If you haven’t yet had the opportunity to check out Ascension, the latest release from Moncton hard rock / heavy metal band Shades of Sorrow, now is as good of time as any to get on board. Heading into next month’s East Coast Music Awards in Sydney, the album is up for Loud Recording of the Year, and with good reason. Kicking off with the rather ominous-sounding intro “Into The Nightmare,” the group wastes little time cutting to the chase, delivering hard-driving songs like “Tome of Deceptions” and “Soul Hyperdrive,” while opting for more melodic pursuits on “Fall From Grace” and album closer “Sleepless.”