This Ascension toured the United States three times and the west coast prolifically, sharing the stage with bands including Clan of Xymox, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Chris Isaak, The Wolfgang Press, Pixies and The Stranglers.
After Tess Records collapsed, the band signed to Projekt Records in 2001. Their back catalogue was rereleased, however plans to record new material were never successful and the band split soon afterwards. The group reformed for a few shows in 2004.
Dru has gone on to sing for the neo-classical project Mirabilis as well as ethereal/electronic act Falling You, Kevin Serra performed with Lot 49 and now plays under cloud seeding while Charlie has rejoined his former band Nerf Herder.
This Ascension took their early cues from The Cure, The Chameleons, and just about every 4AD band at the time. Their debut Tears In Rain earned the band comparisons to Area, Xmal Deutschland, and even pop fare such as 10,000 Maniacs, while their later releases move toward the ethereal-gothic realm. 1999's album Sever is the most varied, drawing on influences ranging from Early Music to the progressive rock/ambient/tribal offerings of the Real World label.
With producer John Rivers (Dead Can Dance, Love & Rockets) at the helm, Sever charted on over 200 college, community, and alternative radio stations throughout the United States and Canada within two months of its release.
Chameleon Room
This Ascension Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Others expose their pain.
But each within alone
And waiting to be touched.
Jailed, sanctuaried,
But empty.
Only containing
Into the realm.
Breaking down, into nothing
Numbing, maddening and real.
They were silent,
Always battling
With the chameleon room
And heaven, and hell,
And themselves.
Hazy, not warm nor cold.
Cornerless, soft, no windows.
A voice we hate
Tells us nothing
That we're nothing at all
Just right
Or so wrong.
You decide when you enter
And feel your true self
Or what you want.
Jailed, sanctuaried,
But you're empty.
Only containing what you bring
Into your realm.
You're breaking down
Into nothing.
Numbing, maddening,
You can't feel
The lyrics of "Chameleon Room" by This Ascension describe the universal human experience of feeling alone and waiting to be understood. Some individuals try to hide their inner pain, while others openly expose it. Regardless, everyone carries their own unique experiences and emotions, waiting to be acknowledged and touched by those around them. The song speaks of being trapped within oneself, struggling to break free from the confines of one's own mind and find a sense of belonging.
The Chameleon Room is depicted as a metaphorical prison, which may signify the constant battle between heaven and hell within an individual's own thoughts. The room is described as hazy and cornerless, with a voice that tells the listener they are nothing and have no value. The song leaves the listener with a feeling of nervousness and foreboding, as the lyrics suggest that entering the Chameleon Room is a dangerous and frightening undertaking that can result in madness and numbness.
Line by Line Meaning
Some try to hide,
There are people who try to conceal their emotions and feelings.
Others expose their pain.
In contrast, some people openly show their emotional distress and anguish.
But each within alone
Despite the differences in how people show emotions, everyone goes through emotional struggles in isolation.
And waiting to be touched.
Emotional connection and empathy from others can help alleviate feelings of isolation and pain.
Jailed, sanctuaried,
Metaphors describing being trapped or confined, either physically or mentally.
But empty.
Despite the confinement, what's inside is void and lacking.
Only containing
Whatever is brought into the confinement - emotions, thoughts, etc.
What is brought into the realm.
The confinement only reflects what's already inside, and doesn't develop or change over time.
Breaking down, into nothing
The confinement can lead to a deterioration or breakdown of the person, resulting in emptiness.
Numbing, maddening and real.
The mental and emotional state becomes apathetic, chaotic and undeniable.
They were silent,
An observation on how some people stay quiet about their mental and emotional struggles.
Always battling
The struggles are never-ending and a constant fight within oneself.
With the chameleon room
A metaphorical space where one's identity and emotions are constantly changing and hard to pin down.
And heaven, and hell,
The internal struggles reach beyond just the self, but also have to do with external factors such as religion and fate.
And themselves.
Ultimately, the internal struggles are a battle with one's own identity and emotions.
Hazy, not warm nor cold.
A description of the chameleon room, which is a confusing and unstable space with no sense of direction or comfort.
Cornerless, soft, no windows.
The chameleon room is a featureless space that lacks identity or any form of stimulation.
A voice we hate
An inner voice that is negative, destructive and self-sabotaging.
Tells us nothing
The inner voice provides no helpful guidance or motivation.
That we're nothing at all
The inner voice instills feelings of worthlessness and lack of purpose.
Just right
An inner conflict between feeling adequate and feeling like an imposter.
Or so wrong.
The opposite feeling of inadequacy or not belonging.
You decide when you enter
The person has agency in how they perceive their internal struggles and must initiate self-reflection and change.
And feel your true self
Be honest and introspective with oneself to understand their identity and emotions.
Or what you want.
The person has control in shaping their identity and can aspire to be the person they want to become.
Jailed, sanctuaried,
Reiterating the metaphorical confinement described earlier, emphasizing the difficulty in managing and resolving internal struggles.
But you're empty.
Despite the struggles, the person may still feel hollow and incomplete.
Only containing what you bring
Emphasizing that ultimately, the person is responsible for what they carry and bring into their lives.
Into your realm.
The person's mental and emotional state is a reflection of what they create for themselves.
You're breaking down
Similar to earlier, the internal struggles may lead to deterioration of the self.
Into nothing.
The end result may be a sense of meaninglessness and emptiness.
Numbing, maddening,
Reiterating the chaotic state of being in a mental and emotional struggle.
You can't feel
As a result, the person may become emotionally disconnected and unable to experience positive emotions.
Contributed by Lauren J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.