to the second round, where the Spartans lost in two games to No. 4 Sam Houston.

"Dominick has been an incredible team leader for us the past two seasons on and off the field," East Ascension head coach Kade Keowen said."He truly embodies the 'first to the field, last one to leave' mentality. I look forward to watching Dom continue to progress in 2022, and I have no doubt that he will be a huge asset to Coach [Matt]Riser and the Southeastern Lions."

Regira will now prepare for his senior season with East Ascension, which will begin at the end of February.

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EA baseball standout signs with Southeastern - Weekly Citizen

Three southeast Louisiana law enforcement agencies were recognized for their efforts to better their communities beyond their crime-fighting efforts.

The Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office, 17th Judicial District Attorney's Office of Lafourche Parish and Louisiana State Police Toop C in Terrebonne Parish were honored Wednesday as the 2021 Leaders in Law Enforcement, which is hosted by the Community Foundation of Acadiana.

"These awards are designed to honor those departments who are making the most impact in their communities with the resources with which they have been allocated," said Community Foundation of Acadiana President and CEO Raymond Hebert.

"Oftentimes, we never hear about the positive interactions. That's what we're doing here today. Sharing the positive, sharing all that is right with law enforcement and sharing the good that is going on in our communities," he added.

The award winners wereselected by a panel of retired law enforcement officials. Each agency received $25,000 as part of the statewide award, which is in its second year.

The Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office was recognized for its Waguespack Center and Park, a place where deputies can interact with children in a safe space that includesa computer lab, playground and library.

"We can't control how people may criticize us. We can only control our response," Ascension ParishSheriff Bobby Webresaid. "Our response is not to circle the wagons but to get back in that community and stay in that community in a big way."

LSP Troop C was selected for the developments and partnerships it created to improve road safety and reduce the accidental death rate.

The 17th Judicial District Attorney's Office was recognized for its RESPECT U program that works in the schools and focuses on self-respect, respect for others and respect for the community. It also was has expanded its victims' rights department to include a licensed clinical social worker who can work with victims and their families.

"We truly believe that if we can start reaching our children at a young age that we're going to see a difference in our community in 5,10 and 15 years," 17th Judicial District AttorneyKristine Russell said. "It's going to be a slow process, but we can do it."

The ceremony's keynote speaker, former director of the U.S. Marshals Service and former U.S, Attorney Donald Washington, touched on his time with the marshals and heralded the officers for their work.

"This is a night that we're here to honor you for the things that you have done to our communities and to better the lives of others. What you've done and what you will continue to do," he said. "Take the high ground, build bridges, bridge gaps, be servant leaders and remember that iron sharpens iron. You're the iron sharpening iron and your service is unfinished."

Contact Ashley White at adwhite@theadvertiser.com or on Twitter @AshleyyDi.

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'Sharing the positive': 3 southeast law enforcement agencies recognized for community work - The Daily Advertiser

November 29, 2021

By AdventHealth News, and Adventist Review

After working closely together for nearly seven years, AdventHealth and Ascension have decided to unwind their AMITA Health partnership, the joint operating company serving the health-care needs of residents of the greater Chicago area in Illinois, United States.

Leaders of both sponsoring organizations have determined that going forward separately is in their collectivebest interest to more nimbly meet consumers changing needs and expectations in the rapidlyevolving health-care environment.

Both organizations are committed to a smooth and expeditious transition, leaders said. Following the transition,AdventHealthand Ascension will operate their individual hospitals and care sites in the Chicagoland area. There will be nodisruption to patient care.

Ascension andAdventHealth said theywill begin the process of unwinding the partnership in a way that best serves theneeds of the community.AdventHealthand Ascension maintain a strong relationship and are united in ensuringthe residents of Chicago have access to the best possible health care.

AdventHealth facilities include Adventist Medical Center Hinsdale, Adventist Medical Center Bolingbrook, Adventist Medical Center La Grange, and Adventist Medical Center GlenOaks.

Report to the Executive Committee

November 8-10, the Lake Union Conference (LUC) of the Seventh-day Adventist Church met for its annual year-end meeting, themed Together in Mission: I Will Go, in sync with the strategic focus of the North American Division. It was the second year the meetings were held virtually because of the pandemic.

On November 10, LUC president Ken Denslow chaired the 38-member executive committee meeting.As part of the presidents report, Thor Thordarson, chief operating officer of AMITA Health, provided updates on major changes coming to the health system. An amicable decision was made in October 2021 todissolve the interfaith health network between Alexian Brothers Health System, Presence Health (both part of Ascension), and Adventist Midwest Health.

Thordarson explained that the Adventist hospitals including Adventist Medical Center Hinsdale, Adventist Medical Center Bolingbrook, Adventist Medical Center La Grange, and Adventist Medical Center GlenOaks werent doing as well six years ago when the partnership was entered into but are now doing much better. They are carrying the larger financial burden of the other systems.

This change means control of the Adventist hospitals reverts to the parent company, AdventHealth. Were coming home, so to speak, he said.

Thordarson accepted an invitation to serve as CEO of the Chicagoland hospitals and said the reverse merger playbook is now underway. It is expected that as of March 31, 2022, the transfer of all employees to AdventHealth will be complete. By April 1, the AdventHealth branding will go live.

The feedback we are receiving from medical staff and the community has been very positive. Its tremendous, and were excited for what it means.

This story is based on several reports by the Lake Union Herald, including this story and this original report.

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Adventist Review Online | AdventHealth Will Unwind Inter-Faith Health Partnership - Adventist Review

Ascension Florida is revoking the suspensions of unvaccinated employees and allowing them to return to work as part of a COVID-19 policy shift, according to CBS affiliateWJAX.

The change comes after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantissigned legislation Nov. 18 designed to counter federal COVID-19 mandates. The Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has announced a vaccinate-or-test mandate for businesses with more than 100 employees. CMS has also announced a regulation requiring vaccination for eligible staff at healthcare facilities participating in Medicare and Medicaid programs. Both mandates face legal challenges, including acomplaint filed Nov. 18 over the CMS mandate in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida in Pensacola.

The Floridalegislationprohibits vaccination mandates for private employers unless also providing various exemptions, including medical or religious concerns; pregnancy or anticipated future pregnancy; and past COVID-19 recovery, according to a news release from the governor's office. It also allows employees to opt out if they agree to periodic testing or wearing personal protective equipment. Businesses would have to cover the costs of testing and PPE exemptions for employees.

The legislation also includes a fine of $10,000 per employee violation for small businesses (99 employees or less) and a fine of $50,000 per employee violation for medium and big businesses (100 workers or more) that violate the state's mandate guidelines.

St. Louis-based Ascensionannounced a vaccination mandate in July, giving employees until Nov. 12 to complete the vaccine series and meet the vaccination requirement.

To be compliant with federal and state laws, Ascension Florida is rescinding the suspensions of employees who were suspended pending their compliance with the Ascension Florida vaccination policy, Ascension Florida and Gulf Coast President and CEO Tom VanOsdol said in a Nov. 19 memo shared with WJAX.

"All associates will be required to continue to comply with our infection control protocols," Mr. VanOsdol said.

According to the memo, suspensions could be reinstated once there is more clarity around the Florida legislation and the CMS mandate.

Becker's also checked in with other healthcare organizations that have announced mandates and are affected by Florida law.

Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare, a for-profit hospital operator with three divisions in Florida,announced in November that employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Jan. 4, in accordance with federal vaccination requirements.

"To date, HCA Healthcare has encouraged our colleagues to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and made vaccines readily available, but we have not mandated vaccination. Even though several states in which we operate have taken legislative action to limit vaccine mandates, we are required to comply with recently issued federal healthcare regulations through CMS and will require vaccination for our colleagues who are covered by the CMS mandate," HCA said in a statement Nov. 18.

The company added, "More than three out of four of our colleagues are included in this category. If we do not comply with the CMS mandate, we will lose our ability to care for Medicare and Medicaid patients in the communities we serve."

HCA said the company has plans in place based on processes, best practices and knowledge gained from our operations in states that have already mandated vaccination. As of Nov. 18, a majority of HCA workers were already fully vaccinated.

Cleveland Clinic, whichannounced its mandate Nov. 12, reported a vaccination rate of 83 percent as of Nov. 22.

The health system said its Cleveland Clinic Florida locations are continuing planning efforts to ensure compliance with vaccination rules.

Ascension's Florida and Gulf Coast Ministry Market includes Ascension Sacred Heart and the Studer Family Children's Hospital based in Pensacola, Fla., Jacksonville, Fla.-based Ascension St. Vincent's, and Ascension Providence in Mobile, Ala.

Originally posted here:

Ascension Florida rescinds suspensions of unvaccinated workers - Becker's Hospital Review

Under pressure from residents upset about frequent flooding and snarled traffic, Ascension Parish leaders this summer put a nine-month moratorium on building new neighborhoods so they could come up with new restrictions on development.

By the time that moratorium expires in April, the consultant studying those rules says it will have a handful of smaller, interim changes ready. But a full rewrite of the code likely won't be ready until the summer of 2023.

Meanwhile, the clock is ticking for Ascension, which has been Louisiana's fastest-growing parish over the past 20 years.

Builders, who opposed the moratorium, say the halt in construction has made affordable housing hard to come by and has hurt employment for contractors, roofers and others in the construction industry.

Housing supply has fallen from a 2.1-month inventory to a 0.9 months -- meaning there are about half as many homes available to buy, according to data from the Greater Baton Rouge Home Builders Association, which opposed the moratorium.

The median price of a single-family home in Ascension Parish rose by 8.1% from October 2020 to October 2021; by contrast, the Greater Baton Rouge area overall saw prices rise by .05% during that period.

"Taking action that disrupts housing inventory has negative consequences," said Karen Zito, president and CEO of the Greater Baton Rouge Home Builders Association. "A notable consequence is housing affordability. Creating a dynamic where the supply chain removes inventory continually increases housing costs."

Tareq Wafaie -- project manager for Kendig Keast Collaborative, the Texas-based consultant overseeing the code rewrite -- says it's an "aggressive" timeline to rewrite a parish code in 18 months. But he says his firm is mindful of the ticking clock the moratorium sets.

"While we're thinking about the full code, we're going to be thinking about some targeted ordinance amendments to bring to you for consideration," Wafaie said.

Wafaie hasn't specified what the interim or long-term adjustments might be. But, in public meetings, he has generally discussed ways to better control and find what he calls the "sweet spot" of responsible growth.

Some potential options:

Left unsaid so far: How would some of these ideas, like land preservation, be paid for? Future public community meetings and council sessions are expected to provide more clarity.

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And some concepts could be controversial. Council Chair Teri Casso warned at a council meeting Thursday night about past fights over "connectivity."

The idea, which she has supported unsuccessfully in the past, holds that new neighborhoods need multiple ways in and out so they do not funnel all their traffic onto major highways,

Casso wished Wafaie "good luck" with getting the necessary votes for connectivity, warning that past fights over tying new neighborhoods to older ones have gotten "ugly."

Wafaie responded that Kendig Keast doesn't have "a stake in the game" in Ascension and sometimes communities aren't ready for certain ideas.

"But we don't win or lose based on whether or not you take one of our ideas or none of our ideas and chose to implement them," he said.

Wafaie said his firm would listen to the community and try to find as many ways as possible to implement different concepts. They have been meeting with a host of parish residents, business leaders, government officials and others with a stake in parish development rules.

Despite misgivings one group or another might have, the council will have to find a way to make major changes if they are to meet Parish President Clint Cointment's goals for the initiative.

Displaying aerial photographs from 1998 and 2021 that show open fields and woods turning into a grid-like road network with homes, Cointment has used one piece of the Dutchtown and Geismar areas as an illustrative case study of the need for his broader goals.

The 589-acre area grew from 50 houses to 740 houses between 1998 and the present, according to a parish government analysis.

All those new roads, rooftops, sidewalks and driveways have increased the storm-water runoff during a 1-inch rain nearly 21-fold. That has led to flooding problems in the area between La. 74 and Cornerview Road and between La. 73 and Interstate 10.

Cointment asked rhetorically in a recent virtual listen tour meeting what major road or drainage projects have happened in that area to account for all the new homes and concrete.

"This is why we have to take an aggressive approach on planning," he said.

Fights over development and flooding have gotten ugly over the past year or so.

Cointment and some on the council had wanted a longer moratorium, but a majority on the council wanted a shorter one. That disagreement led to a major falling out that eventually caused the council to revoke Cointment's authority over drainage work; the council and Cointment recently worked out a deal in which Cointment would keep drainage powers but gave council a drainage liaison, former parish official Bill Roux.

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Flooding, traffic, home prices: The clock is ticking on Ascension's new development rules - The Advocate

The arrival of a new, full-length album from Cynic should be a cause for unreserved celebration, yet Ascension Codes emerges from under a cloud of tragedy. While drummer and co-founder Sean Reinert left the band in 2015, his death in January 2020 was keenly felt by his former bandmates and fans alike. Less than a year later, the passing of bassist Sean Malone in December 2020 was a second heartbreaking loss for the Cynic camp.

Guitarist and vocalist Paul Masvidal described his reaction to the news as feeling like he was sinking in quicksand. I was unable to play my guitar for weeks, and found myself expending whatever energy I had cleaning and organising my home. Grief is the most powerful experience; it wipes everything else away, he wrote on Instagram.

That sense of loss and mourning precedes the release of Ascension Codes, and the album is being pitched as both swan song and rebirth. Its only the groups fourth full-length recording since 1993s debut Focus and comes seven years after Kindly Bent To Free Us, which, combined with the loss of Reinert and Malone, heaps a considerable weight of expectation onto the record. Masvidal is joined in the studio by drummer Matt Lynch who took over from Reinert in 2015 but whose only recorded contribution up to this point has been the 2018 single Humanoid and Dave Mackay on keys and bass synthesiser. Its interesting that Mackay doesnt play a conventional electric bass on the album and the overall sound is certainly a step away from Kindly Bent To Free Us.

Where Kindly had a generally organic sound that suggested three musicians playing together, Ascension Codes is a much denser, more overtly produced listen. Masvidal has previously employed a vocoder to alter his voice on earlier albums, but here he seems to go a step further. His voice becomes another instrument and part of the overall soundscape. Its low in the mix and heavily processed, which is an interesting artistic choice but does have the (intentional, perhaps?) effect of making most of the lyrics indecipherable.

In turn, this makes trying to penetrate themes or concepts behind the musica challenge. Masvidal has talked about the album expressing the struggle to attain ascension, and there seems to be a sci-fi element herein but the mix makes analysis very difficult. DNA Activation Template points most clearly towards that element the computerised spoken voice brings to mind Rushs Cygnus X-1. Perhaps the references to ascension refer to humanity ascending into the universe, but its hard to say.

While there are 18 tracks in total, there are just eight full songs here, all of them separated by shorter instrumental soundscapes with odd titles like Ha-144 and Shar-216. These brief interludes help make the album more digestible, providing palate cleansers between the full-blown auditory onslaught of the main tracks. Masvidals guitar work is a wave of cascading riffs, with melodic lines that weave in and around each other.

Unlike the three-piece sound of Kindly Bent, here everything is layered, whether with swirling ambient soundscapes, keyboard melodic counterpoints, or Matt Lynchs constantly interactive drumming. 6th Dimensional Archetype and Architects Of Consciousness exemplify Masvidals maximalist approach of going full-on and flat-out. There are moments when he eases off the accelerator in Elements And Their Inhabitants and The Winged Ones, allowing some air into the music but thats not where this album is going as a total experience.

Sean Reinert was justly celebrated for adding fusion drumming vocabulary to progressive metal and Lynch also seems to be following that path. Hes a nimble drummer, rarely playing straight grooves but constantly firing off fills, even when Masvidal is singing. His quickfire runs around the kit recall Simon Phillips, Manu Katch or Gary Husband, albeit in a heavier musical context.

Theres some sense of circularity here. While younger groups such as Arch Echo, Animals As Leaders and Periphery owe a debt to Cynic for pioneering this very particular approach to progressive rock and metal, the polished, processed sound of Ascension Codes seems influenced in turn by the bands that followed in their footsteps. The exuberance of the playing is in contrast to the understandably melancholic vibe that has resulted from the deaths of Reinert and Malone. Right now, Cynics future seems anything but certain, yet with their fourth record, Masvidals continuous evolution proves that he can keep pace with the youthful challengers, pushing at the boundaries of modern prog while still delivering a fitting testament to fallen friends and colleagues.

Buy from Amazon.

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Cynic - Ascension Codes: "a fitting testament to fallen friends and colleagues" - Louder