) and guitarist Greg Anderson (Goatsnake, Sunn 0))), Burning Witch, etc.) were both involved in the American underground doom/drone scene for nearly two decades before pairing up in the collaborative project Ascend. When the opportunity finally arose via 2008's Southern Lord-released Ample Fire Within album, the duo reached out to a number of likeminded musicians (including Void guitarist Bubba Dupree, former Soundgarden guitarist Kim Thayil, and Earth organist and trombone player Stebmo, among others) to help them achieve their highly unusual vision for rumbling drone epics informed by a jazz fusion mentality. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia